February 28, 1942 — Saturday
February 28, 1942
Arrived Bais Sugar Central at 2:15 a.m. We found that the big house of the manager was being occupied by various families and the poor
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.
March 1, 1942 — Sunday
March 1, 1942
Attended and served at 7 o’clock mass said by Chaplain Ortiz. Afterwards I went to the Central where I met Mr. DeMedem. He asked me
March 2, 1942 — Monday
March 2, 1942
I attended to the trip of Manolin, Delgado and Abad Santos with Sergeant Villahermosa. I ordered Manolin to go to Dumaguete to ask Captain Macon
March 3, 1942 — Tuesday
March 3, 1942
The President sent for the District Engineer and asked to study with him the building of an air-raid shelter. We discussed and looked at various
March 6, 1942 — Friday
March 6, 1942
The President bought a second hand Cadillac for himself. He asked me to accompany him to go to La Granja to see Colonel Hilsman at
March 7, 1942 — Saturday
March 7, 1942
I told the President that I was going out with the District Engineer to study a possible road that would give us a back yard
March 8, 1942 — Sunday
March 8, 1942
I saw the District Engineer and I asked him to study another road below the mountain. In the afternoon he reported that he had found
March 9, 1942 — Monday
March 9, 1942
At 2:20 a.m. I was awakened by Captain Salazar who wanted the secret code to decode a message from General MacArthur. Served at Mass and
March 10, 1942 — Tuesday
March 10, 1942
Got up at 12:30 a.m. to give Captain Salazar the code. Served at Mass and took Holy communion. At 10 a.m. left with Chaplain Ortiz
March 11, 1942 — Wednesday
March 11, 1942
Attended Mass and received Holy Communion. At 10 p.m. I went to Buenavista Rest House to send a radio to General Chynoweth and phone Colonel
March 12, 1942 — Thursday
March 12, 1942
After breakfast went to Buenavista Rest House with Mr. Canceran to attend to some correspondence. I discussed that 80% of enlisted men of Philippine Army
March 13, 1942 — Friday
March 13, 1942
Attended mass. After breakfast the President instructed me to proceed to Binalbagan to get first hand information regarding the feared trouble at the Central and
March 14, 1942 — Saturday
March 14, 1942
We have been receiving flashes about movements of enemy warships in the Visayan waters. Kept busy keeping in contact with Colonel Hilsman and other units.
March 15, 1942 — Sunday
March 15, 1942
Attended Mass and received Holy Communion. We received news of destroyers (enemy) moving on the east coast of Cebu. In the afternoon we received a
March 16, 1942 — Monday
March 16, 1942
At 1:30 a.m. Colonel Nieto woke me up to show me a telegram informing us that five enemy ships accompanied by a submarine flashing a
March 17, 1942 – Tuesday
March 17, 1942
After breakfast I asked permission to go to Bacolod to buy some things I needed and leave that atmosphere of nerves and shouting. Father Ortiz
March 18, 1942 – Wednesday
March 18, 1942
We left Panubigan at 8:30 a.m. Arrived at Bais Sugar Central at 12:30 p.m., tired and sleepy. Slept a good siesta until 3 p.m. When
March 19, 1942 – Thursday
March 19, 1942
We arrived at Oroquieta, Misamis at 6:30 a.m. and were docked by 7 a.m. The people of the town thinking we were Japanese ran into
March 20, 1942 – Friday
March 20, 1942
Attended Mass at 8 a.m. Breakfast at the house of Senator Ozamis. Left Jimenez at 10 a.m. for Ozamis Misamis Occidental with all the party.
March 21, 1942 – Saturday
March 21, 1942
Today is San Benito, my late father’s feast day. I asked an Philippine Army Chaplain to say mass at Detrick’s hotel. I took Communion. During
March 22, 1942 – Sunday
March 22, 1942
Attended mass in the Church of Dansalan. A new wooden building beautifully built and immaculately clean. It was a pleasure to sit inside and pray.
March 23, 1942 – Monday
March 23, 1942
Got up at 8 a.m. At 9 a.m. the air raid alarm was sounded. Three planes flew over our camp headed North. Apparently they believe
March 25, 1942 – Wednesday
March 25, 1942
Attended mass at 8 a.m. 9:30 a.m. visited the new installations for the Air Corps.
March 26, 1942 – Thursday
March 26, 1942
Attended and served Mass. Returned to Del Monte. 12:30 p.m. went with Vice-President Osmeña to Mr Crawford’s evacuation house for lunch. Returned to Del Monte.
March 27, 1942 – Friday
March 27, 1942
When we landed in Batchelor’s Field some Australian Air Force officers met us and took us in two dilapidated cars to their camp where we
March 28, 1942 – Saturday
March 28, 1942
We attended Mass in a little church and then proceeded to the landing field. While there we were able to discover that the missing plane
March 29, 1942 – Sunday
March 29, 1942
Attended early Mass in the town church. After breakfast left for the landing field. We took off at 8:30 a.m. and landed in Adelaide at
March 30, 1942 – Monday
March 30, 1942
Arrived in Melbourne at 9 a.m. We were met at the station by General & Mrs. MacArthur and his staff. The President and members of