I write this at the dining table where Imelda has the girls for the evening (Zita [Feliciano], Lulu [Tinio], Ely [?], Offie [Ofelia Recto]).
Imelda and I have just come from [Bahay] Pangarap where we met the northern Congressmen who have their own requests as we approach the local elections.
They are concerned about the plans for the constitutional convention which is fragmenting into various groups. Even the leadership of the convention is in doubt. Many doubt the friendship of Ex. Pres. [Carlos] Garcia who may be tempted to show independence of the administration and the president. And of course the Lopezes, are now trying to win him. And he is indolent and does not campaign, so he may lose the fight anyway.
And the propaganda for amendments have not been finalized.
If the Constitutional Convention does not do well we will have to adopt an alternate plan.
Congressman Roque Ablan whispered to me tonight that his friend (referring to Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.]) is leaving for Red China tomorrow afternoon on the invitation allegedly of Chou En Lai.
My assessment is that Ninoy Aquino wants to be able to say that he spoke for the President or our government in Red China. He has had the habit in the past of dropping names on foreign soil or of persons from foreign land.
So I asked Ablan not to mention to him his having told me of his message.
The article written by Kerima Polotan on the Lopezes is finished and ready for printing. But there are some libelous portion. I am against printing it. But Republic magazine may run an expurgated version.
I attach copy of the original.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
The second and third pages of this entry are missing.