Meanwhile, the Japanese, who were still in Agusan were becoming harsh. The guerillas, seeing the end of war was near, felt like having been given a new serum. They started ambushing the Japanese patrols with the Japanese retaliating on the civilians. The civilians, on the other hand, went deeper into the forest and swamps. On the month of November, American planes started bombing enemy installations in Agusan and the Japanese became scarcer. With the daily bombing by American planes, the Japanese stopped making their patrols. By the month of June, 1945, the Japanese left all the other towns of Agusan except Butuan. They could have been preparing to leave For Davao, when the Americans and Guerilla took the gunboats at Binuangan, Tubay and landed at Nasipit in July, 1945.

It was sometime, before the guerilla landing at Nasipit when the Japanese were in retreat that Helen, my brother-in-law, Nonoy (Vicente, Jr.) and myself had one of the most terrifying experience of the war. Unknowingly, on our way to the Alviola Evacuation place at Baan, where we were invited to see their Rhode Island poultry, we went through the tall talahib reeds, towards the national highway, which we decided to take, and heard a shout. We came out of the talahib right into a long line of Japanese troops, marching to Butuan from Surigao! Two soldiers with fixed bayonets approached us and in their language and hand signals, ordered me to climb the nearest coconut tree for young coconuts. On seeing that I did not make any move to obey, one of them cocked his rifle and threatened to shoot and bayonet me. On seeing this, my wife cried and placed herself between the Japanese and myself. At the same time, Vicente, Jr., immediately went to climb the nearest coconut tree. He was able to drop three or four young coconuts and this satisfied the Japanese who took the coconuts and brought us to a high ranking officer whom I know was a General, since he was full of medals. Insignas was also mounted on a big horse. In front of him and all over the place were spread and the hordes of their wounded and foot soldiers, whose number we could hardly believe existed in Agusan. I learned later that those troops were what was left of the Battle of Leyte, crossed over to Surigao and retreated to Agusan for their last stand.

After quenching his thirst, the general motioned us to go. Go we did - running as fast as our legs could carry us until we reached the Alviola Evacuation place, panting and almost fainting from exhaustion. We stayed for two days at the behest and hospitality of the Alviolas before going on to Mahay, lest we meet again the rest of the retreating Japanese Army.

The landing at Nasipit was a beautiful sight to watch. Multi-colored lights resulted from the firing of cannons to soften up resistance. From Nasipit, the Americans proceeded to Butuan and finding no resistance here as in Nasipit, went up the river towards Loreto and La Paz. They encountered resistance at Waloe, Langasi-an, Santo Tomas and Malapitan, but eventually, the Japanese, upon learning that it was the Americans they were now fighting, decided to surrender. By the end of August, 1945, the mopping-up operations in the upper stretches of the Agusan River was completed.

The Americans established camp in Butuan and the civilians started returning to the towns. From Guiasan and Banza, we moved to my father's old house at Buhangin across the town. Dances were held and it was fun watching the girls going to the dance hall dressed in either the white nylon-silk from the parachutes or the fatigue mosquito net with fatigue undershirt for chemise. Generally, the pervading atmosphere was a happy one. Again, the smokers were smoking their favorite brands like Chesterfields, Camel, Lucky Strike, Raleigh and Old Gold. Children were feasting on chocolate bars like Babe Ruth, Butterfinger and Hershey and candy rolls like Life Saver and Chewing Gums. Pipe smokers were again savoring the aroma of Half and Mixture 79. People were eating Australian rice and canned goods from the PCAU. While others were making wine for the Americans, Helen started to make bread like Pan de Sal and American bread with the flour from an American soldier- friend. I did the kneading but naver felt tired after watching how fast our bread would sell in Butuan from our home bakery. Vicente, Jr., and Victor, my brothers-in-law, would peddle in the bread in the poblacion across the river.

With the arrival of Congresswoman Elisa R. Ochoa with relief goods from Manila, Mayor Garcia and myself, helped in the distribution of Australian rice, canned goods and relief goods to the different municipalities. People started rebuilding from the ashes of the war. Little by little, the number of houses grew.

Classes were resumed and guerillas were being reverted to inactive status. Those who preferred to stay were absorbed into the Military Police Command, which later became the Philippine Constabulary. Meanwhile, when the civil authority was returned to the Philippines and those elected in 1941 were reinstated, Congresswoman Elisa R. Ochoa, persuaded me into accepting the Justice of the Peace post for Wawa-Ojot district and Las Nieves, which now includes the town of Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte and the towns of Esperanza, Bayugan and Sibagat, Agusan del Sur. When I acceeded, Congresswoman Ochoa had my appointment signed by President Sergio Osmeņa, Sr....