Dear Mother Putnam : a diary of the Second World War in the Philippines / by Marcial P. Lichauco
Title
Dear Mother Putnam : a diary of the Second World War in the Philippines / by Marcial P. Lichauco
Subject
Lichauco, Marcial Primitivo, 1902-
Philippines--History--Japanese occupation, 1942-1945.
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Filipino.
Description
One of the first diaries published after the war detailing life in occupied Manila, the first edition of this book came out around 1949.
This remains one of the most important sources on Manila during the Japanese occupation; Lichauco was a practicing lawyer and keen observer of contemporary events. He had written a book on the American conquest of the Philippines and knew Roxas, Quezon and many other political leaders personally. He was married to an American woman (who was pregnant at the start of the war), which made his position in Manila more precarious.
Lichauco originally began the diary as a letter to his foster mother in the US (hence Mother Putnam), when he studied as a pensionado in Harvard. As the war took longer than expected, the letter eventually became a diary, some of which featured extensive entries. Lichauco wrote this under great personal risk, as the Japanese forbade the writing of diaries, particularly those critical of the Japanese. The diary begins on December 8, 1941 and ends on February 24, 1945, as the Battle of Manila was ending.
This book contains many significant observations on major events. This reprint adds background information on the author as well as photographs, which were not in the first edition.
This remains one of the most important sources on Manila during the Japanese occupation; Lichauco was a practicing lawyer and keen observer of contemporary events. He had written a book on the American conquest of the Philippines and knew Roxas, Quezon and many other political leaders personally. He was married to an American woman (who was pregnant at the start of the war), which made his position in Manila more precarious.
Lichauco originally began the diary as a letter to his foster mother in the US (hence Mother Putnam), when he studied as a pensionado in Harvard. As the war took longer than expected, the letter eventually became a diary, some of which featured extensive entries. Lichauco wrote this under great personal risk, as the Japanese forbade the writing of diaries, particularly those critical of the Japanese. The diary begins on December 8, 1941 and ends on February 24, 1945, as the Battle of Manila was ending.
This book contains many significant observations on major events. This reprint adds background information on the author as well as photographs, which were not in the first edition.
Creator
Lichauco, Marcial P.
Publisher
[Manila : s.n., 1996]
Date
1996
Format
18 x 13 cm.
Type
Softbound
Identifier
85098
Call Number
D 802 P6 L5 1996
Accession Number
16123
Pagination
x, 220 p., [12] p. of plates
Illustration
ill.
Files
Collection
Citation
Lichauco, Marcial P., “Dear Mother Putnam : a diary of the Second World War in the Philippines / by Marcial P. Lichauco,” FHL-Roderick Hall, accessed February 18, 2026, https://fhl.omeka.net/items/show/309.