______ Panamin [Presidential Assistant on National Minorities] museum a complete set of Indonesian musical instruments and books.
It is my feeling that Pres. Soeharto[1] now trusts the Philippines and really respects Filipino capability. He is impressed by our industrialization efforts although he is proud of his oil production ($500 million is the share of Indonesia—50% of actual produce). The wells in the offshore drilling in Java are now producing 150,000 barrels a day (six wells out of 98 drillings). Esso has announced another discovery just off the boundary of the Philippines.[2]
1:00 AM February 16, 1972[3]
February 17th Wednesday
Slept up to 11:00 AM as we went to bed at 2:00 AM from the Oledans where we had dinner for a despedida for [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto.
[Benjamin Romualdez] Kokoy’s trip to Peking is the talk of the town. His two hour conference with Chou En Lai was even debated upon in the Senate. The media (columnists, commentators) have all something to say about it.
Worked on the Progressive Car Manufacturing Program. Mr. Gates of General Motors and his men called on me on their bid.
Then on oil prospecting in the Sulu Seas. Esso has again struck oil in the vicinity at Kalimantan. Indonesia earns $500 million from oil (This is one half of production).
Then went over the calamity releases of funds to make operational transportation and communications as well as hospital and food production facilities.
Housing with GSIS [Government Service Insurance System] manager. Air agreements. MIA [Manila International Airport]. Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority].
Then dinner with the delegates from Screening Council—20 of the 33 members.
11:15 PM February 17, 1972[4]
Thursday
Gomburza—[Mariano] Gomez, [Jose] Burgos and [Jacinto] Zamora day.
We celebrated the centenary of their death by garrote by the Spaniards after conviction by court martial for allegedly inciting the Cavite Mutiny of 1871 [1872].
And in my speech I spoke of the Gomburza martyrdom as having started the fire and fervor of the desire and consciousness to be one nation.
“It laid the moral basis for the Revolution of 1896. It was the beginning of the Revolution.”
Went back to the palace to meet with the Ford executives and have lunch with the Visayan congressmen and leaders. The latter wanted taxes they are paying to be spent for the economic development plan in the area. They wanted help to be strengthened so that they may help me—after they had pledged loyalty to me and the First Lady—even to the extent of suicide. I assured them that there would be no need to commit suicide. But that we had to arrange a settlement with the Lopezes first—thru [Alfredo] Piding Montelibano [Sr.] who was their spokesman. And then they must help raise the funds for the program. Public works may not be as effective as in 1969 (about 40% effective only) to win the support of the people. So we have to think of some other way to benefit the individual voter directly. Thus, manpower training, housing, electricity, barrio employment, cottage industries etc.
We will prepare an economic plan for the Visayas.
Then interview by Slim Aaron[s] and Linda Ashby of Town and Country, the snob magazine of the Hearst Publications in the U.S. They have helped other countries tourist problem and international image development. So we are sending them by Air Force Fokker tomorrow to Zamboanga, then Davao & back.
This evening we had the Dwight Davis tennis courts at the Park which I had reconstructed inaugurated by USAFIP, NL [United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon] while we played golf.
Then we ate kilawin kambing, pinakbet. And joked of old times when we were soldiers. Com. Lino Patajo, Commodore [Santiago] Nuval, Gen. [Gerardo] & Mrs. Tamayo, Tancred Guray, Mike Rilloraza, Tony Saug, Babang Cabanso, Ireneo Salazar and my brother Paking [Pacifico E. Marcos] were there.
Met Delegate [Eriberto] Misa brought by Congressman Jose Puyat. Then later Delegate Elizabeth Chiongbian brought by Cong. [William] Chiongbian.
10:55 PM February 18, 1972[5]
Friday
Renaissance for the country and the molding of man—not only public works but the spirit.
We are starting out to retrain the government men in all levels as well as the people.
I ordered the immediate reorientation of government education.
Check prices for coconut products.
Incentives for oil prospecting and mining.
Information organization in the provinces and towns—PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development] may be utilized as well as the other agencies—APC [Agricultural Productivity Commission], ACA [Agricultural Credit Administration], BOI [Board of Investments] etc.
10:00 PM February 20, 1972[6]
Talaga Bay Sunday
We showed the Town and Country photographer Slim Aarons and writer Linda Ashland Limbones Bay and Island where we saw the sailboat Cygnet (It means a young swan) owned by Richard Brown, the Senior Vice-President of PAL [Philippine Airlines] for Technical Services. On board was a Miss Ward who is apparently an utusan of [Benigno] Benny Toda [Jr.], President of PAL and who helped Bongbong buy his clothes when he first arrived in London last year; and Mr. and Mrs. [Hindstrong?] also from London who knew Imelda. Slim, the photographer insisted on taking pictures of me water-skiing although the sea was rough, with Linda Ashland on the long tow rope. And on the sailboat with the sail up.
