Malacañang
Sunday
1:00 PM
[p.50] The President must do almost everything in the government. Nothing moves unless he pushes.
So I had to meet the student demonstrators themselves. Their speeches were getting obscene and lewd. I told them that I was sad that they could not deliver more
54 PCGG transcription does not have the entry for Jan. 25 despite the availability of a manuscript entry.
55 Official Gazette for January 25, 1970: President Marcos spent quite a busy day even though it was a Sunday. He started with a breakfast meeting with the country’s labor leaders, inducted the new associate justices of the Court of Appeals, conferred with military generals, and later met with the leaders of student demonstrators. In his meeting with labor leaders, accompanied by Secretary of Labor Blas F. Ople, the President asked them for first hand accounts on the prevailing situation in the country’s economic and social life. Thus, the President obtained direct information from the representatives of the working masses, without relying on the cumbersome formality of written reports.
From this conference, the President excused himself to administer the oath of office to newly appointed Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals, namely: Felix Q. Antonio, Lourdes San Diego, Jose Leuterio, Manuel Barcelona, and Vicente Rafael.
After his meeting with the labor group, the President conferred with a group of military generals headed by Gen. Manuel Yan, AFP chief of staff. The President told the generals to prepare themselves for even greater service to country, even after they are retired from military duty. He said the administration was prepared to help the retiring officers, especially those with valuable technical, executive and organizational abilities in getting into responsible positions in the civilian sector where they could further help in the economic development of the country.
At a meeting with leaders of student demonstrators later, the President prevailed upon them to call off their picket. An understanding was reached between the President and the students on the latter’s demands. Led by Miss Portia Ilagan, the student leaders included Pedro Barrameda of UP, Philip Parca, Julius Ballesteros and Cris Aranda of PCC, Jose Sayson of CLSU, and Victor Parawan and Dever Besana of the PMMA. They were accompanied by UP President Salvador P. Lopez, Dr. Nemesio Prudente, president of PCC and of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges; Secretary Ople, Labor Relations Director Amado Gat Inciong; and Antonio Policarpio, Felixberto Olalia and Rogelio Villegas, all labor leaders.
The President rested briefly after a belated lunch, and then put the finishing touches on his state-of-the-nation message to Congress.He also signed the ad interim appointment of four new members of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, and reappointed another member whose term had expired.
Appointed for various tenures in office were: 1) Abel L. Silva, for a term expiring August 6, 1975. 2) Alexander Sycip, for a term expiring August 6, 1974. 3) Leonides S. Virata, for a term expiring August 6, 1973. 4) Fernando T. Barican, for a term expiring August 6, 1970. Reappointed for another term expiring August 6, 1976, was Dr. Ambrosio F. Tangco, whose original appointment to the UP Board of Regents expired August 6, 1969
moving speeches in more elegant language. We settled the matter but I frankly told them no releases of funds until after July.
I met with the labor leaders for breakfast after the oath-taking of the new Court of Appeals Justices including Vicente Rafael, labor leader who is objected to by Justice Roman Ozaeta of the Philippine Bar Association as he (Vicente) was allegedly an undistinguished labor practitioner.
Also met the extended generals who I am retiring. Gen. Sangalang says he has no luck provided that they will be terminated at the same time. I referred the suggestion to the Sec. of Nat. [National] Defense and the C of S [Chief of Staff] Gen. Yan.
Sec. [Eduardo] Romualdez [Jr.] has his misgivings about the plan to free the rate of exchange and to allow it to seek its own level. He is worried it may plunge down too low. Dr. Zahrkar says from his experience it will not. Anyway I have ordered that we be ready with some foreign exchange to support a more stable rate and to finance the importation of essentials.
56 Nick Joaquin, after bloody demonstrations that attended the SONA, reported seeing the Marcos Diaries, and quoted from it as follows: “Their speeches were becoming more obscene, more lewd. It is sad they cannot deliver more eloquent speeches. They asked for releases of funds. I thought they had understood the releases were to be made in July. I also met with labor leaders, including Luis Taruc, Bert Olalia and the members of the Socialist Party: about 80 labor unions.” Reportage on the Marcoses, p.217