Bongbong went to Ilocos Norte (airborne by President Fokker) at 6:45 AM and he landed back at Manila at 12:30 PM and bade goodbye to our people there. As Imee says it is such a Marcos stronghold you come out of there in high spirits and self-confidence. Bongbong was met by the pupils lined up from the airport to Batac Elementary School and then to the Ilocos Norte High School at Laoag with the girls screeching and screaming and kissing him. As Cong. [Roque] Ablan [Jr.] wired, sorry but Bongbong is more popular than the President or First Lady is. He delivered a touching speech in both schools—a speech on the Marcos forbears having been nurtured by this land he had to leave for a strange one much as he wanted to stay and study there. The governor (Jose Evangelista) declared him a candidate for congressman in twelve years.
Now I know he has roots in the old homeland. Unlike the children of other presidents who have to retrace with extreme effort the ancestral roots.
Official Gazette for August 27, 1970: President Marcos ordered a study toward the evolvement of an integrated plan to implement the provisions of law on the grant of cost-of-living allowances to school teachers. The five-man committee created by the President, headed by Undersecretary of Education Juan Manuel, was required to submit its recommendation within 15 days. Cost-of-living allowance for public school teachers are authorized under Section 18 of Republic Act No. 4670, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers. Payment of these allowances, however, would take effect starting fiscal year 1974-1975, according to the implementing rules of Republic Act No. 5447.
The President mostly worked at his desk. He did not receive any visitors. He broke off from paper work only once, to administer the oath to Brig. Gen. Romeo Espino, vice chief of staff of the armed forces, as major general, in a ceremony held at Malacañang. General Espino has been in the service for more than 20 years. He was vice commander, Philippine Army; superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy; and commanding general, Philippine Defense Forces, a position he still holds in a concurrent capacity
The President also inducted Nereo Andolong, former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, as major in the Philippine Constabulary, on duty with the Office of the President.
Present at the induction were Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, Undersecretary Jose Crisol, Commodore Hilario Ruiz, deputy chief of staff; ranking officers of the major commands, including Brig. Generals Rafael Ileto, Philippine Army; Eduardo Garcia, Philippine Constabulary; Jesus Singson, PAF; and Commodore Dioscoro Papa, Philippine Navy.
After the induction ceremonies, the President continued to work on official papers during which he issued two proclamations, one declaring Monday, August 31, a special public holiday in the province of Zambales and in the city of Olongapo, and the other declaring September 19 this year as Law Day.
August 31 marks the 63rd birth anniversary of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, whom the President described as “an earnest defender of the common man,” who dedicated himself to the improvement of the public service and “did everything for the advancement of the Republic.”
The President, in his other proclamation, said that Law Day would bring to the attention of the people the “vital role of lawyers in the life and well-being of the nation.” He stressed that the administration of justice is indispensable to a sound and vigorous democracy, and that lawyers play an important role in this respect as well as in “enhancing the rule of law in our democratic society.”
The two girls are in throes of their exams. But I can feel their wish that they were going to a school abroad too. They may have to go to some foreign schools later.
The caucus of the senators has resulted in almost nothing certain except perhaps the peace and order fund. The amendment of the tariff and customs code, quarterly payment of the corporate income tax and sale of military lands, etc. are being objected to. Apparently the opposition led by Sen. [Dominador] Aytona who is still trying to blackmail everyone into support for IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills, Inc.].
So I am writing the two leaders of Congress to place on record their responsibility for the failure of the monetary stability program. We have asked to borrow and the World Bank has called a meeting of a consultative group of creditor nations in Paris on Oct. 1-2 but we may not be able to accept the credit they extend us at such favorable terms.
I am convinced that the senators are conspiring under the guise of protecting the public welfare. They all have their private interests and ambitions to protect.
We will have to play their game and get the best out of this situation.
Imelda and I could have gone to Ilocos Norte to accompany Bongbong. And he wanted me to. But we wanted him to be on his own, standing alone to meet the uncertainties and achieve his own little success, which he did.
So we are happy that we did not escort him. We would be a perennial crutch for him if we had.
The same thing is true for his hunting trip to Cagayan last summer. He was on his own.
So now he is slowly emerging as a young little man. And I like what is coming out.
Florante Caedo, the young sculptor is now working on his bust which looks incredibly like him in his young naïve freshness.