1941 Manila

The last glory days of the Pearl of the Orient.

It was that time of the year again wherein the young women of Philippine society will be introduced. But as I see it, it is more like a chance for their families to show their young daughters to potential husbands. It is my first time to attend this event since I arrived last year. It is a night called Las Debutantes de Manila or The Debutantes of Manila. A tradition kept by the Spanish-Filipino mestizo families who lived in Manila for several generations.

In 1941 fifteen beautiful young ladies will be introduced to young bachelors like me, my brother Andres, and many other young men from different parts of the country. Some were heirs to vast lands, industrialists, and real estate businessmen like my father.

The debutantes were all dressed to the nines, in their traditional traje de mestiza and many other dresses, though some of their dresses already had American influences. 

They all entered the grand ballroom of Manila Hotel. The tenth girl introduced caught my eyes. She was smiling while she was walking and being introduced holding on to her father's arms. Her name is Emily Almeida. She hails from a family of tobacco farm barons from Ilocos Sur the Northern part of the country. I can feel my hands get cold and butterflies in my stomach as she looked at me while walking. 

The band started to play music for the Rigodon de Honor or something like a cotillion social dance. I was the ninth man in line so my partner was supposed to be ninth girl. I asked Enrique, my best friend to trade places with me and he agreed. Now, Emily is my partner. We marched from two separate lines and met in the middle, I bowed in front of her while she curtsied in front of me. I asked for her hand then we started to dance. I felt some beads of sweat coming out of my forehead. The dance made us switch partners every now and then but Emily still caught my eye in the sea of young ladies. 

After the dance it's now time for socials. A cocktail party with endless food of both local and Spanish origins. I got a glass of water to offer to Emily. The ballroom was filled with piano lounge music as people started to mingle. The ladies' parents are in one corner observing if their daughter will be approached by a young man. 

"Buenas Tardes Señorita Emily. Are you going to spend the whole night sitting down or would you like to have a dance with me?" I said as I offer her the glass of ice water I got in the bar. The air conditioning of this ballroom doesn't really imitate cool weather as I experienced in Europe. 

She looked shy and hid her face behind her fan. But I saw her eyes  glancing at me. I smiled and finally introduced myself. Women here are different compared to Madrid. They're still more of a Pride and Prejudice type of ladies. Which is not bad as I think but they're like bound in this tradition like how tight their corsets were. 

"Pardon my manners. My name is Francisco Fàbregas. You can call me Pancho." I said. She folded her fan and extended her hand.

"Emily Almeida, It's nice to meet you Pancho." She said, then she stood up while holding my hand.

The band started to play again. We started dancing in a waltz song. I learned waltz when I was a boy. Máma taught me and my siblings how to dance and told us that it would be beneficial to us when we grow up. It was still quite old fashioned here in Manila. In Spain people are now dancing the Charleston, Foxtrot and so many other dances that made this one look like a vintage relic.

Emily knows what she's doing, and I glanced towards the rest of the crowd. The other young women looked jealous as I danced with Emily. Then I looked right back at her. She had deep brown eyes, her curly hair draped neatly to her back, some were tied with a ribbon. She looked so different from the girls I've been with in Madrid. She still holds a sense of innocence that some or even most girls I met there don't have.

I made a joke and asked her to glance over Enrique and his partner. Enrique's hands are now slightly going lower and lower from where it should be.

"His hands should be way up higher than where they are." Emily said. She then laughed for realising how her friend must react from him. But she seemed fine with it.

"I'm sorry for my friend, Enrique. He's a nice guy. He just have this keen eye on girls." I replied. She smiled and laughed again. Her smile dazzled much more than the diamond earrings she's wearing.

"I think I know you. Máma told me that you were studying Economics in Spain, then you got stranded there for almost four years before finally going home. I saw an article about you in the newspaper too. My máma showed me a picture of you and your brother." She said. The band finished playing and I escorted her back to her seat. I sat beside her to get to know her more.

"Yes I was a student of Economics in Madrid. How about you?" I asked it without realising that girls here aren't still studying in fields like mine since the older generation believes that women and business should never be mixed.

"I am not studying right now. But I am reading books about geography and literature. It's my dream to go to Spain and study. Papa said that I shouldn't. He believes that I should stay home, be a good wife, and raise Catholic children. There's no need for me to study there." She replied frowning and looked down a little.

She took a deep breath and vented out how she felt about her life. 

"I want to be free from all of this. I want to live independently like the women in books and magazines I read." She said. Obviously she doesn't like her life. The life we were raised in to was still quite old fashioned.

We talked and talked until it's time to say goodbye. I kissed her hand goodbye and closed the door of her car. I clipped a note in her hand that says: "Meet me in the plaza tomorrow."

I came home from the debutante ball. Well life here in Manila for me has always been like this. At night, we were invited to non-stop parties, chasing girls with my best friend Enrique Soriano, and my cousin Ignacio. During the day, nonstop polo matches in Los Tamaraos Polo Club, and business lunches hosted by my Pápa. Life couldn't be better after I arrived from Madrid.

When I entered our home, it's already past 12mn. All of the lights are switched off. I saw Papa sitting on his favorite chair with a drink of scotch on his left hand and a cigar on the right.

"Pancho! I just talked to my friend in the army and he knew that the upcoming war is inevitable. The Japanese are here now and will attack soon. The Americans will resist. You, your mom and your little sister, Patricia should stay in her family's estate in Pangasinan right away. Your tiya Lucia agrees to this and is expecting you soon. The war is serious and may cause a lot of damages here in Manila." He said where I sensed firmness and urgency.

"But Papa, what about you and Andres? Will you be staying here? I don't think I can take care of Patricia, and Máma by myself." I replied.

I knew that this day would come. The Japanese wants to conquer all of Asia, like how Hitler wants Europe as I have read in a newspaper. Now it's happening right before my eyes.

"I know hijo that you just turned twenty. But I need to stay here to do some preventive management on our business. Andres just enlisted to join the air force months ago and will be flying soon. Besides, Lucia promised me that nothing will happen to you there. Your mom lived there, her whole life. Your Lolo and your aunt Lucia will take care of you." He said, and reassured me.

My dad, being strict and firm wasn't really new to me, but this time I can sense his fear for our lives.

Note: I will be attaching pictures that can help you visualize the main characters. The pictures below are pictures of Filipino actors/actresses in the 1950s. I do not the pictures and all credits shall be to their respectful owners. 

Francisco "Pancho" Fàbregas

Andres Fabregas 

Emily Almeida