Out on the rear porch, I can see that the Japanese batteries are firing right into the fire — and it's spreading rapidly. I'd call it a holocaust now. By 2000, two large fires raged on the north side of Manila: the old one that started around 1300 and the new one barely 40 minutes old.

Ferrer is in charge of the guerrillas in Domingo Santiago — barely 200 yards away — while 50 yards from me are three Japanese guarding a house on Piña Street. The guerrillas have driven up and down Santa Mesa on a jitney with an American flag but always pulled up short at the top of this hill, which leads to Piña-Sociego and Manga Avenue. Many have been asking why they didn't "get" the outnumbered Japanese.

The Liberator Magazine today put out a one-page special edition today containing two messages for the Liberators and the Filipino people. The first message welcomed MacArthur; the second explained how we could "help the army of liberation":

First: Watch out for Japanese and Filipino saboteurs [who] are causing many of the fires here in Manila.

Second: Watch closely the movements and hideouts of all those whom you know for a certainty to have been working as spies or collaborators to the Japanese, and report such findings to the investigating body that shall take charge of such affairs in the Philippines.

Third: As much as possible keep to your houses until the all clear is given.

The issue must've been printed nearby and distributed to everyone — no need at last to fear former collaborators and spies, who in fact have suddenly become the most ardent of pro-Americans. A few of them were even seen distributing the Liberator today!

. . .

2005: No light, no water, no electricity, no telephone, no newspaper, no radio, no order, no transportation, no nothing — only sporadic machine-gunning more to the east of the Pasig River.

2014: I was talking when I noticed a flash through the crack of the door. I got up instantly for a look when ... BOOMRHHH ... a terrific explosion shook the earth. We've had about 15 of these in a row now adding fuel to the fire. The one at the right seems to be in Rizal Avenue where the famous San Lazaro Hospital is — the same one where civilian corpses are reported to be piling up. Dad's yelling in the porch.... WOW! A record earthquake — reverberations resounding throughout the whole city.

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