Eriberto B. Misa Jr., Author at The Philippine Diary Project

Eriberto B. Misa Jr.

Eriberto B. Misa, Jr. ( October 8, 1921 — January 3, 2010), Ateneo ROTC cadet who reached the rank of lieutenant in the Philippine Army, seving in Bataan as part of Company A, 2nd Anti-tank Battalion, Regular Division, USAFFE.

December 8, 1941

Feast of the Immaculate Conception and of the Ateneo de Manila. Mass started at seven in the morning. During the mass, someone approached Father Rector

December 9, 1941

At two o’clock in the morning, I woke up and saw from the window huge fires in the direction of Manila. I woke Papa up.

December 10, 1941

This day, I received the biggest scare in all my life. At 12:30 in the afternoon, as I returned to the college, I heard the

December 15, 1941

For the first time since our training started, I returned home with Herme Villarica, a cousin. It’s worth going through all the trouble of training

December 17, 1941

I felt greatly privileged and proud when I was assigned, among others, to guard the Philippine Army Headquarters. Never was I more proud of my

December 24, 1941

My hands were now rough and full of calluses resulting from the intensive training given us. We were being trained 24 hours a day. This

December 25, 1941

The traditional Christmas family reunion was complete but for the absence of Felixberto and his family, who were in Palawan and Gonzalo and George, who

December 30, 1941

Ramon Cabrera, a classmate, called me by phone and told me to hurry and go to the University of Santo Tomas campus where volunteers were

December 31, 1941

I was assigned messenger to the Battalion Headquarters. As a consequence, I was late for my first army meal. The coffee ran short. I had

January 1, 1942

Alfred floored the gas pedal. We overtook convoy after convoy all headed the same way we were. The traffic was heavy and constant that all

January 2, 1942

Last night we slept near a regimental command post. Early today, the regimental Commanding Officer somehow managed to get us a truck. But the truck

January 3, 1942

We were ordered by Lt. Villamor of the BN S-2 to locate a site for our camp. We found a nice shady place along the

January 6, 1942

Luck was with us today. We chipped in and bought a five-peso hen. I did the dressing or rather the undressing and cooking. I should

January 16, 1942

This afternoon, while resting in our camp, we heard the roar of what sounded like tanks. Coming out of our shade, we saw Alfred driving

January 19, 1942

I filed my insurance application for P10,000. My beneficiaries were Mama and Joaquin. Returning in the afternoon from the Battalion Headquarters, I was notified by

January 21, 1942

Orders came from General Francisco to bring one BGC to the Pilar-Bagac junction from where an American officer would take over the command. The CO

January 25, 1942

I remembered Gonzy in my prayers on the occasion of his birthday. I knew his worth. We found our new campsite utterly filthy, having been

January 28, 1942

While the company was having its nightly get- together after a community rosary, a general alarm was called. Fifteen Japanese prisoners had escaped from Cabcaben concentration

February 1, 1942

Orders came for the entire Anti-tank Battalion to move off. Just as soon as we were ready, counter orders arrived. The Tank Company was to

February 6, 1942

About four this afternoon, three Japanese planes flew low over us, apparently on their way back to Manila. As the last plane passed over our

February 22, 1942

George’s birthday. I prayed an extra rosary for him. I asked and was granted permission to go with the jitney to get supplies. My instructions

February 24, 1942

I asked the Commanding Officer to allow me to go to the Battalion Aid Station for a couple of days to rest. I had a

March 1, 1942

Yesterday, Major Dumlao for the first time talked to me since he became our Battalion Commanding Officer. He told me that he received news that

March 30, 1942

On four occasions between the 15th and today, we were shelled from the sea by heavily armed gunboats. Each time we thought a landing would

April 4, 1942

A captain, the G-2 of the Division Headquarters, came to inspect our unit. As he inspected our car, he sat down and talked familiarly with

April 6, 1942

Soldiers by the hundreds, tired, haggard and hungry, passed by our command post. They gave the report that the front lines were already pierced and

April 7, 1942

Since six this morning till dark tonight, we were shelled and bombed incessantly. Planes would fly over us and bomb us at leisure. Before we

April 8, 1942

My tour of sentry duty ended at five this morning. Ramon Cabrera relieved me. As I was about to sleep, I overheard the PC lieutenant

Friday, December 1, 1944

December 1, 1944

All was in readiness for the trip — food, clothes and a portfolio filled with important military information. We were not to take arms with

December 2, 1944

Instead of twiddling our thumbs a full day, my father decided to look over Balanacan harbor to be able to render a more complete report