Slept last night at 11:30 PM. Woke up at 5:30 AM. Could not sleep after that.
Docked at 7:00 AM to the reception of the Governor ([Cording] Diel), Mayor Serina, Cong. [Pedro] Roa and Sen. [Emmanuel] Pelaez with a crowd. Left by car for Del Monte at 7:30 AM. Arrived at 8:15 AM with crowds enthusiastically running to see us and waving welcome.
Played golf (Amb. [Toshio] Urabe and I against the best two balls of Tony Valorin, Tony Jaranilla and Maning Pelaez). Fair game with one 40 ft. putt at No. 9 and at No. 1 the next hole a 14 footer. But missed several short putts.
Lunch at the clubhouse. Tender T-bone steak. Left 12:30 for Laguindingan 50 kms. from Cagayan de Oro on the way to Iligan to inagurate Moresco [Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative] a rural electrification project.
Will service 120,000 people in ten towns at a cost of P11,372,120.00 of which $1,400,000 was borrowed from the USAID [United States Agency for International Development] and P3,400,000 from the old NEA [National Electrification Administration] through the Special Development Fund administered by DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines].
Official Gazette for September 26, 1971: President Marcos officiated at the inauguration of the Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative (MORESCO) at Lagindingan, Cagayan de Oro, which he described as an important milestone in the country’s history. He said the MORESCO is one of the administration’s pilot projects in the cooperative movement which has gained momentum throughout the country.
Among those present at the inaugural rites were Senator Emmanuel Pelaez, some members of the diplomatic corps and their ladies, Rep. Pedro N. Roa, General Manager Ramon Ravanzo of the National Power Corporation, National Electrification Administrator Pedro Dumol, and Henry Baker and Philip Parker of the US-AID.
In another meeting on the situation in Lanao del Norte with the political, civic and religious leaders of the province, held on board the RPS Ang Pangulo, the President succeeded in persuading Gov. Arsenio Quibranza and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa to withdraw from the gubernatorial race to pave the way for the restoration of peace and order in that province. The parties concerned signed an agreement which also made Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion the common candidate upon the suggestion of the civic groups. Sen Emmanuel Pelaez, LP Mayor Camilo Cabili and other political and religious leaders of the province were present.
Later, the President and the First Lady visited some 23,000 people from Lanao del Norte who had evacuated to Ozamis City, to bring relief and urge them to return to their homes. At the gathering at the parochial hall, the President announced, among others, that: 1) He had assigned the 26th BCT to Lanao del Norte with enough troops for every town and with orders to go after the armed bands. 2) CIS teams are conducting raids to ferret out arms from suspects. 3) He had released ₱150,000 for the repair of Ozamis airport to make it operational. 4) He would release ₱100,000 from the calamity fund to help rehabilitate burned homes of evacuees.The President also distributed ₱50,000 through the Department of Social Welfare and Red Cross for the purchase of the needs of evacuees and 100 boxes of medical kits.
The party returned to the yacht past 9 p.m. after which it weighed anchor for Cagayan de Oro.
But Amb. [James] Ingram of Australia says he was impressed by the speech. I told the people I was thanking them for their support in the 1965 and 1969 elections not with my tongue or with words but with deeds and action. And I congratulated the people for organizing the cooperative but said that they would have to put the electricity to work.
I said that after the dream of electricity had been fulfilled [sic], we must now fulfill [sic] another dream of mine, the dream of self-employed workers in cottages. So I am sending, I told them the cottage industry workers to teach you what to do in your own homes.
“We, your leaders can think and plan for you. That is why you elected us—specially me because we can think for everyone. But you must execute the plans we have.
“We must help ourselves. If nobody will give us employment, we will give ourselves employment,” I concluded.
I gave an example of the first house I lighted of Mrs. Pacita Baluan who asked for an electric sewing machine and an electric stove instead of a radio or stereo.
I write this at about
11:15 AM Sept. 28th as we are
passing through Sun Juanico Straits
on board the 777—We are near the
narrow neck at Sta. Rita.
Sen. Emmanuel Pelaez seems to be reconciled to the role of supporting cast. When I overwhelmed him in the Nacionalista convention of 1964, he sulked and fumed, refused to run as my Vice President and supported the Liberals. He ran as congressman then (1965). I took him back into the Nacionalista Party as a senatorial candidate, he seemed chastened and quite willing to cooperate. Although Sen. Jose Roy reports that he always aligns himself with my critics in the senate. This may be due to the antagonism between the two leadership in the senate. Sen. Roy who is now President Pro Tempore wants to become President of the senate. Sen. Pelaez is a natural rival.
This may be the reason too for Sen. Roy as Acting President of the Party declaring Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro and Guigoog as free zones notwithstanding or because of the fact that Sen. Pelaez has his candidates who are apparently better than the others. For the province there is Gov. Cording Diel, for Guigoog, Mayor Rodriguez and for Cagayan de Oro Atty. Ruben Canoy.
Congressman Oloy [Pedro] Roa has ran for mayor of Cagayan de Oro, has pitted Vice Gov. Borromeo against Gov. Diel and Councilor Lugod against Mayor Rodriguez.
Sen. Pelaez says this plan is aimed at him. And when I spoke at the Moresco inaguration and said that I hope he would occupy a position higher than senator, Imelda pointedly whispered loud enough for him to hear, “If he behaves,” and he raised his hands in mock surrender and said, “Surrender na ako,” smiling his ingratiating smile.
But Oloy Roa claims that when he and Maning Pelaez were still in good terms, Pelaez used to tell him that now was the time to fight the administration as it was getting weak.