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The Wha Chi retreated to Zambales but ran into enemy troops again. It was a terrifying moment for the Chinese guerillas, who were ill-equipped to disguise their appearances. To make things worse, most of them couldn’t speak Tagalog. they only had two choices,” they could put down thier guns, go to Manila and start a new life as ordinary citizens. Or they could fight on. they felt they were so close; they just couldn’t bring their selves to give up.” They made the difficult choice and paid the price with a 26-day march through the entire length of the Sierra Madre mountain range. They were forced deeper into the forest where there was less and less food. The group, now composed of more than 100 men, ate what they could find: fruits, wild plants and roots. Chinese herbal knowledge also came in handy. Eventually, the bedraggled troupe reached Laguna. They ate their first meal of rice, given by the Filipino guerillas, after three months. Each morsel that slid down their throat was savored with great relish. At the boundary of Laguna and Tayabas, they met the Marking Guerillas and Hunter’s ROTC, which helped them reach Paete on June 3, 1943. Here, they helped organize four new Huk squadrons before moving to Barrio Mahayhay Tayabas, for three months of their own training. On Feb. 19, 1944, the Wha Chi transferred to the Mt. Banahaw area and concentrated on coordinating and uniting various resistance movements. They attracted more recruits, whom they organized into five squadrons.