Mt. Mayon across the Gulf of Albay at dusk, a lone outrigger banca under sail

A memoir of the Philippines · 1941–1945

Sweet Land
of Liberty

A Philippine Odyssey

By Kay Fox

❦

In December 1941 the Japanese landed on the beach below Kay Fox's home in Legaspi, beneath the perfect cone of Mt. Mayon. With her husband Ren and two small sons she fled — by banca, by night, from island to island across Albay Gulf — sheltered for eighteen months by Filipinos for whom the words “You're welcome, Mam” could have meant death. This is her account of those years — of hiding from the soldiers and slowly starving, of the kindness and courage of the people who took them in, of internment at Santo Tomas and Los Baños, and of liberation at the very hour set for their execution.

Read Listen Journey Map

Contents

PeaceChapters 1–2

  1. IThe Sweet LandLegaspi — San Rogue, Albay · 1937–1941
  2. IIWar Comes CloserLegaspi — San Rogue, Albay · December 1941

Invasion & FlightChapters 3–6

  1. IIIThe Japanese in the GardenLegaspi, Albay · 12 December 1941
  2. IVFlight to San MiguelTabaco → San Miguel Island · 12–17 December 1941
  3. VAcross to GoaGoa, Caramoan Peninsula · 18 December 1941
  4. VIThe Road BackTiwi → San Miguel Island · 19–20 December 1941

The Hidden IslandsChapters 7–17

  1. VIIThe Hidden BeachSan Miguel Island · Late December 1941
  2. VIIICastawaysSan Miguel → Cagraray Island · January 1942
  3. IXInto the InteriorCagraray Island · Early January 1942
  4. X“You're Welcome, Mam”Cagraray Island · January–February 1942
  5. XIThe Raid and the StormCagraray Island → Gueron · February 1942
  6. XIIGueronGueron, Cagraray Island · February–April 1942
  7. XIIIThe Hilltop HutCagraray Island, four miles inland · April–June 1942
  8. XIVIsland SocietyCagraray Island · Mid–late 1942
  9. XVA Guerrilla ChristmasCagraray Island · November 1942 – January 1943
  10. XVIA WeddingCagraray Island · Early 1943
  11. XVIINamondieNamondie Island, and back · February 1943

InternmentChapters 18–24

  1. XVIIISurrenderGueron → Legaspi · May–July 1943
  2. XIXThe Train to ManilaLegaspi → Santo Tomas, Manila · July 1943
  3. XXSanto TomasSanto Tomas Internment Camp, Manila · July–September 1943
  4. XXIChristopherManila → Los Baños, Laguna · September 1943 – mid 1944
  5. XXIIBarracksLos Baños Internment Camp · 1944
  6. XXIIIThe Hidden RadioLos Baños Internment Camp · 1944
  7. XXIVThe Hungry WinterLos Baños Internment Camp · December 1944 – February 1945

LiberationChapter 25

  1. XXVLiberationLos Baños → Manila → the open sea · 23 February – April 1945