April 18, 1971

Sunday

I suddenly felt very lonely when I stood at the verandah of the VIP room and watched the PAL [Philippine Air Lines] plane bearing Bongbong to Hongkong where he takes a BEA [British European Airways] plane to London.

All at once, the burdens of state that keep me chained to Philippine shores seem unbearable.

How I wish Imelda and I could have brought the children to England and personally seen to their schooling. But they have to learn to stand on their own feet earlier than most.

The Manila Times came out with a front page editorial “Statement of Purpose” which was a veiled charge that I had lost my appointment with destiny.

“Once every few generations, a man rises above the others by virtue of exceptional intellect, integrity and courage. There was such a man named Ferdinand, born to power, experienced in battle, whose qualities of leadership marked him for great deeds. Halfway to a secure place in history, he committed the classic mistake of leaders who become momentarily blinded by power. He lost scale and attempted to impose upon a little group of people conditions which they were not willing to accept.

“A Classic Mistake”

“But it has been shown before that when you tamper with a people’s dignity by the ungallant use of power, or create despair through economic bondage and need, you will release in such people unsuspected strength, however gentle they may always have been.

“And so an appointment with destiny was never kept, and among history’s few concessions to Ferdinand Magellan are a wooden cross representing success in the beginning, and a concrete monument marking failure in the end.”

Then it goes on to litany the alleged misery of our people and the failures in both planning and implementation.

However, it calls for unity, reform and appeals for students and demonstrators not to use violence.

The Manila Times or for that matter the entire press and all of Manila is so far removed from reality.

Yes the prices are up but the farmers of which there are 18 million or more are happy because for once their incomes are increased.

Chino [Joaquin] Roces, as usual, is giving vent to his bitterness of a personal nature.

When I asked him why the antagonism, in a sudden spirit of candor he said we could not talk about it as it was personal.

So it must be his wife who is the mistress of many men like Maj. Martelino. And I get blamed for this! Heavens!

Chino Roces several times has angrily shouted at the top of his voice (once in a meeting with Liberal leaders at the house of Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas) that the only way to solve the problems of the country is to kill me!

How degenerate our press and media has become!

But I almost feel the tenor of the editorial that Chino Roces wants a dictatorship.

The story of the Golden Buddha[1] in Baguio is attracting the first pages of the newspapers. As usual it has its distortions and speculations.

I spoke before the Agricultural Cooperatives league this morning at 11:30-12:30 in time to go back to the palace for lunch with Bongbong, Imelda and the Martels (including their children) of ulang [freshwater prawn] cooked by Imelda and bought by Alita at Guiguinto.

Then worked with Gen. [Eulogio] Balao on the (6th year reparations specially on the communications (Bu. Hq. to Co. Hq.) needed by the PC [Philippine Contabulary] specially the 1st and 2nd PC Zones which we should get before July 1st.

Imelda has gone to [Ramon] Monching Cojuangco’s [Sr.] house for the dinner given in honor of Tristan Beplat of Hanover’s Trust.

11:00 PM April l9, 1971[2]

Monday

Imelda and I have decided to file libel cases against the magazines and newspapers that have been libeling us. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a nasty letter to Bongbong calling him a future thief and asking what kind of a crook is your daddy attaching a Weekly Nation cartoon apparently of me kneeling down praying “Dear Lord, I have 145 million dollars stashed away abroad, I own 223 corporations, properties at home. Just another year I swear, I’ll quit, Amen.” And a list of the Chronicle cartoons.

A legal question that may arise is: “Can I waive the presidential cloak of immunity against services of legal process since this immunity of and for the public interest?” This was raised by Senate Majority Leader Arturo Tolentino when I asked him what he thought of the libel cases which I intended to file.

He had come to see me at my suggestion to Sen. Mamintal Tamano, to assure me that his election to the Senate Presidency would not prejudice me notwithstanding what the newspapers say about an anti-Marcos manifesto and move to be demonstrated by the removal of Puyat as Senate President.

Turing Tolentino asked me not to intervene as it would be useless for anyone to campaign at all if I did.

I told him I would consult with the other Nacionalista senators.

