March 31, 1942 – Tuesday
March 31, 1942
Paid a courtesy call on General MacArthur. I discussed with him my situation. I told him that I did not want to go to the
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.
April 1, 1942 – Wednesday
April 1, 1942
Called on General Brett and General Royce. Had dinner 7 p.m. at the home of Sir Norman Brookes. Delightful dinner. Fine company. After dinner we
April 5, 1942 – Easter Sunday
April 5, 1942
I attended Mass at the President’s house. Then the President asked me to go with him on a picnic, at 10:30 a.m. It was a
April 7, 1942 – Tuesday
April 7, 1942
The Vice-President asked me to accompany him to the tailor and shopping.
April 11, 1942 – Saturday
April 11, 1942
The President called a Cabinet meeting at 3 p.m. Present were the Vice-President, Lieutenant Colonel Soriano, Colonel Nieto and myself. He discussed extensively with us
April 12, 1942 – Sunday
April 12, 1942
Attended Mass in the house where the President was staying (25 Albany Rd., home of Norman Myer) and we were asked to stay for breakfast.
April 13, 1942 – Monday
April 13, 1942
Went with the Vice-President to the President’s home at 9 a.m. He went with us and Colonel Soriano to the Headquarters of General MacArthur where
April 14, 1942 – Tuesday
April 14, 1942
We received word that the raid over Davao, Cebu, Nichols Field and Nielson Airport had been successful. Our bombers (three B-17’s and eight B-25’s) had
April 18, 1942 – Saturday
April 18, 1942
Went to the house of the President for conference at 9:30 a.m. Went at 10 a.m. to the Headquarters of General MacArthur. Conferred with General
April 19, 1942 – Monday
April 19, 1942
Attended Mass at President Quezon’s house. He asked us to stay for breakfast. At 10 a.m. I went to General MacArthur’s Headquarters to finish some
April 20, 1942 – Monday
April 20, 1942
I went out with Vice-President Osmeña to the center of the city. Left him there and went to the President’s house. At 10 a.m. I
April 21, 1942 – Tuesday
April 21, 1942
Got up early, finished packing, paid my hotel bill and rushed to house of the President. 9:30 a.m. returned to Hotel Chevron, to pick Vice
April 22, 1942 – Wednesday
April 22, 1942
Nothing unusual . Trip rough but comfortably cold. The only inconvenience is the black out which is a real “black out” from sunset to sunrise.
April 23, 1942 – Thursday
April 23, 1942
At 11 a.m. the destroyer left us and an Australian Cruiser escorted us. Sea quite rough. Mrs. Quezon and daughters sea sick.
April 26, 1942 – Sunday
April 26, 1942
Attended Sunday Mass at 7:45 a.m. Very rough. Mrs. Quezon and the girls did not attend. At 11 a.m. The U.S.N. Cruiser Richmond arrived to
April 27-28, 1942
April 28, 1942
At sea. It is quite warm as we are now near the Fiji and Samoa Islands and approaching the equator. The sea is calmer.
April 29, 1942 – Wednesday
April 29, 1942
7:30 a.m. We were advised by Captain Nelson, commander of the President Coolidge that a plane had been catapulted from the Richmond to locate the
May 1-8, 1942
May 8, 1942
At sea. Our ship and the cruiser are zigzagging continuously. The temperature is much cooler.
May 9, 1942 – Saturday
May 9, 1942
Arrived San Francisco Harbor 7 a.m. Colonel Stillinger U.S. Army and a commander were sent by the War and Navy Departments, to be the Military
May 10, 1942 – Sunday
May 10, 1942
Kept busy shopping. Visited Mr. & Mrs. Toni Bayot at their house. Drove with the Broadlents to Berkeley. At 10 p.m. Left San Francisco for
May 13, 1942 – Wednesday
May 13, 1942
4 p.m. Arrived in Washington, where President Roosevelt and members office cabinet were assembled to receive us at Union Station.
May 15, 1942 – Friday
May 15, 1942
6 p.m. Took train for New York. Arrived 10.10 p.m. Chiquit (my half-sister) and Howard (her husband) met me at Pennsylvania Station and took me