524 Both the title and what follows occur completely in English in the original text, most of it neatly typed. (Trans. Note)
525 English? But why? Is it the American period already? Just as it was getting interesting. But now as the G.I.s bombard deserted and tranquil Manila Bay (the 1898 Battle of the Bay was a farce, cousin to the sinking of the irrelevant Maine, Admiral Dewey charging decrepit Manila warships barely armed by Spain!)—I feel my skin turn a bluish bile-swarmed hue. I know soon I will descend into rash and burning eczema, a creeping conflagration in the flesh, a familiar itch—whenever history befalls, I mean befouls me. My mouth is beginning to swell, a dumb numbness in my jaw. What about the Battle of San Juan, the successes of Cavite, our valiant wars against the troops of Camilo Polavieja, even against that young future fascist, Primo de Rivera, not to mention our sad yet heroic Republic of Biak-na-Bato and, later, Malolos? Where is that treasured narration of our rising action, in which we beat back scattered Spain, before G.I. benevolence occupied us with terror? A congestion spews in my lungs, an abasic symptom, I need my inhaler again, let me breathe. (Estrella Espejo, Quezon Institute and Sanatorium, Tacloban, Leyte)