You recently became part of the promotion team of the flag carrier of the country, and you're tasked to shoot a new travel commercial. On the first night, you find yourself in a different world set 80 years from the past---a time where the world was...
Aftermath of the Battle over Batangas, 12 December 1941
The Sixth Pursuit Squadron, from six P-26s was left with four and was assigned to reconnaissance missions. They operated out of Batangas again.
On 14 December, Lt. Jose Gozar met three Zeros and claimed a "kill" in the encounter. Nine days later, Lt. Jose Kare battled a Zero over Ragay Gulf and shot it down. The "kill" was confirmed; Kare was wounded but managed to return.
On 21 December, Japanese's invasion forces landed in Lingayen, Pangasinan when there were no more air resistance. Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered a retreat to Bataan as contemplated in "Rainbow 5"—USAFFE would hold out and await reinforcements, and Corregidor would keep the Japanese navy out of Manila Bay.
The following day, MacArthur needed a Filipino hero that Capt. Jesús Villamor, credited with shooting down two enemy planes, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Lt. Alberto Aranzaso was also credited with shooting down a Japanese plane and was awarded the Silver Star. Other recipients of the Silver Star were Lieutenants Godofredo Juliano, Manuel Conde, Antonio Mondigo, and Geronimo Aclan. But the awards for the lieutenants were only given as ordered by 16 February 1942.
Later on, PAAC was ordered to destroy its last planes and join the retreat to Bataan. Villamor, unable to destroy the plane himself, told a sergeant to do the job.
On 24 December, the Commonwealth Government was evacuated to Corregidor. And Manila was declared as an "Open City".
After ninety-four days, on 9 April 1942, Filipino and American forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese.
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Aside from the Sixth Pursuit Squadron
Lt. Fermin Fernando (? – May 1942; mentioned and/or appeared on Chapters 16: Skid, 24: Downdraft, and 28: Blind Transmission)
Ateneo's basketball forward and César Basa's teammate in college survived the Bataan Death March. He was brought to the Capas Concentration Camp afterwards. Lt. Felipe Buencamino III heard that he was dying on 18 April 1942, and the following day, Dr. Escoto of the Red Cross mentioned that there was no hope for him. He later died due to cerebral malaria on May 1942 according to Victor Buencamino, Felipe III's father.
Lt. Fernando was roughly only twenty-two years old.
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Lt. Felipe Buencamino III (28 March 1920 – 28 April 1949; mentioned and/or appeared on Chapter 28: Blind Transmission)
Son of Victor Buencamino and grandson of Felipe Buencamino, the infamous Filipino turncoat who've joined the Spaniards in the Philippine Revolution and switched sides to join Emilio Aguinaldo's revolutionary government, finished Pre-Law in Ateneo and was mentioned to be part of the swimming team with César Basa. He served in G-2 (military intelligence), Philippine Army, in Bataan. A survivor of the Death March, he was also sent to the Capas Concentration Camp and was later released. (The date was unknown as his last entry in the camp had been on 21 April 1942, the diary later resumed on 21 September 1944 where he was back in Manila.) After the war, he was admitted to the bar on 31 March 1948, became a postwar print and radio reporter, and diplomat in the Philippine Foreign Service. He married María Zenaida "Nini" Quezon, second daughter of President Manuel Quezon. He was slain with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Aurora Quezon, sister-in-law, Ma. Aurora Quezon, and others, in an ambush perpetrated by the Hukbalahap on 28 April 1949.