But as I see it, libel cases are the only ways in which I can redeem my good name in view of the viciousness of the newspapers. They have not attempted to cloak their lies with alleged reporting or journalistic candor. The stories have been concocted and they have been printed for one purpose only—to maliciously degrade and demean my reputation.

So, tomorrow I have to work on the cases.

I cannot delay the filing as the crime may prescribe.

Bongbong arrived in London at 4:30 PM Manila time and as of now is on a tour of the schools of Irene and Imee at Hastings and Mayfield. They will be back at the Claridges at 6:00 PM London time or 1:00 AM tomorrow, Manila time.

The palace is quiet and haunted without the children.

Worked on the PAL and Air Manila conflict of international routes. Saw Rafael Ygoa and [Benigno] Benny Toda [Jr.]; later I talked to [Ricardo] Carding Silverio (after golf with Ricky Cu-Unjieng and [Geronimo] Ronnie Velasco).

Met Sen. [Dominador] Aytona and Joselito Jacinto on the IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] case. Apparently they have been told of the plan of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] to foreclose.

11:15 PM April 20, 1971[3]

Tuesday

Opened the Ecafe [Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East] with what must have shocked some of the members in an inaugural speech on the impatience of the peoples of Asia and the deficiencies of Ecafe in meeting this impatience; the failure to tie up social justice with economic development; the fault of both the developed and the developing nations; the unfairness of the requirement to increase foreign exchange reserves; trade barriers set up by the rich countries etc.

Met the leaders of the NP [Nacionalista Party] at [Bahay] Pangarap. They reacted sharply to my proposal that I do not participate in the local elections. So we have to prepare for the campaign.

Decorated Mr. Tristan Beplat, first Vice President of Hanover Trust who has led the bankers of America in helping out the Philippines with loans.[4]

12:10 PM April 21,1971[5]

Wednesday

Ambassador [Narciso] Reyes sent word by cable that the Russian delegation head to the Ecafe [Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East] would want to talk on a special subject, further recommending immediate diplomatic relations with the USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] and later negotiate the aid Russia can give.

I have asked Sec. [Carlos] Romulo to ask pointblank what aid we could get from Russia. The Russian ambassador to Indonesia could not answer as he had to refer the matter to Moscow on May 1st.

So we spoke of generalities when the ambassadors of Russia to Australia, the Polish ambassador and Hungarian ambassador to Singapore as well as the Czec[h] paid me a courtesy call after the call of all the heads of delegations to the Ecafe.

I also talked to Minister Adam Malik of Indonesia on the Moslem situation here in Mindanao. He told me that the Moslems in Indonesia were trying to pit [Abdul Haris] Nasution against Suharto but he stopped it.

Adam Malik had heaped generous praise on me and my speech yesterday at the opening of the Ecafe. So did the head of the Indian delegation, Pakistan, the USSR and the U.S. I thanked them all.

We have just come from a cruise on Manila Bay for the King and Queen of Nepal.

He recounted how at about the end of last January while hunting, he had wounded the queen (who is his second wife, she being the sister of his first wife who died) on the arm and the abdomen with six perforations of the intestine.

The bullet (a solid 300) had ricocheted and had apparently also turned back on its trajectory inside the queen’s body.

A most strange accident!

She was on top of a hunting elephant and she to be driven to his place got down of the elephant and collapsed. She had to be flown two hours by plane to a hospital.

He suffered heart attacks three years ago, when he had to live two months in the hunting camp where he had the attack, the same place where he hit the queen with a ricochet![6]

Worked on the outline of my book on my political philosophy—the democratic revolution.

It should have an impact not only in the Philippines but in the world.

Today the papers headlined and front-paged my speech recommending the scrapping of international reserves as this is a road block to the development of developing nations.

But as usual they missed the philosophy behind this and the strategy to shock the Ecafe into more decisive action.

10:35 PM April 22, 1971[7]

Thursday

I write this while waiting to bring King Mahendra and Queen Rajtra of Nepal to the MIA [Manila International Airport] for their departure at 11:55 for Australia. We have just finished dinner before which I decorated the King with the Ancient Order of Sikatuna rank of Rajah and Imelda the queen with the Order of the Golden Heart.

