10:00 AM
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 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.