People sleep in line all night before a distribution of ice. A block will cost you P2.50 if you can get it, which you can't; otherwise it's worth P180 these hot days. Coca-Cola is still being made, but it'll cost you 25 times prewar. White sugar is offered at P500 a sack. Coconuts doubled in price over the weekend because the Army has taken over the railroads to ship stuff south.

Tribune: "Nippon units mopping up foe in Kohima" — dated the 10th — but the British claim to still have it. "INA-Nippon general offensive against Imphal due soon." We're still waiting.

F.A. denounces extortion practice" of government agents. I don't think any government official, policeman, economic investigator, or constabulary man has been convicted yet for accepting bribes; a few have been acquitted.

At 2030, Maurice and I walked down Buenos Aires Street on the way to the Sotelo's. In front of Vice Mayor Figueras' house, we saw the usual guards plus six policemen — all looking excited. We asked the President of the local Neighborhood Association around the corner what it was all about. "We had a tip a gang was going to raid a house around here tonight. Bandits," he sighed, "not guerrillas.... The raid took place 15 minutes ago in Pureza."

Maurice joked about the chance of any of us ending up doing forced labor. "Well, we may have to do forced labor on those airfields in Quezon City," said the local President, "but we'll kick out the first guy that dares to work too hard."

Fort Santiago: Palomares, the Elizaldes, Buttenbruch and Pirovano are still in.