Hongkong flu with fever, bloodshot eyes and skin rashes that look like German measles but is not is prevalent in Manila today.
Went to the 5th Fighter Wing (Gen. [Jose] Rancudo, CO [Commanding Officer] [Cirilo] Bueno his ExO. [Executive Officer]) base, Basa Air Base at Floridablanca, Pampanga on their 23rd Anniversary. Was going to take the 259 (my presidential Fokker) but on the test flight the feathering mechanism for the right prop would not work. So instead of taking the back-up plane, the 480, I took the heli in one of the Hueys piloted by Lapena and Reynoso. Landed back at [Bahay] Pangarap at about 1:10 PM.
Played around with the children at the lunch table as I had taken lunch in Basa Airbase. Took a nap at 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM as I had slept only five hours last night.
Then the Naval Operating Forces 10th Anniversary at the Navy Headquarters at Fort [San]Antonio Abad which I hope to convert into a war museum when we have funds (I have ordered a war museum to be put at Fort Santiago in the meantime). Stayed until six. Met Gen. Pickett of Jusmag [Joint US Military Assistance Group] who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne and Adm. Meuse who is a scratch player in golf.
Exercised for half an hour, saw one of those green pornographies that pass for a movie (MGM), the girls were completely nude, public hair and all, which disgusted me and actually gave me a stomach ache so that I had to take an antacid (Gelusil) twice and Dr. Dits [Juanita] Zagala insisted at Meldy’s promptings to take an electrocardiograph test which turned out to be excellent (the mountains were higher than Mt. Apo). Then sat for Florante Caedo for my bust sculpture he is working on. It is beginning to look like me although I am not contented with it yet.
OG August 22, 1970: President Marcos flew to PAF Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, to speak as guest of honor at the ceremonies marking the 23rd anniversary of the base.
He left Manila at mid-morning and arrived at the base at about 11 a.m. He was received with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, and trooped the line after the parade and review. In his speech, he asked the air force to maintain its standards of excellence as well as pursue other activities aimed at directly helping the poor and dispossessed in addition to keeping its defense responsibility.
After the ceremonies, the President had lunch at the base with the guests and officers of the 5th Fighter Wing, then flew back to Manila to keep another engagement. Upon arrival at the Nichols Air Base, the President motored straight for the Philippine Navy headquarters on Roxas boulevard, where he was also guest of honor at the rites celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Naval Operating Forces.
Again, the Chief Executive asked the navy to fulfill all its missions, keep its units in sharp trim, while also contributing to the civic action program which seeks to enhance the improvement of socio-economic conditions, especially in the rural areas.
Returning to Malacañang, the President rested briefly then attended to his desk work.
Had occasion to direct the procurement of mortar and gun locators for our defense. They have been used effectively in countering mortar fire in Saigon specially during the Tet offensive of last year.
I also directed the FOIC [Flag Officer in Command] of the Navy, Commodore [Dioscoro] Papa, Gen. [Manuel] Yan, Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile to occupy Flat and Nanshan Islands. The air force photos show there is no activity in these islands about 180 miles west of Palawan and east of Freedom Island which is about 250 miles west of Palawan, which Freedom Island or Itu Ato has been occupied by the Nationalist Chinese.
Hope there are no international complications.