Quang Tri (in Vietnam) has fallen to the North Vietnamese. And Saigon is heavily invested. While Tom Donohue of the U.S. Embassy says that the North Vietnamese have not performed as well now as they did in the Tet offensive of 1968, it seems to me that since the Americans have withdrawn, the situation is different as the South Vietnamese may be
Official Gazette for May 2, 1972: THE PRESIDENT was guest speaker at the 37th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force, held at Nichols Air Base.
In his address, the President called on the Air Force to lead the way in making the country’s defense system capable of standing against any enemy.
The President also called attention to the external and internal threats to the country and said “it is our overriding responsibility to meet at this time without reservation every challenge flung at our government by such forces as would undermine the rule of law, frustrate peaceful reforms and plunge the nation into the chaos of civil war.”
In both these task, the President said: “We shall not be daunted either by armed threat or calumny and terrorism.”
The Chief Executive lauded the PAF for its peacetime efforts at nation-building.
Before delivering his speech, the President presented awards to outstanding officers and men of the Air Force, and including civilians, who had made signal contributions to the PAF during the past year.
The President presented: 1) The Gold Cross Medal to Lt. Col. Modesto Subnet, T/Sgt. Juanito Sicam and T/Sgt. Florecel Cirpo; 2) The Bronze Cross Medal to Capt. Rene V. Certeza; 3) The Military Merit Medal to Cols. Ataulfo P. Alvarez, Conrado Chuidian, Mariano Castañeda, Jr., and Maj. Benito C. Fader; and 4) Plaque of Merit to Cadet Lt. Col. Angel Honrado, Lorenzo Cabrera, NMPC Director Gregorio S. Cendaña, Rey Pascua, Antonio Tecson, Mariano N. Querol, Ernesto Madrid, Eddie Pangilinan, Rod Villa, Jose de Vera, Antonio Sicat, Jaime Panesa, Filemon Tutay, Francisco de Jesus, Antonio Seva, and Alex Allan.
The President arrived at Nichols Air Base at about 9:20 a.m., and was given full military honors by a composite batallion of Air Force cadets, air police and the newly organized airborne “Screaming Eagles” unit.
After witnessing (the air show, the President accepted on behalf of the Philippine Government from the United States Air Force the Air Defense Control Center, and inaugurated the New NAB Operations.
In the afternoon, the President reappointed Blas F. Ople as secretary of Labor.
The President also inducted Justice Undersecretary Estelito Mendoza as acting solicitor general, and Defense Undersecretary Efren I. Plana as acting undersecretary of justice.
Among those who attended the oath-taking ceremony were Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos, Public Works and Communications Secretary David M. Consunji, Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad, Assistant Press Secretary Lorenzo J. Cruz, Assistants Executive Secretaries Roberto V. Reyes and Ronaldo Zamora, Undersecretaries of Labor Amado Inciong and Israel Bocobo, Presidential Assistant Guillermo de Vega, Social Security Commissioners Andres Dinglasan and Democrito Mendoza, Chairman Severo Pucan of the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation, and Director Bernardo Ople of the National Manpower Skills Center.
Earlier in the morning, the President issued a proclamation declaring May 7 (Sunday) as a National Day of Prayer for Peace.
He called for national reaffirmation of the spirit of ecumenism, by requesting all churches in the country, of whatever faith or creed, to take part in the proper commemoration of the special day.
The President asked all church Leaders to encourage their faithful to “participate in this day of prayer,” emphasizing the need for peace “not only in our world but in each and every community of our country itself.”
Among other actions, the President issued an executive order setting forth the policy of appointing a representative of the minority party as member of committees on pre-qualifications and awards in each national agency undertaking infrastructure projects.
The representative of the minority party, who should be recommended by the president of said party, should possess the necessary technical qualifications.
demoralized—how deeply we can only speculate, although the indications point to a deep demoralization of their troops.
Anyway it may be only a matter of time before South Vietnam falls. Poor [Richard] Nixon!
If it does and the local subversives escalate their sabotage and harassment, then it may be necessary for me to proclaim martial law.
Air Force 37th Anniversary this morning. Parade and Review—then Air Show by the Red Aces and Blue Diamonds. I said—“We trust our allies. We believe in their word. To be worthy partners we must not be too much of a burden to them. We must be assets. So that if we really need them they too would not hold back in extending aid to us.” So self-sufficiency.
Amb. [Henry] Byroade said, “I like what you said and I will help in every way possible.”