Anything Under the Sun
Emerita Secusana Nietes
During the war, there was Emerita Secusana, a 13-year old lass from Jordan, Iloilo. She was part of the Panay guerilla intelligence network in the guerilla headquarters at Barrio Barang (now Barangay Rizal), Jordan.
She was under Capt. Luis Herrera tasked with providing information on Japanese troop movement in Iloilo City. As a cover up, with a basket in her hands, she pretended to be a vegetable merchant from Guimaras to Iloilo City.
On day, after landing at Ortiz wharf in Iloilo City from Guimaras on a paraw (sailboat), like all other passengers, Emerita was searched by the Japanese with bayonets.
When the Japanese shouted at her, she got nervous and stood still crying. The Japanese got mad and made her stand under the sun for hours. The Japanese did not know that the message to be transmitted to other guerilla units in Iloilo City was sewn at the hemline of her dress. Then she was released.
Despite this experience, Emerita continued to serve the resistance movement. Later, a Filipino spy suspected her but before reporting it to the Japanese, this spy was caught by the guerillas and executed.
After the war, she married Victor Nietes from Hamtic, Antique where she is presently residing.