Part I – Payapang Daigdig

"There we go, sparkling and shining!" Maria said upon seeing her reflection on a red Christmas ball that she wiped for the imported pine inside Malacanang Palace.

"I'm pretty sure President Quezon will be surprised once this is set."

It was December once again in the Philippine Islands and prior to the 25th December celebration, the mood of festivity is already surrounding the tropics. There may be no snow but Filipinos know that you need no snow to celebrate it, something Maria learned from Spain.

Maria picked up the final touch for the tree from the box, a beautiful star. She tried to crown the evergreen but alas she was too short for it and no matter how much she tiptoed, she can't.

"Ah!" Maria exclaimed as two big hands grabbed her from behind and gave her a boost to put the star on top of the tree.

"Por Dios, por Santo, Alfred! You scared me!" Maria scolded Alfred as she was returned to the floor.

"What? I thought you needed some help. Hahaha!" Alfred replied looking down at her.

"I swear, if President Quezon sees you holding me like that I guarantee you he's going to bring out his rifle from his revolutionary days and shoot you."

"But he didn't" Alfred replied with a cheeky grin.

Maria smiled while trying to hold her anger and gave Alfred the elbow to his stomach.

"But thanks for the help, big guy." She said hugging him.

Alfred's stomach growled making Maria chuckle.

"Dinner will be ready in an hour just in time for the arrival of President Quezon and General McArthur. So for now, just wander the halls or something. If you can't help it, just go outside and buy yourself some turon for the meanwhile."

"Aw… but I just had bananacue earlier."

"Just go already! I still got stuff to do!" She said as she handed Alfred some coins and pushed him out of the room.

An hour later, President Quezon and General McArthur arrived in Malacanang Palace. As scheduled they are to have dinner together with their families including Maria and Alfred. Laughter filled the dining hall as Quezon told every one of his adventures as a lieutenant during the war against Spain and as McArthur told jokes from his exploits in World War I. With both high ranking men talking about the wars they fought in, it was inevitable to talk about Japan's recently growing aggression in the Asia-Pacific Region. With both men talking about bad about the East Asian country, Maria and Alfred excused themselves for some air.

The two found themselves walking the north bank of Pasig.
"Alfred, Kiku has been behaving badly for the past few years. I don't remember him being like that."

"Yeah, I noticed too. You should consider how he treats his work. You know the guy; he's so admirable for his extreme loyalty for the emperor and the government but unfortunately I can't give the same admiration for the emperor and the government."

"But I'm sure he can still tell right from wrong?"

"I doubt it. Look at what happened to Yao and Ivan. He may be a small man but he managed to kick their large asses because the emperor told him to do so."

"I guess you're right. No loyalty must lead to blind adherence to the authority. It's not having freedom."

"Hahaha that's why I oil embargoed him. He's not practicing freedom and boy was he pissed as hell."

Silence filled the air as the evening Amihan blew.

"Alfred, what if Kiku hurts me?"

"Why would he do that? It doesn't look like he has a reason to do it."

Maria stopped walking and looked up to Alfred disappointed.
"I think you're forgetting something, Mister. You promised me freedom in '45."

Alfred placed his arms on his hips and looked at Maria.

"Yeah, I did. I still haven't forgotten about it."

"Yes, and until that year arrives I am your obligation. You still have to take care of me and I still have to report to you."

"Yeah, so what's wrong?"

Maria rolled her eyes.

"What's wrong? I'm still a part of you; you pissed him off. There's a chance that if he doesn't attack you, he will attack me."

Alfred blinked twice to the realization and with his tone serious:

"I want to see him give his best shot. He has to pry your hand from my cold dead hands before he gets you."

Maria looked at Alfred trying to look for sincerity in his words.

A butler from the palace interrupted them.

"Mr. Jones and Ms. Dela Cruz, President Quezon requests you to be back at the lobby to send Mr. Jones and General McArthur home."

As soon as they were assisted to the lobby, the leaders made their warm farewells for the wonderful evening. The countries on the other hand just made it simple.

Soon, everyone went to bed except for Maria. She couldn't help but think of the possible scenarios and if she could really depend on Alfred. With sleep no to avail she decided go to her desk and write 'till she could get any.

She did, but it didn't last long because as soon as dawn was about to show up the phone rang.

"Hello?" The still sleepy Maria asked the caller.

A crying voice at the end of the line was heard.

"A-ate? Nandyan ka ba?" Mayumi (Baguio) asked.

"O, Mayumi? Bakit ka umiiyak? Anong nangyari?"

"B-Binomba dito. Binomba dito ng mga Hapon."

"Puñeta ano?!"

"Binomba dito ng mga hapon!"

"Tumahan ka muna Mayumi at magtago ka ligtas na lugar. Ipapaalam ko agad kay Pangulong Quezon ang nangyari… magpakatatag ka."

"Salamat, ate. Pakibilisan." Mayumi pleaded then dropped the call.

Maria fixed the electric lamp that has been opened overnight. She wiped her face with her right hand trying to let what Mayumi reported sink in and before she could even leave her seat to wake up President Quezon, the phone rang again.

"Hello?" Maria asked.

"Ate, ate! Si Tomas (Tuguegarao) to!" replied the caller.

"Alam mo na rin ba yung nangyari kay Mayumi?"

"Oo, ate… nangyari din dito. Nagbagsak din ng mga bomba ang mga hapon dito!" He said before breaking to tears.

Maria consoled Tomas like how she consoled Mayumi and assured him that President Quezon will know and that support will arrive soon.

Maria is terrified. It really is happening. Japanese advances are happening. She knows at this point it is urgent to inform the President. She grabbed her robe and ran through the halls of Malacanang going to the Presidential suite. She knocked and opened the door and saw President Quezon drop a call.

"Maria, nagsumbong si Dante, binomba din ng mga hapon ang Davao."

She couldn't hold it anymore and broke down. Maria ran to President Quezon crying. Before she could even grieve, plane engines were heard and a few minutes later, large explosions as the Japanese bombed Manila's Port Area and Nichol's Airfield.
Scared as she is, the president tried to calm her down.

"Mamaya na tayo maghinagpis, Maria. Kailangan na nating kumilos."

And so for the rest of the morning, a state of emergency was established and a committee who will handle war matters lead by President Quezon and General McArthur.

The room of the committee was filled with maps and papers flying around as leaders discussed plans of action to minimize civilian casualty and to deter Japanese attacks. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to do as most of the planes and ships stationed in the Philippines were bombed too and were rendered useless.
Alfred and Maria helped answering calls as the generals talked on the table.

Alfred picked up his phone to answer another call but this one got him paralyzed and in a state of shock. Maria looked up to him worried as he never saw Alfred that serious before.

"General McArthur!" Alfred called his attention, causing the rest to be quiet.

"What is it, Alfred?"

"They attacked Pearl Harbor."