Guerrilla Daughter

6. Life in Claver and Help from Australia

 six  Life in Claver and Help from Australia Since Claver was the location of the 114th Infantry Regiment headquarters, its population rose and fell according to the number of guerrillas visiting the area at any given time. It was a convenient and safe spot for those seeking respite from the rigors of constantly moving around without proper food and shelter while either engaging or evading Japanese forces. The occasions when Rudy and Hank came to town were causes for celebration at our house—we were as thrilled to see them as they were to be home and able to enjoy the simple comforts of shelter and family meals. In about four months of guerrilla service, my brothers had gradually changed from teenagers into more mature (and thinner ) young men. For the first time, we noticed the beginnings of facial hair— Rudy’s was a little darker while Hank’s was lighter and hardly noticeable. Their old khaki shorts were frayed, and their shirts, already patched in some places, badly needed additional repairs. Like the majority of the guerrillas in the enlisted ranks, they were barefoot. Mom was concerned about the well-being of her boys but kept her demeanor cheerful, as she tried to make their brief visits as enjoyable as possible. Many of the guerrillas were young and single, so it was natural that a few romances blossomed. A happy event was the marriage of Lucy McCarthy and Bob Spielman in August 1943. Paul Marshall served as best man. Bob and Paul had escaped from DAPECOL together. Our little bakwitan located up the hill served as a honeymoon cottage for the newlyweds. I only learned about this fifty-five years later, when I met Lucy and Bob at the 1998 annual reunion of the AGOM. I was touched when Lucy told me how Mom had placed in the hut a basin of water, along with soap and a towel (soap was definitely a luxury 95 96 Guerrilla Daughter item). She had also left a note congratulating them on their marriage, adding that she wished she could have done more. Looking back on that period in Claver, Lucy and Bob’s wedding definitely stands out as a bright spot. It was a welcome diversion from the reality of life in a dangerous environment and the ever-present fear of capture by the Japanese. And yet, for our family in particular, living conditions were much better than they had been during our first months in hiding. Compared to our previous hiding places, notably the tiny one-room nipa shack perched on the roots of mangrove trees, the house in Claver was luxurious. With its limited amenities, however, the work associated with simple day-to-day living would have been disheartening to anyone with less grit and determination than my mother and my sister. Mom was fortunate to have a responsible young daughter like Peach to help her; Peach carried her share of the burden without complaint. For me, life in Claver was almost carefree (not too dissimilar to the experiences of modern-day kids at summer camp), with limited responsibilities and only a few chores. Having the freedom to roam around the town and its environs was exciting. The families of my new friends welcomed me into their homes and often invited me to share their meals or snacks. I accepted their hospitality unhesitatingly. My fluency in Surigaonon improved, and after all these years I still remember a song that I learned during that period: Parong parong bukid, Ang buktut naligid. Diin dapit nalikid? Sa bukid na bakilid. Unsa ma’y gitambal? Tubig na pinabukal. Gracias sa Dios, Ang buktut natulid. Roughly translated, it’s about a mountain with lots of butterflies, where a hunchback accidentally slid down a steep slope. He was treated with water that had been boiled and, thanks be to God, he became straight. Since I had never seen a hunchback I didn’t know how one could be cured by boiled water, nor did I understand the significance of the butterflies, but the tune was catchy, and it still resonates in my head from time to time. A couple of months after we arrived in Claver, we learned that there was one Life in Claver and Help from Australia 97 disadvantage to in-town living and my close interaction with new friends— the transfer of head lice. In no time at all, those pesky...