Imelda and I are so happy with the children. Irene is on the piano, Imee and Imelda are reading Bongbong’s last letter through diplomatic pouch (he complains that the English are not skillful in settling the Post Office strike) in which letter he lyrically speaks of his first view of snow—where the entire countryside is white—“all white,” only to turn into miserable gray mud later on.
Imelda and I have been planning together. We look forward to retirement from politics in 1973. But the northern congressmen who had dinner with us were insistent on Imelda running for President in 1973 or 1975 if my term is extended as it apparently will as a compromise to the parliamentary system where I could be prime minister for an indefinite period.
Official Gazette for March 4, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS discussed plans for updating the radar system at the Manila International Airport and the Mactan Airport in Cebu with Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel B. Syquio, CAA Administrator Federico Ablan, Jr., and Col. Jesus Villamor (ret.), who called at Malacañang for the purpose.
Also taken up during the meeting were certain aspects of the national electrification program.
After the meeting, the President received a group headed by Mayor Lino David of Tarlac, Tarlac, to discuss local problems. Others in the group were Councilor Benjamin Rivera. Municipal Treasurer Antonio Punzalan and Assistant Treasurer Butch Nicolas.
Of special concern to the Tarlac mayor was the reconstruction of the public market which was razed by fire. He said that the town needed financial aid to rebuild the market.
Next to see the President was a delegation from Bataan led by Rep. Pablo R. Roman, who conferred with the former on the free port zone in that province. With them in the meeting were Secretary Syquio and Teodoro Peña, who heads the Foreign Trade Zone Authority.
Peña showed the President the blueprint of the planned facilities within the zone, including piers and the housing project to be built by the SSS.
Other callers were Allan Foran, general manager of Ford Philippines, who conveyed the appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford II for the
Hospitality extended them during their recent visit here; the new set of officers of the Philippine Association of Board Examiners, who were inducted by the President, with Eric Nubla as president; a delegation of the Provincial Election Supervisors Association of the Philippines, led by Rodolfo C. de Guzman, association president, who petitioned the President for a raise in the salary of the supervisors.
In the afternoon, the President confined himself mostly to his desk work, during which he signed the nomination of Jose M. Evangelista as Chief of Mission, Class III, with the rank of ambassador.
A career diplomat, Minister Evangelista was recommended by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo and the Board of Foreign Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Evangelista has, until his nomination, held the rank of Chief of Mission, Class III. He was the last of the three Deputy Chiefs of Mission in Tokyo before his promotion.
During the day, the President ordered the dismissal from the service of two municipal judges who had been found guilty of charges ranging from immorality to grave abuse of judicial power.
Ordered dismissed were Leandro P. Reyes, municipal judge of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental and Francisco D. Boter, municipal judge of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur.
The removal of the two judges was recommended by the secretary of justice, who concurred with the findings of the district judge assigned to investigate them.
Whatever it is, our cruise with the Fords, O’Donnells and Rothchild has made us closer to each other and exhilaratingly happy.
I am more than ever in love with her.
The Lopezes apparently have had a rapprochement with Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas and [J. Amado] Amading Araneta an old-time enemy and the latter’s father-in-law.
[Fernando] Nanding Lopez repeatedly states he is running for President in 1973. How does this jive with the ambition of Gerry Roxas for the same year?
Rosseller Lim of Zamboanga del Sur, who was formerly congressman and senator, and who has played golf with me, Nick [Nicanor] Yniguez and [Mohammad] Ali Dimaporo twice (yesterday and today) openly says he is tired of attacking me and will support me now to judge me after my term.
He also informs me that Nanding Lopez and Gil Puyat have told him frankly that they are running for President in 1973.
So are [Salvador] Doy Laurel, Jose Diokno, possibly [Arturo] Tolentino, [Benigno] Ninoy Aquino [Jr.] (although a companion of Nanding Lopez when talking to Atty. Lupiño Lazaro the Pasang Masda [Pangkalahatang Samahan ng Maynila at Suburbs Drivers Associations] head said Ninoy Aquino was running as the Vice President of Nanding Lopez) and [Jovito] Salonga.
And the communists still hold the aces. If they go through with their plans, they will start disorders in July and August and prevent the Constitutional Convention from working. This is probable as they now know that they cannot control the convention and will not accept a constitution of democratic orientation.
If this happens I will be compelled to impose martial law to fight the communists and protect the republic.
Good-natured ribbing of [Ramon] Monching Cojuangco [Sr.] who had whispered to Imelda after a frenzied round of dances with Cristina (Ford) that he was doing his duty and a security officer overheard commenting (by Imelda) that his performance was outstanding beyond the call of duty but he was enjoying it; and of too much drinking including [Edmundo] Munding Reyes who was trying to get Cristina and Sybila and Janet drunk and getting drunk in the process, then speaking Spanish to Cristina’s Italian and singing when he has never sung a note.
Sly and laughing remarks about me accompanying Janet Rothchild in an energetic and exhausting dance and I have never danced since 1969; then swimming at 9:00 AM the following morning and joining Ambassador [Henry] Byroade in a towel sarong in bringing Janet and Owen to Corregidor by helicopter (Imelda catching up with us as we were ready to take off).
All a lot of fun.