Have just arrived from the birthday party of Numer (Numeriano Pabilona), Imelda’s hairdresser but old campaigner since 1965 who has branched out into a men’s barber shop.
Official Gazette for July 8, 1970: President Marcos said that the crash program to establish at least one cooperative in every municipality could spell either failure or success for the economic development of the country.
In extemporaneous remarks before some 150 employees of the Presidential Arm on Community Development (PACD) and the Cooperative Administration Office (CAO), who came to Malacañang from Los Baños where they are taking a course in cooperatives, the President said that cooperatives “are possibly the only salvation of many retarded areas of the economy.”
The President spent a normal day of desk work, receiving callers and holding conferences with officials and other parties.
In the morning, one of the first groups to see the President was that composed of officers of the Agricultural Cooperative League of the Philippines, who came accompanied by Agriculture Undersecretary Arturo Tanco. The group discussed the cooperatives in the agricultural areas of the country.
Later in the day, the President had occasion to pursue this subject further when the PACD and CAO trainees called-on the Chief Executive. The group was accompanied by Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto Maceda and CAO Director Virgilio Pagulayan.
Other callers during the day included a delegation of employees of the Rizal Park, who petitioned for a permanent fund to underwrite the payroll and operation expenses of the Park; and Mr. and Mrs. Noble Randolph Woodward of San Diego, California, who paid a courtesy call. Dean Cesar Concio also saw the President on official business.
The rest of the President’s workday was spent in studying official reports and scanning other state papers. He signed Executive Order No. 243, which created a National Committee for Mineral Explorations and Survey Operations. The creation of the new body firmed up further the President’s approval last July 2 of the proposal to create an inter-departmental task force for oil exploration, as well as for a survey of other minerals and geothermal resources.
On the occasion of Republic Day, the President issued the following-message:
“Twenty-four years ago today, we emerged as a modern republic from the rubble of war to grow into one of the most stable governments of Asia and in the world. July 4, 1946 marks the culmination of our long years of relentless struggle to preserve our freedom and independence as a people. It should not be lost on us that on that day, too, we forged a strong and enduring partnership with the American people in the pursuit of equality and harmony among nations.”
Later in the morning, the President officiated at the ceremony conferring on US Army Maj. Gen. Autrey J. Maroun the Philippine Legion of Honor, rank of commander, for his services to the Philippines as chief of the Military Planning Office of SEATO. The First Lady and Mrs. Maroun along with other prominent guests from Philippine officialdom and the US embassy here attended the ceremony.
The rest of the day was devoted by the President to paper work in his study and conferences with officials on various problems of the country.
While working on state papers, the President:
1. Created an executive committee to act as the advisory body of the FAO Seminar on Measures to Accelerate Benefits from Water Use at the Farm Level, set for October this year in Quezon City.
2. Amended Executive Order No. 238, issued last May 15, creating the “Commission on Population,” by making the director of the National Media Production Center (NMPC) a member of the commission.
3. Constituted a three-man committee to look into the feasibility of the government acquiring interests in an oil firm in the country
This is old times’ week. Met with the small groups of campaigners in the last four campaigns who have not been given any favors. Some came to present a resolution for (Felipe) Baby Ysmael. “We do not care very much if we do not get anything from you provided you remember us” were the nostalgic words of most who were dissolved into tears. They were most happy to see me again.
I may appoint Baby as Ambassador to Australia. He would be an effective ambassador.
And I have to appoint a more effective ambassador to London. Ambassador [Narciso] Reyes wants out. It is too costly out there.
Worked on agricultural cooperatives and consumers’ cooperatives which would be the salvation of our economy.
The stock exchange here and in the U.S. as well as Australia is suffering a slump. In January for instance, Atlas cost P212 a share. Now it is down to P143. PLDT [Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company] which was $12 is now $6. Now is the time to buy if you have any money.