PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, together with their children Imee, Bongbong and Irene, visited historic Limasawa Island, Leyte, to attend the ceremonies commemorating the 450th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in the Philippines.
The First Family debarked at 10 AM at barrio Magallanes, one of the five barrios on the island which have a total population of 4,000.
Highlight of the rites was a special Mass concelebrated by Julio Cardinal Rosales before a makeshift altar erected on the very spot where Fr. Pedro Valderama, chaplain of Magellan’s expedition, said the first Mass ever celebrated on Philippine soil, on March 31, 1521.
The President’s son Bongbong read the epistle. Bishop’s of the Catholic and Philippine Independent churches took turns reading the gospel and delivering sermons during the commemorative Mass which lasted more than one hour.
In his brief speech at the ceremonies, the President urged the continued partnership of the state and the church in bringing about a new reawakening of the Filipino people.
The President, who was the guest of honor, recalled that when Magellan planted the cross on the island 450 years ago, it marked the beginning of Christianity in this country.
By means of the cross which, the President said, symbolized the union between the state and the church, Magellan started a revolution which completely changed the culture and orientation of the Filipinos.
Among those who attended the commemorative rites were Rep. Nicanor Yñiguez, members of the Catholic hierarchy and representatives of other churches, Spanish Ambassador and Mrs. Nicolas Martin Alonzo, Portuguese Ambassador and Mrs. Julio Menina Salcesas, National Historical Commission Chairman Esteban de Ocampo, National Archives Director Domingo Abella, Philippine Historical Society President Eufronio Alip, Carlos Quirino of the Filipinas Foundation, Philippine Historical Association Vice President Gloria Santos, and other provincial and local officials.
Following the Mass, the First Family visited the nearby spring where Magellan and his men were said to have slaked their thirst and bathed to get relief from the summer heat. The First Family were also guests at the inauguration of a chapel built on the spot where Magellan had planted the cross.
During the ceremonies, formations of Philippine Air Force jet fighter planes flew in salute formations over the area, adding color to the festivities.
The Presidential party left Limasawa about 3 PM for the return trip to Manila.
On developments on the hijacked PAL plane, the President welcomed reports about the release of the aircraft with Filipino passengers on board.
The President’s reaction to the reports was preceded by an appeal to the leaders of Communist China seeking, in the name of humanity, the immediate and safe release of the Filipinos held hostages by the hijackers. He made the appeal in a cable sent through the Prime Minister of Burma, General Ne Win, from RPS 777.
The President expressed the hope that through the representation of General Ne Win, the leaders of Communist China would without delay release the passengers.
Following is the President’s statement on the return of the passengers and plane:
I join the families and friends and all those who have prayed for the safety of the passengers aboard the hijacked Philippine aircraft in welcoming them home.
My family and I are happy to note that none of the passengers suffered any injury or abuse on their person from the hijackers. Nevertheless I cannot but express dismay that so many lives had been risked and endangered by the adventurism of a few individuals. They have gained absolutely nothing by this act, and we hope that they realize this too.
We thank those who might have been instrumental in effecting the immediate release of the aircraft and the persons aboard. We wish to assure the public that the government will dig into the bottom of the incident and take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety of those who travel by air.
We had occasion to express our concern over the crime committed by plane hijackers when we made a strong stand at the United Nations against air piracy. On this occasion we reiterate that concern with new vigor and new intensity.
We are on the way back to Manila. We cannot proceed to Poro Point directly as Imee has to go under the knife for her turbinates. And as she must leave on the 14th of April so she can pass by the United States, she has to go to the hospital tomorrow evening upon our arrival at 7:00 PM
The 450th year of the first mass at Limasawa was a success with pilgrims coming from all places. It estimate the number of people there at about 15,000.
I delivered a speech after the mass by His Eminence Julio Cardinal Rosales in which I referred to the fact that the State and the church are in partnership in commemorating the day inasmuch as during the time of Ferdinand Magellan the state and church too were joined as one as shown by the planting of the cross at the peak where they could see the sea and as denoting his claiming the island for his sovereign, King Carlos I of Spain.
