People are saying that the Kalayaan, a 12-passenger plane gifted to the country by the Japanese, is meant for the pro-Japanese in the government ... to escape when the time comes.

The list of high-rank social and business tycoons in Fort Santiago is the number one topic in town. There was no shortage of opinions, but no one really knew why they were picked up.

The Japanese Navy pounced on The Imperial Shirt Factory, saying they needed its 12 machines. Worth about P50,000 to P60,000; the Navy took them for P3,700.

Benito Razon sold his black, shiny limousine — a Packard Clipper 120 — for P30,000 a bit too quickly to a buyer representing the Japanese Navy. He thinks he could've gotten P40,000, but he was lucky. Soon after, the Navy told a lady that they'd have her Packard Clipper 180 — much better than Benito's — so please give us a price. Unaware of the previous transaction, she only asked for P25,000. The Navy paid her P7,000 and took the car.

When hundreds showed up with food baskets in front of Santo Tomas yesterday, the Japanese relented and allowed them in. So everyone returned again today, including us with a cake for the Connors. This time the Japanese were adamant. The camp is officially sealed — only laundry is allowed in.

Santo Tomas is still serving only two meals per day. The Japanese were clever in one way: they let all the money enter the camp — about P1,000,000 — and now they can sweep it up by charging for extra food. Rice, by the way is now up to P280 per sack from P250 a week ago.