They visited the IRRI [International Rice Research Institute] at noon, guided by Imelda who bought them home by helicopter.

The king has formally invited me to visit Nepal. It looks like we may have to go.

Yesterday I gave a luncheon for former Sec. of the Treasury David Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, the daughter Mrs. Campbell and son-in-law, Mr. Campbell.

This noon I tendered a luncheon for Mr. Greenberg of the Phil-American Life. Imelda could not attend as she brought the king and queen to IRRI.

Last night they had Commander Dante [Bernabe Buscayno] and six other commanders of the NPA [New People’s Army] surrounded in the Zambales mountains. And the prospects were good of getting them and their fifty men.

But no reports up to now.

And the front organizations of the communists in Manila as well as in the provinces are busy consolidating, recruiting, politicalizing and conducting seminars.

The students, drivers and other laborers are also busy along the same lines.

So we must keep our guard up.

11:35 PM April 23, 1971[8]

Friday

Met with USec. [Catalino] Macaraig [Jr.], Sol. Gen. [Felix] Antonio, Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile, City Fiscal Gamboa, Rizal Provincial Fiscal Castillo and Asst. Executive Secretary [Ponciano] Mathay on the libel case to be filed against Manila Chronicle, Weekly Nation, Taliba, Graphic, and Free Press.

The first problem was can I waive the right of immunity from service of warrant when it is a right dictated by public interest.

The next problem is can it be filed without my appearing in court or swearing to an affidavit or appearing as witness.

Then should it be filed with the fiscals office or directly with the court since this is one of the crimes that can be so directly filed with the court without passing through the fiscals office.

Judge Pio Marcos came to tell me of the strange case pending before him of a golden Buddha, allegedly a part of the Yamashita treasure.

Reminds me of some of the treasure we dug after the surrender of Yamashita.

Atty. Perfecto de los Reyes was brought by Angie [Angel] Limjoco [Jr.] and Ronnie [Geronimo] Velasco. He claims to be the lawyer of the wife of Datu Mustapha, the Chief Minister of Sabah. Atty. de los Reyes claimed that he is close to Mustapha with that Mustapha wishes to settle the Sabah Claim peacefully by negotiations. But he spoke of an abandonment of the claim and the payment to the heirs for their proprietary right—a solution to which I said the government cannot agree.

However, I asked that he work for a duly authorized representative of Mustapha to meet with a representative of our government and negotiate such settlement.

Met the Nacionalista senators, congressmen, governors and City Mayors at 12:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

We agreed:

We would not follow our course of action in last year’s convention elections when the party had no official party candidates; but that we would put up official party candidates this year.

That instead of my staying out of the campaign as I proposed I should actively support the official candidates.

That the administration should do everything legal and moral to strengthen the local leaders (governors, mayors and congressmen) as well as the party organization.

That there be more active liaison between the senators and the congressmen. (This was brought about by the charges of the congressmen led by [Gaudencio] Beduya and [Fermin] Caram [Jr.]).

Upon the motion of Cong. Fernando Pajarillo later joined by Cong. Fernando Veloso, it was unanimously agreed that since the president of the party, Senate Pres. Gil Puyat has not exercised the powers of president and the Acting President, Sen. Pres. Pro Tempore Jose Roy has submitted his resignation, the titular head should exercise all the powers of president of the party.

A meeting of the executive committee should be called as soon as possible so as to take steps to strengthen the party and to resolve any conflicts.

I have asked the submission of a list of priorities of projects at the levels of P40,000 for each district to include Highway and Port Works special fund, calamity fund, Rural Improvement Fund (P1,000 per barrio on the 4th quarter of this year and another P1,000 per barrio next July), Irrigation Fund and General Fund.

The total expenditures will be P100 million per quarter beginning the last quarter of this fiscal year (April to June 1971) and to the 1st and 2nd quarters of 1971-1972.

