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AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING CO. EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA 1982
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American International Publishing -Sofia G. Adamson - 1982
All rights reserved - no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in magazine or newspaper.
Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress catalog card number: 72-91145
Table of Contents Page Prefaces
Chapters
I II III IV I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI
Appendix
I II III
August 12, 1956 1960-1963 February 27,1981 Geneology 1870-1919 1919-1938 1938-ApriI15, 1939 April 15, 1939May 10,1939 May 10, 1939September 3, 1939 September 3, 1939December 7, 1941 December 8, 1941January 1, 1942 January 2, 1941May 8,1942 May 9, 1942December, 1942 December, 1942September, 1943 October, 1943February 2, 1945 February 3, 1945February 15, 1945 February .17, 1945October, 1945 1946-1952 1952-1963 1963-1982 Epilogue Adamson University Map of Campus Directory Courses Offered
IV V
vi VIII
1 21 59 77
91 117 131 143 161 173 179 193 205 217 225 229 237 238 239 240
PREFACE-I The important thing is to begin. For some time now, friends have said, "Sofia, you should write a book." There is such a thing as a ripening and a proper timing which I have needed. But as I have waited for this to happen, new experiences keep piling up. Perhaps I shouldn't have listened to the reporter from a Los Angeles newspaper who, in October of 1945, said to me, "War books are dead. You're too late." If he hadn't clipped my wings then, I might have written a story about the Philippines crisp with cutting memories of those years, with the pain still fresh . As it was. on our return to the States, I had been out of touch with life here for six years. I felt uneasy. We had to find our way again. The young reporter, asking his snappy questions, seemed to know all the answers, so I took it for granted that he was right. I was too late. War books were dead . That was that for a few years. I have no young reporter to consult now. So I am beginning. I think I have something to say, because life has been unusually generous to me. It seems to continue to be, so I'd better pause here and now and set it down so far while I have a little breather, because, considering past performances, there's quite a bit more living to do. August 12, 1956 South Pasadena, California
IV
PREFACE-II Quite a bit more living has led us to Bataan. We'll be here for some time, and time is what I need to collect all the stories in my mind that have heen told to me. There was always the question, "But how did our family come to America?" It was a tale that had many threads that had to be woven together. It is curious that I should write about my heritage in a jungle of the Philippines, and in the very place where Americans and Filipinos first met Japanese in combat in World War II. Perhaps, here, near Manila, the Pearl of the Orient, some pearls of wisdom will be revealed by the memories of other times, people, and places. Perhaps freedom and what it means, so desperately fought for here, will inspire me to tell of other personal battles for freedom in the blood that runs in my veins: the freedom of a woman, from want and war, even from family pressures.
Let's see how far I'll go. 1960-1963 Samal, Bataan, Philippines
v
PREFACE- III Now, the phrase, "Sofia, you should write a book" has been said more often, and like a rose handed to a friend, a phrase meant to compliment. I have lived a lot since I first started putting the story on papcr, as I predicted in 195,6. Now, let's see if I can get caught up. This is probably as good a fime as any, as orthopoedic surgery is a great way to pin someone down. If I procrastinate any more, it may be too late. I hope my mind will spill out all the tales that the years have spun for me in a way that will appeal to a reader.
Greece, Los Angeles, Manila and Pasadena, once completely remote from each other, are now being blended together. But I hope each will retain its characteristic flavor, just as I hope that all of us whose forebears c<\.me to these shores for freedom will retain a respect for our roots. Someone said, "Dwell on the past and you lose an eye - ignore history and you lose both!" Another said, "In the land of the blind, he who has one eye is a king." I have tried to keep both eyes open . February 27, 1981 Pasadena, California
VI
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II E R I TAG E Gods,
angels & pearls, roses I by Sofia Adamson
. Roderick HIIII ColI.
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13868
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CT 111. A3 A34
I. III II A II Y
THE AUTHOR This portrait of Sofia Adamson, the author, was painted by Fernando Amorsolo , the Philippine's most noted artist.