This was after I made them laugh first about the fact that Ferdinand Magellan came to Leyte (Limasawa) to enter into the ceremony of the casi-casi or blood compact with Datus Kolambu and Si-Ago. But Ferdinand Marcos came to Leyte and entered into a stronger blood compact with Imelda Romuuldez.
“And if Magellan had seen Imelda, he would have gone to Tacloban instead of Limasawa!”
“Now that we seek a reorientation, a reawakening and the restructure of the social order, we need again the partnership of the Church and State to change the heart of the Filipino before he can change his surroundings with his life.”
Sec. [Manuel] Syquio made a substantial stage. Historians like Dr. [Esteban] de Ocampo, Chairman of the Historical Commission, Dr. Domingo Abella, Chief of the Archives, Dr. [Eufronio] Alip, professor in history, Dr. Carlos Quirino and Dra. [Gloria] Santos were there to[o].
So are the Spanish and Portuguese ambassadors and their ladies who are going back to Manila in the 777 with us.
The hijacked BAC III has returned to Manila with all its passengers and crew.
We have the complete list of the hijackers—six of them, all students and activists.
Apparently the plane reached Canton only where it was sent back.
This morning I cabled Gen. Ne Ulin of Burma to intervene. So did we ask the Swiss. Yesterday we had asked the British and the Indian government to intervene.
The British embassy was one of the first sources of the news that the plane and passengers as well as crew were on the way back.
The purpose of the hijacking was the communists wanted to go to Peking to raise funds for the communist movement.
The hijacking will give new ideas to the radicals. We have to guard against kidnapping, assassination and sabotage now.
These are all in the plans of the communists.
Speaker [Jose B.] Laurel refuses to give up gracefully despite 58 signatures of congressmen demanding his ouster. He insists in meeting me. He cites the fact that last year 72 signatories demanded his replacement but when I turned it down, he retained his seat as speaker.
I have adopted an attitude of non-intervention of what is a pure internal affair of the House. I intend to continue doing so.
Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat yesterday delivered a privilege speech against me for saying that the Senate should also open its books for accounting. He said “who is he to demand reform. He should open the books of Malacañang for scrutiny. We started to reform long before he started to do so.”
We should keep him neutralized while I attend to the House conflict. But he is the most corrupt of the big politicians he poses and postulates as a clean and honest man but he has grown fabulously rich in public service. He violates the law and the constitution by having acquired a big forest concession in Surigao del Sur managed by ex-Gov. [Alita?], which concession is covered by a contract with the government. No senator or congressman can be financially interested directly or indirectly in contracts with government.
He actively participates in stopping legislation which prejudices his economic interests. Thus he has blocked amendments to the Tariff and Customs Code.
It is said of him that no matter his convictions, any amount of contribution to his campaign funds will break down his position.
But then I did not challenge the Senate to open its books of accounts. This was the newspaper slant which apparently offended Puyat.
I was asked to comment on the Manila Times editorial that it was time for both the Senate and the House to bare their books of accounts, I merely said, probably they should.
Thus do the books of the media operate-promote a fight between leaders so that there is news.
In the accounts of Pigafetta, the datus in Butuan and Surigao as well as Leyte went to Limasawa to hunt and meet each other.
As Limasawa is now, there is nothing to hunt. Even the well of Magellan (about two hundred yards from the shore) is a dirty hole almost like a carabaos wallow although it is only about a meter in diameter.
There are no trees to speak of. But the jungle of old has been replaced by coconut trees which with the cogon and underbrush gives an impression of greenery to alien eyes like those of the ambassadors of Spain (Nicolas Martin Alonso) and Portugal (Julio Menina Salcedas) and their ladies.
But the sea was clear and the fish swimming in the shallow water right close to the boats made fascinating watching. The marine life could be seen clearly as the bottom is white coral sand.