The daughter of an aristocratic, wealthy rice plantation hacendero, graduate of a convent in Manila, columnist and family owner of nationwide sociopolitical monthly magazine The Commonwealth Advocate, author of Sulu In Its True Light, member of Manilas "400 social elite," friend of presidents and other political leadersher life was one of few real cares until the Japanese attacked the Philippines on its own "Manila Harbor Day," December 8th, 1941.
Within six months enemy bombs had obliterated her home, Secret Police ransacked and destroyed her magazine offices, rampaging soldiers commandeered her new auto, her husband was dead of malaria, and most male members of her family captured and murderedher entire lifestyle decimated.
She was treacherously incarcerated as a prisoner of war and brutally tortured for three months at the infamous Fort Santiago Prison in Manila. When the inquisitor there declared her dead, she was dumped onto a wagon destined for an unmarked grave.
Fortunately, a medical intern discerned a trace of life, a faint heartbeat, and secreted her to the Belgian Nunnery, where she later gave birth to a son by Caesarian section. Miraculously, one became two of only a handful of survivors of the Santiago "treatment."
After a period of recovery, she resumed her undercover guerrilla activities as a G-2 Intelligence courier for Barrions Guerrilla Division.
Mrs. Block relates many more inspiring eyewitness accounts of miraculous events during harrowing circumstances while aiding American and Philippine groups determined to thwart ruthless enemy forces.
With Hollywood luminaries Lanny Ross, Lew Ayres and Earl Carroll at her side, she inaugurated the first Philippine-style USO in Manila.
She helped future president Elpidio Quirino survive the destruction of Manila.
Transforming a relatively unknown Captain Magsaysay to the prominent rank of colonel within a few minutes, she started him on the road to his presidency.
Discovering that President Roxas was in imminent danger of assassination by a fierce and determined band of disgruntled guerrilla fighters, she single-handedly aborted the attempt and alerted the President. Roxas swore her and her editor to absolute secrecy, and only now her "scoop" is revealedunpublished for more than fifty years!
Under President Quirino, she was sent as an emissary to Washington, D.C., to lobby for a half million unrecognized Philippine guerrillas, widows and orphans.
Later, she became director of the unique peace-centered House On Nineteenth Street, "A Home Away From Home For Foreign Guests" in Washington, D. C.to select scholars and future leaders of more than one hundred nations. In a then-segregated city, "never was anybody turned away because of race, color, religion or gender."
There she had a face-to-face encounter with the very Japanese officer, on a U.S. State Department grant, who had ordered her torture and announced her death.
A member of The National Press Club of Washington, D.C., she has been an exemplar of womens rights and suffrage. Mrs. Block was in the initial cadre of those aiding Philippine women in their struggle to win the right to vote.
Mrs. Block is still active in womens and social affairs in the Philippines and is an energetic member of The General Federation of Womens Clubs, U.S.A. in their charitable work both in the U.S. and the Philippines.
Publisher : Trinity Rivers Pub. (January 1, 2003)
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 188856508X
ISBN-13 : 978-1888565089
Item Weight : 11.2 ounces
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