I have just released P40,000 for the National Museum for the anthropological excavations that have revealed ancient man and the Pleistocene Fauna at Tabuk, Kalinga­Apayao.[9]

The fund is existing as Dr. Fox reports:

“It is probable that the earliest artifactual and fossil materials in Cagayan fall within the Middle Pleistocene Epoch and date from 250,000 to 400,000 years ago, and that the cultural materials record the presence of a Pithecaithropus or Homo errectus population in the Philippines at the time.”

As he himself points out the Tabon cave excavations in Palawan, this indicates a Palecolithic occupancy of food gatherers and hunters 45,000 to 50,000 years ago.

This is a major find and should be properly funded. Imelda and I are decided that we should support the diggings to the hill.

We intend to have the Marcos Foundation finance the diggings.

We are asking the two Filipino archeologists Dr. Jose [actually Felipe] Jocano and Jesus Peralta come over tomorrow to brief us on the diggings. The first is to the head of the Archeological Department of the University of the Philippines. The second is the Archeologist of the National Museum.

10:30 AM April 24, 1971[10]

Saturday

I attach the progress report of Dr. Robert Fox on the Cagayan Valley diggings “Ancient man and Pleistocene Fauna in Cagayan Valley, Northern Luzon, Philippines: A Progress Report.”

This is submitted by Acting Director Godofredo L. Alcacid of the National Museum in support of the request of P40,000 for the Cagayan Valley project.

I have approved it.

Imelda and I met Dr. Jose [actually Felipe] Jocano and Jesus Peralta after the meeting with the labor leaders on their invitation to be guest speaker at the Congress of Workers on May 1st, and on the projected PALSA [Philippine Air Lines Supervisors’ Association] strike, and after the award of the decoration of the The Ancient Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu to the Ambassador of Italy, Dr. Dante Matacotta.

We agreed to have the Marcos Foundation support the diggings and the archeological missions. The discoveries prove the existence of man with a civilization long before the western world could boast of any culture.

So Dr. Jocano and Peralta are to prepare a project study on the upgrading of the facilities of the government for archeological missions and present a specific project study on the Cagayan Valley for the approval and financial support by the Marcos Foundation.

We have received another offer for the manufacturer of automobile parts including engine blocks from Nissan of Japan.

I am encouraging the entry of those investors offering the best terms.

With respect to Nissan, they offer to bring their equipment for the factory without cost of foreign exchange on our part. This is the best offer so far. It is made through Anthony Lee who is the head of Universal Motors that now assembles Mercedes-Benz.

We talked to the girls and Kokoy ([Benjamin] Romualdez) who are now in London at about 4:00 PM when it was about 9:00 AM in London. They were preparing to leave by car for the girls’ schools.

They have gotten two cars and two houses, one in London and another smaller one in Mayfield where they (the three children) can meet on weekends and holidays.

Apparently they are happy in England and will accommodate well to their new surroundings.

Imelda and I told Imee of the exciting Cagayan diggings and suggested that she (Imee) take up archeology and write the story of man in the Philippines from prehistoric times. She may take up archeology after this.

Imelda writes the art history of the Philippines, Imee its story before recorded time and I write the history of the Philippines in general. What an exciting retirement project.

I also attach the cabled report on the consultative group meeting in Paris wherein the Philippine representatives say that “there were good prospects for a package of international financing in the power sector amounting to dollars 120 million—to meet the Foreign Exchange requirements of power generation, transmission and rural electrification projects. Similar possibilities for and coordination exist in the transport sector.”

Apri1 25, 1971[11]

Sunday

It rained again today at about 12:30 PM. It also rained yesterday afternoon.

But there is a typhoon that has lashed the Visayas.

Strange for April! But the weather of the Philippines seems to be changing.

Worked the whole morning on the appointment of judges, the allocation or public works specially port works and my books on “My Fighting Faith—The Marcos Creed.”

I believe this book will make an impact on the political world not only in the Philippines but abroad.

11:25 PM April 26, 1971[12]

Monday

Imelda is with the Vincent Rectos and I have been working on the Marcos Trust or Foundation accounts as well as the party organization in Manila with Cong. Paco Reyes.

Majority leader Arturo Tolentino is too close to the Lopezes and does not want to authorize the congressmen to reorganize.

