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Louise Fillmore Blancaflor

Louise Fillmore Blancaflor

An American married a Filipino doctor, Cornel Blancaflor.

September 29, 1942

Yesterday morning at 10:00 a.m. we were badly frightened again as the planes flew over us, but they did not bomb. We believe they are

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September 30, 1942

The typhoon is still raging and it is a terrible one. Trees have been uprooted and flimsy nipa houses have been blown down, although it

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October 1, 1942

Today makes four months since Coné was taken prisoner and I am wondering how well he is doing on his meager rations. We are packing

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October 3, 1942

We arrived at Estrella’s place in San Carlos at 4:30 a.m. A USAFFE car passed us on the road and they were kind enough to

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October 5, 1942

We are very peaceful here as we cannot hear any shooting to disturb the tranquility of our surroundings. Yesterday morning planes flew over a short

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October 7, 1942

Last night I was awakened by gunfire. I could clearly hear the sound of machine guns, rifles and mortar fire. The fighting occurred outside of

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October 8, 1942

This morning a guerrilla soldier passed by and brought us the news that American bombers from Alaska had bombed a Japanese-occupied island in the Aleutian

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October 15, 1942

On Saturday, Oct. 10, we evacuated to the mountains. Our nipa hut is situated on a hill and we can see for miles around us.

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October 17, 1942

On Thursday night (Oct. 15) and Friday (Oct. 16) there was fighting all the way from Leganes (a town outside of Jaro) to Pototan. There

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October 20, 1942

We are very peaceful in our new evacuation place; there have been no planes flying around since we have been here, but we do hear

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October 21, 1942

News came from Iloilo that many wealthy and prominent people have been concentrated by the Japanese, including Dr. and Mrs. (Bessie) Jalbuena and Bessie’s sister,

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October 22, 1942

The fall of Pototan took place on October 20, 1942. The Japanese that were left escaped to Iloilo in armored cars and now Pototan is

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October 25, 1942

Today is Sunday and we are very quiet. Since Pototan has been taken, we no longer hear gunfire or the booming of trench mortars. Two

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October 27, 1942

Yesterday and today have been very quiet. We have heard the drone of planes, but did not see them as they were very far away.

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October 30, 1942

It is five months today that Coné has been taken prisoner, and it seems like five years. We are in hopes that he will be

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November 4, 1942

Several days have passed since I have written. It is very quiet out our way since Pototan has been taken by the Army, but there

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November 7, 1942

Very early this morning we heard cannon fire toward the direction of Iloilo and Jaro and at about 7:00 a.m. two planes passed overhead near

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November 10, 1942

Three days ago I went to Estrella’s house which is located along the main road (about 11⁄2 miles from here) to meet Don Ramon Lopez,

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November 13, 1942

This morning while eating breakfast (at 6:30 a.m.) I could hear the booming of a cannon. At first we thought it was a ship shelling

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November 16, 1942

It is seven months today that the Japanese landed on the island of Panay and I am wondering how much longer they will remain. The

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November 17, 1942

Last night we were awakened at about 12:30 a.m. by the arrival of Dolly and Estrella’s children. They had to leave Estrella’s house by the

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November 22, 1942

Yesterday about noon we heard the sound of mortar fire – they give off a very loud, explosive noise and at first we thought it

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November 24, 1942

For two days there has been fighting outside of Barotac by the main bridge near the sugar central (refinery). The Japanese used cannons and three

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November 27, 1942

Last night we sat outside watching the burning of the towns of Barotac and Dumangas from our hilltop home. A fine Thanksgiving gift the Japanese

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December 8, 1942

Today is one year since the war started and I am wondering how much longer it will last. I do not believe our forces can

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December 11, 1942

For the last three days the Japanese have been bombing our soldiers near Dinglé and Barotac Nuevo. The enemy says, “they will clean up our

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December 15, 1942

Around our vicinity it is now quiet. There are no Japanese in Barotac or Pototan. They are going in the other direction towards Passi and

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December 19, 1942

This morning we had a bad fright, and remained most of the morning in the shelter. Yesterday morning, about 3:00 a.m. the Japanese entered the

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