I start to write a second book on my birthday. The momentum pushes me forward. And just like the first this is a book that begs, nay, demands to be written.
It is the book of the third world, mostly Asia, Africa and Latin-America about which Western writers pontificate and Western statesmen speculate so easily.
And the growing pompousity [sic] of media in their sanctimonious self-righteousness; their inclination to rewrite history (contemporary history) with the looking glass of the modem age—TV as well as the subjectivity, too, of the modem newspapermen who manipulate news.
The dilemma of the developing states and their ambivalence: they complete freedom but they unconsciously depend upon the big states and former colonizers for both security and
Official Gazette for September 11, 1971: Thousands of well-wishers converged at Malacañang as President Marcos marked his 54th birth anniversary. Unlike in previous years, no previous announcements were made for the day as the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, had expressed their intention to observe the day quietly with a few close relatives and friends.
In deference to the wishes of the First Couple, the armed forces had dispensed with the traditional loyalty parade at Camp Aguinaldo on the eve of the birth anniversary of their commander-in-chief. However, as early as 8 a.m., the Palace grounds started swarming with people who sought audience with the First Couple to greet the President on his natal day.
The President started the day working on urgent state papers in his private study. At about 11:30 a.m., the First Couple emerged from the study, and was promptly swallowed by the big crowd of admirers which jampacked the spacious reception hall. Among the well-wishers was Mrs. Josefa Edralin Marcos, the President’s mother. The President and the First Lady cheerfully acknowledged the greetings as they inched their way to the ceremonial hall where Mass was said.
The “Mass of the Holy Spirit with Special Thanksgiving” was said by Fr. James Donelan, S.J., assisted by Fr. Juan Bautista, chaplain of the Presidential Guard Battalion, and the Sto. Domingo Boys Choir. Following the Mass, the President and the First Lady repaired to the Heroes Hall downstairs where lunch was served for their guests.
The affair ended at 3 p.m. after a musical program where members of the Cabinet and the Armed Forces and their ladies took turns in presenting surprise numbers to the delight of the First Couple and their guests. Other participants in the program included members of the Bayanihan Dance Troupe and a choral group of cadets from the Philippine Military Academy who gave snappy renditions of Happy Birthday songs.
During the day, the President received hundred of wires from chiefs of state from all over the world, national and local officials, civic and religious organizations, and prominent and plain citizens felicitating him on his birthday.
Later in the afternoon, the President addressed a letter to Acting Mayor Jose Luciano of Makati (Rizal), advising him that he had lost all rights to act as mayor upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy for the position of mayor of the town. The President told Luciano that he was considered resigned from office as councilor upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy and. having ceased as such, had lost all his rights to act as mayor.The President cited Section 24 of the Electoral Reform Code of 1971 (R.A. 6388), which provides that “any elective provincial, sub-provincial, sub-provincial, city, municipal, or municipal district officer running for an office other than the one which he is holding in a permanent capacity shall be considered ipso-facto resigned from his office from the moment of the filing of his certificate of candidacy.”
development.
The closing demand of these two urgencies; security and development on limited resources.
I will still make it fashionable to think and write. Intellectualism will be the fad.
Even those who have not read a book in the last ten years insist on having my book and discussing it. So at least this is one achievement of the book.
The ludicrous posturing of the big powers—the United States, Russia, China, or England, France (which are not so big powers) and the potential power Japan.
The book that candidly portrays the media throughout the world and the big superpowers would certainly raise a furor.
And it is about time somebody wrote such a book.
11:00 PM—We are watching a biographical presentation of Channel 9, KBS [Kanlaon Broadcasting System] at the State Dining Room. “A ______”
“Let us think of him with kinder thoughts if not forever, at least for today.”
The mass at 11:00 AM and the luncheon was so well attended, both Malacañang on both floors and Maharlika [Hall] were jampacked.
[Alfredo] Piding Montelibano [Sr.] and all the Montelibano sons were here. Everybody says knowingly that Piding is a pragmatist and sides with the strong one—Ergo Marcos is still strong.
Everybody is talking of the book.
I was touched by the presentation by the cabinet members through their offsprings [sic]—or the younger ones anyway. Specially when they ended with the song “You walk through a storm, Put your head up high, And don’t be afraid of the dark.” I was also touched by their song “The Impossible Dream.”
Even in the mass by Father Donelan, I could feel I was in communication with my Creator. The sermon on being alone was apropos. And as I prayed I felt tears springing to my eyes from the joy of communication. I was on the verge I believe, of one of those mystic seizures where the spirit lifts up from the body.
So I prayed for wisdom, strength and patience so that I may make the right decisions.
Ilocos Norte male mayors presented a skit of women characters. Quite amusing.
We were rained out from our golf game. But the rain stopped for the blessing of the new helicopters (three Hueys).
Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros called my attention to the causes of the rise in prices.