So I have suggested that all the vocales meet (at least in the 1st District of Paco Reyes) and present a fait accompli of reorganization to Turing and the National Executive Committee.

I am now reviewing the suggestions for constitutional amendments. I meet with the northern bloc of congressman on this tomorrow night for dinner at 8:00.

Gen. Charles Lindberg[h] came to see me on the conservation program. He had nothing but praise for the Sablayan—Mt. Iglit reservation in Mindoro Occidental inasmuch as the number of Tamaraws has increased admirably during the 2 years of the program.

We go to formalize the joint partnership of the government, the native Batangeños and the farmers and hunters in the area about May 15th so as to give acknowledgment for this successful effort to save a disappearing species.

We also will go to into the areas of the monkey-eating eagle.

“The whole world has nothing but acclaim for you for the successful program on the salvation of the tamaraw,” he said. “This shall give new spirit to the conservation program throughout the world, as the tamaraw had been given up,” he concluded.

I intend to give him the Order of the Golden Heart for his efforts on conservation.

I finally obtained the agreement of all those interested in the tobacco industry (aromatic) including the buyers, the exporters, the redriers and the cigarette manufacturer to agree:

That the obligation of buying all the Virginia tobacco produce shall be shifted from the government to the private sector.

That the purchase price will not be lower than the price now provided by the law (RA [Republic Act] s1194 as amended).

That we will all agree to establish an export market.

To this end no one will export the local Virginia tobacco at less than 35 cents U.S. per kilo with export incentive.

That the PVTA [Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration] grading shall be maintained rigorously.

That no buyer will buy outside of the Trading stations which will be run by the different buyers but will be controlled m1d supervised by the PVTA.

That they will all participate in the program to improve the quality of local tobacco.[13]

11:45 PM April 27, 1971[14]

Tuesday

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.[15]

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.

I write this at April 29, 1971[16]

1:00 AM, May 1st Thursday

I could not write this on the 29th as I arranged the voluminous collections of my diary.

Have been meeting with the various delegates’ groups because of the feeling that the leaders do not want to move on the [Carlos] Garcia for President of the Convention plan. He seems to be disinterested and uninspiring as a leader.

Met Rep. [Fermin] Caram [Jr.] and Iloilo delegate [Emilio] de la Cruz [II]. Also met [Carmelo] Miling Barbero and three delegates from the north, Quirino of N. [Nueva] Vizcaya, ______ of Cagayan and Ramon Encarnacion of Ilocos Sur.

Directed the setting up of their northern delegates headquarters and liaison between the different regions.

In the morning, I met the 20 leaders of the executive committee of the NP [Nacionalista Party]. They insist that I take over active presiding of the party. We agreed to abolish the Junta and instead choose an advisory council.

1:00 AM April 30, 1971[17]

Actually May 1st Friday

my wedding anniversary

Finalized the plans of action in the convention with the congressional leaders.

Roseller Lim, as usual, is in bad need of money. He wants to “borrow” P70,000 to publish a telephone directory.

The congressional leaders will see Pres. [Carlos] Garcia and practically give him an ultimatum on the leaders demand that their terms be extended and that the governor’s and mayor’s terms be not out to synchronize the elections.

Then they will meet with Ex. President [Diosdado] Macapagal on the same subject.

They should be able to get an initial 100 delegates as a starting point.

Senator [Salvador] Doy Laurel has demanded of Gil Puyat that the questionable Judge Abundio Arrieta, notorious now for the Wilwag case which sat a damage judgment of P22 million against the NPC [National Power Corporation] and then issued an execution judgment pending appeal, be appointed to Manila as CFI [Court of First Instance] judge as a condition so that Laurel will not support the move to oust Puyat as Senate President.

Pure and simple blackmail.

We have decided that the cases to be filed for libel should be filed by individual persons like UE [University of the East] Francisco Dalupan, NCC’s [Eduardo] Danding Cojuangco [Jr.], or Rustans Glecy Tantoco etc.

Imelda sent me a greeting card at 5 minutes past 12:00 PM—greeting me on our 17th wedding anniversary.

I immediately adjourned the conference!