December 8, 1941 – Monday
December 8, 1941
At 6 a.m. General Sutherland phoned me that the Japanese had treacherously attacked Pearl Harbor at 5 a.m. and consequently the U.S. and Philippine Forces
Basilio J. Valdes
Basilio J. Valdes, M.D. (July 10, 1892 –January 26, 1970), soldier, doctor, cabinet member, businessman. Chief of Staff, Philippine Army, 1939-1945; Secretary of National Defense in the Quezon and Osmeña War Cabinets, 1941-45. Professor of Surgery at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Medical Director of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 1948-1970.
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December 9, 1941 – Tuesday
December 9, 1941
People of Manila nervous trying to leave Manila for a place away from aerial bombardment. Those who owned cars rushed frantically to towns near Manila.
December 10, 1941
December 10, 1941
The night was peaceless. The alarm was sounded at 5 a.m. The enemy planes again bombarded Nichols Field and Fort McKinley. My little girl is
December 22, 1941 – Monday
December 22, 1941
Attended Cabinet Meeting at 8 a.m. at Mariquina as Chief of Staff. Attended office afterwards. Anxiously waiting for news from the front. The enemy is
December 23, 1941 – Tuesday
December 23, 1941
At 8 a.m. I attended the meeting of the Cabinet at Mariquina. At 9:30 a.m. went to the office. At 10 a.m. the President told
December 24, 1941 – Wednesday
December 24, 1941
At 8 a.m. I attended the meeting of the Cabinet at Mariquina. It was discussed that the situation was becoming serious. The enemy had landed
December 25, 1941 – Thursday
December 25, 1941
At 12:30 a.m. I attended midnight mass in the hospital tunnel. The mass was said by an American Chaplain, and I received Holy Communion. After
December 26, 1941 – Friday
December 26, 1941
At 6:30 a.m. I attended Mass and received Holy Communion. At 8 a.m. I went to see General MacArthur and I asked him to assign
December 28, 1941 – Sunday
December 28, 1941
I attended Mass at 6:30 a.m. After Mass I had breakfast and then went to the cottage assigned to us to take a bath and
December 29, 1941 – Monday
December 29, 1941
At 5 a.m. I phoned Collector de Leon. His voice showed that he was worried. “I have not heard from the Apo”, he said, “I
December 29, 1941 – Monday
December 29, 1941
At 5 a.m. I phoned Collector de Leon. His voice showed that he was worried. “I have not heard from the Apo”, he said, “I
December 30, 1941 – Tuesday
December 30, 1941
At 5 a.m. Mr. Williams of the Red Cross phoned me that the ship had arrived but that he was not willing to put the
December 31, 1941 – Wednesday
December 31, 1941
Got up at 4 a.m. Left Army and Navy Club at 5 a.m. Arrived Corregidor at 6:10 a.m. after a slightly rough trip. The North
January 1, 1942 – Thursday
January 1, 1942
I attended Mass at 7 a.m. and received Holy Communion. I congratulated the President, Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Roxas, & Manolo Nieto, on their feast
January 2, 1942 – Friday
January 2, 1942
Nothing unusual in the morning. At 12:30 p.m. again the alarm was sounded. After luncheon the President, Mrs. Quezon and their children were seated in
January 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – 1942
January 7, 1942
Nothing unusual. There were air-raid alarms but no bombing. They were only observation planes – these visits although they caused severe damage to top
January 10, 1942 -Saturday
January 10, 1942
Left Corregidor at 5:30 p.m. with Lieutenant Colonel Manuel Nieto & Leon Ma. Guerrero in a Q Boat (N-111) for Cabcaben. We arrived at 6
January 11, 1942 -Sunday
January 11, 1942
Got up at 7:30 a.m., dressed with the same wet clothes and wet shoes, took breakfast and proceeded on my journey of inspection of the
January 12, 1942 -Monday
January 12, 1942
Nothing unusual. The planes have been very considerate. No visit.
January 15, 1942 – Thursday
January 15, 1942
Heard Mass & received Holy Communion. At 10 a.m. I invited Major E. C. Cruz, Medical Corps to the Treasury Vault for a good
January 16-17, 1942
January 17, 1942
Quiet. Two alarms each day but no bombing. We downed 2 planes today (17th). Carlos Romulo had been sick for the last 2 days
January 18,1942 – Sunday
January 18, 1942
This has been a quiet day. No alarms. Windy & slightly cloudy. We can hear once in a while the artillery fire at Bataan.
January 19, 1942 – Monday
January 19, 1942
Got up at 6 a.m. Shaved & dressed. Took launch Baler at 7 a.m. for Cabcaben. Arrived there 7:30 a.m. Lieutenant Monsod aide to General
January 20, 1942 – Tuesday
January 20, 1942
After breakfast, we left with General Francisco to Juanting Point along the Manila Bay coast of Bataan to inspect our coast defenses. I inspected
January 21, 1942 – Wednesday
January 21, 1942
A warm and quiet day. No air raid. President visited the Philippine Army batteries.
January 22, 1942 – Thursday
January 22, 1942
Also warm and uneventful. I do not like this lull. I believe that their planes are busy at the front, and at Singapore. If
January 23, 1942 – Friday
January 23, 1942
2:00 a.m. Awake watching how the President is. Left tunnel at 6:20 a.m. to go to Chaplain Ronan’s barracks to hear Mass. We had hardly
January 24, 1942 – Saturday
January 25, 1942
4 a.m. I was called by the President. He is improving. He had a fair night. At 12 p.m. had another attack of asthma but
January 25, 1942 – Sunday
January 26, 1942
At 1 a.m. the lights of the house went out. Both the President and Mrs. Quezon were nervous. He made me call the phone central