Amidst these challenges, the family must also contend with the threat of violence from the Japanese soldiers. Don Rafael is arrested and taken away for interrogation, and his son, Luis, is forced to go into hiding to avoid the same fate. The family's matriarch, Doña Esperanza, is left alone to care for her younger children and protect them from harm.
Despite the hardships they face, the family members find strength in their unity and their love for one another. They support each other through the darkest days of the occupation, and eventually see their country liberated and their family reunited. "Courage" is a moving tribute to the resilience and strength of the Filipino people during a time of great adversity. It is a story of love, loss, and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.
The novel emphasizes the importance of family bonds and the power of hope in the face of overwhelming adversity. It also sheds light on the little-known history of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, a chapter in World War II that often gets overshadowed by other major conflicts. "Courage" is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the strength of the human spirit to endure and overcome.