Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] excitedly cabled by long distance from San Francisco to report that he has solved the problem of Imee’s pre-Princeton school. It is Monterrey, the best Catholic School for girls in the U.S. two and a half hours away from San Francisco by car and half an hour by plane.
Earl Mazo helped locate it. Bob Flanagan helped. He is one of the closest aides of Pres. [Richard] Nixon and a graduate of Princeton.
And Kokoy says it is as beautiful if not more so than any beach resort he knows—“Baguio and Leyte combined does not match it.” It has a high scholastic standard and he can get a 65 year old former teacher living in Monterrey at $3,500 a year to attend to the needs of Imee and escort her when she is allowed out of the school once a month.
And Imee seems to like it as she has always preferred to stay in the U.S. West Coast.
She is coming back after she visits the school. And shops a little. But her classes start Sept. 4th.
Played only 5 holes this morning as I seem to have caught a severe cold and am feeling below the weather. It also started to rain.
After goodbyes of Amb. and Mrs. John Curle of the UK I formally opened the convention of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, met Gen. Manager [Roman] Cruz [Jr.]
Official Gazette for August 15, 1972: THE PRESIDENT formally opened the Second International Convention of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor with a prayer for peace with freedom and individual dignity.
Addressing the delegates, the President said that aside from renewing ties of comradeship, ” we must also use this occasion to join men and women everywhere who daily plead for peace and the right to live.”
“Therefore let the lesson we learned in Bataan ring out that while man seeks peace, there can be no peace without justice, without dignity and without freedom,” the President said.
The American delegates were headed by Thomas Hackett, past commander of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.; Burton Ellis, representing- American Ex-Prisoners of War; Col. George Moore of the 45th Philippine Scouts, and Mrs. Edith Knowles, president of the Gold Star Wives Association of America.
Filipino delegates, included Col. Rizalino P. Lacuna, national commander; Brig. Gen. Constante Cruz, vice commander; Defense Undersecretary Manuel Q. Salientes, national director; Col. Antonio Vinluan, national finance officer; Florentino de Guzman, Col. Sixto Dante, Col. Raymundo Paredes, and other chapter commanders.
In the afternoon, the President and the First Lady received Ambassador and Mrs. John Curie of Great Britain who called to say goodbye before leaving for London.
In making a farewell call, the Curies conveyed their gratitude and appreciation to the Filipino people for giving- them a fruitful and very pleasant stay during the ambassador’s tour of duty in the Philippines.
The President and the First Lady, in turn, thanked them for their efforts to forge closer ties of friendship between the Philippines and their country, and expressed the hope that they would always remain true friends of the Filipinos and help advance the cause of the Philippines whenever occasion arises.
and Bert [Gilberto] Teodoro on the GSIS and SSS housing projects in the flooded areas. And Leon O. Ty of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines].
Slept 3½ hours in the afternoon. Decolgen always makes me drowsy.
Played around with Irene who also pulled out some of my gray hair which is increasing.
Then met Com. [Rolando] Geotina on smuggling, Sens. and Cong. Lorenzo Teves and [Herminio] Miniong Teves on the Tanjay Tulong road and sugar in BAIS, Neg. Or. [Negros Oriental] as well as Del. [Delegate] Goding [Godofredo] Ramos and Col. Baylon, Deputy Commander of the Supply Center of the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].
Have finished my outline of the development in military and defense policies of the Philippines.