The war became the equalizer
of the rich and the poor. Living in a
simple bahay kubo and a grandiose
mansion are of total different spectrum.
But then, the family must adapt and
bare the atrocities the war fated unto
them.
After seven months of stressing
the life in a small bahay kubo, the Razon
family never once heard news from their
father, Don Julio, since his departure
for military service. The family builds
horrid yet probable doubts. But their
emotions quickly shifted. With hopes
sang by the radio announcers together
with the distant war sounds, the family
rejoices as they hear that the Americans
are slowly driving out the filth of the
Imperial Army from the archipelago
and knowing that their father would
come home sooner than they thought.
Mang Nato, and his son, Toto, still
remains to be of service to the family,
catering to their every needs.
Seven months seemed to just
have walked by, adding the wait for the
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end with another month of uncertainty,
fright and grotesque thoughts that
envelopes around the Razon’s kubo. The
children become restless and show signs
of sprouting rebellion. Doña Maria loses
hope that her husband will ever return
alive. She leans on to Mang Nato for
comfort, affection and protection thus
making her fall in such a sudden state
in a terrible time. Mang Nato, feels the
same way about Doña Maria, but being
ever-so-loyal, pushes her away; keeping
his promise to Don Julio that he will
only protect his family and never betray
him.
One night, as the family, Mang
Nato and Toto gather to say their grace
before dinner, a loud explosion that
seemed to have been coming from the
tanks and gun fires nearby, rigorously
disrupts the dinner. After things have
calmed down, Toto spots a severely
wounded American soldier lying
outside of their kubo, helplessly begging
for help. Nato immediately decides to
help the soldier by taking him to their
HUBIN MAGAZINE
camp. With the permission of Maria,
Nato and Toto leaves the family. On that
very same night, the explosions came
back and it went on for long hours. The
three ladies, their mother and their little
brother, hugged and comforted each
other until the bombings in the area
calmed down. Little did they know that
after the explosions, a bigger one will
drop by and change their lives forever.
A Japanese army squadron headed by
Captain Hajime with Sergeant Abe,
Private Akihiro and their wounded
comrade, Private Mamuro survived
that night and were on their way to the
Razon’s bahay kubo.
The Japanese soldiers search
for shelter where they can treat the
wound of Pvt. Mamuro. Soon, they have
spotted the Razon’s Bahay Kubo and
were heading towards it. Cpt. Hajime
knows that the Imperial Army is losing
the war, which puts his state of mind in
a vengeful state.