In Death’s Shadow: Stories of Kempeitai Atrocities in Cebu, 1943–45 by Romola Ouano Savellon

Out of print title. 

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Romola Ouano Savellon details 16 stories of tragedy as much as of hope from interviews she conducted either of survivors who lived to their ripe old ages like the Ortizes, or the descendants of those who met their end in the hands of the men of Capt. Tsuruyama, the local Kempeitai head. Interspersed with the deeply moving stories are photographs of the war as well as those featured in the book, who were tortured and imprisoned at what is now the administration building of CNU. Dr. Savellon’s work is even more important because she provides for current and future generations a floor plan of the Kempeitai headquarters and which offices of the CNU administration occupy them today.

The 16 stories featured in the book cover the lives and fates of Gov. Hilario Abellana and his wife, Encarnacion; Jovito Abellana (whose memoirs, “My Moments of War To Remember By” was also published by USC Press in 2011); Eduardo Ouano, the author’s very own father; Marcelina Guanzon-Caballero; Manuel Gotianuy, the honorary Chinese consul; Carmen Rodriguez-Capada; the Villoria brothers Jose and Ildefonso; Restituto Bacalso; Martin Alfafara; Castor Ylaya; Cornelio Decenteceo Lucente; Tomas Abella; Lt. Candelario Sanchez; Capt. Frank Chew; the “eskrimadores” or “bagani” (warriors) of San Nicolas; and the Ortizes.

In the book, Dr. Savellon also provides a list of the Kempeitai prisoners that runs to about 238, including one boy and 27 others whose names escape the present. The hope is that their stories will also be written soon.
A Philippine import. Limited copies available.

Details to be added soon!


C.E.