Then at about 10:00 AM we came to Talaga Bay. Had lunch here. Took a nap. The Town and Country people went back to Manila by helicopter, while we went to the Free Trade Zone where the lighting system is up. Then to the Porto del Sol, the land development area by Asiatic Integrated and Republic Bank of Cong. Pablo Roman and Jose Roxas at the Mariveles Bagac Road several coves away from Talaga. Impressive development Roads laid out. Lots selling P70 a square meter. 200 already sold 1.5 kms. from the Free Trade Zone. Overlooks the coves and the China Sea.
We stayed up to 1:40 AM on board last night just talking. The two Americans are disturbed by the convulsions through which America is going. Drug addiction has become widespread. Gangs of 10, 11 and 12 year old children hold up solitary pedestrians for drug money.
The attitude is “What is in it for me?” And service is given with the hand out for money.
So different, they say, to the friendliness and the sincere hospitality shown by Filipino even in the hotels.
“No one loves America any longer,” was the conclusion.
And they kept asking what I thought would happen to the U.S. My answer was at what point of anarchy would a Julius Caesar take over the government as a dictator. Although, I added, it may be different to control the U.S. from one central point as it has two way centers of power.
Then I also observed that the academicians are now studying the world over whether the old concepts of democracy and freedom are still valid, or whether dictatorship or authoritarianism is not demanded for survival.
And wondered whether America is not showing the same symptoms the Roman Empire showed before its fall.
In the soft breeze and quiet of the bay I have been doing some reading. I have the books Beyond Freedom and Dignity by [B. F.] Skinner; The Emerging Japanese Superstate, Challenge and Response by Herman Kahn of the Hudson Institute; The Challenge of World Poverty, A World Anti Poverty Program in Outline. A Summary and Continuation of Asian Drama, Remaking China Policy: U.S.-China Relations and Governmental Decision-making by Richard Moorsteen and Morton Abramowitz.
The second book, The Emerging Japanese Superstate lays the basis for the conclusion that the 20th century is the Japanese century.
But it is based on the projection of continued more-than-10% GNP [gross national product] growth annually which may not be true after the realignment of currencies including the yen and the dollar. For the growth may decrease if the Japanese do not handle it with imagination.[7]
[1] Suharto (1921-2008) was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia from 1967-1998. As a former military man who crushed the Communist Party of Indonesia, Marcos surely brought in this in during their private talks.
[2] Suharto addressed the joint Philippine Congress and historian Joseph Scalice states that he “met privately with Ferdinand Marcos, who sought his advice on how best to implement military rule in the country. The conventional scholarly argument about Marcos’ declaration of martial law is that his success was predicated upon the ties which he cultivated with military leadership and the legal and political groundwork which he prepared for dictatorship … While this is true, the conventional argument overlooks the history of multiple prior presidents who likewise developed an extensive network of military ties and who deployed the threat of martial law at various junctures during their terms in office. Situated historically, there was nothing particularly remarkable about Marcos’ conduct in office or his threats of dictatorship. ” See “47 years since the imposition of Martial Law in the Philippines ” josephscalice.com
[3] No Official Gazette entry for this day and entry for February 15, 1972 pp, 1026 and 1027 are missing.
[4] Official Gazette for February 17, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the monument to the country’s three martyr priests—Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora at the Plaza Roma in Intramuros. The First Couple were fetched from Malacañang by Justice Calixto Zaldivar of the Supreme Court. Justice Zaldivar is the chairman of the Gomburza Centennial Commission. The unveiling and dedication of the monument was in connection with the observance of the 100th anniversary of the execution of the three martyr priests. The First Lady unveiled the monument, assisted by Justice Zadivar and relatives of the martyrs. In his speech highlighting the unveiling ceremony, the President pledged to exert every effort to recover from the Spanish government the documents on the proceedings of the trial of the martyr priests. He recalled that “the Spanish colonial government shrouded the events of 1872 in mystery, and the proceedings of the trial of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora have remained unavailable even today—and even the graves have not been located.” In desiring the acquisition of the trial documents, the President stressed that his interest lies on the plane of political theory, as he would like the Filipino people to consider whether it would not be more “a source of pride for us if the three priests were not innocent of the crime attributed to them.” The President declared: “I am motivated by my personal beliefs and by my oath of office to see to it that the grounds be minimized for citizens becoming firm in their convictions that there is no longer any way getting justice save through the destruction of the entire political and social system. Since there are many obstacles to granting justice to citizens, brought about by a number of causes, some historical, some fortuitous, everyone should be permitted not only to be critical of the system but to persuade vigorously the administration and the government to listen to their way on justice. “It is in the spirit that we, today, dedicate this memorial to Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, the Filipino patriots, from whose blood issued the great Filipino nation.” Prominent among those who attended the unveiling ceremony were: the officers of the Gomburza Centennial Commission headed by Justice Zaldivar and the relatives of the martyrs—Natalia Gomez-Quintos, Carlos Xeres-Burgos, Alfred Xeres-Burgos, and Leonardo Guerra. The members of the Cabinet, the Diplomatic corps, and the Supreme Court. After the ceremony, the First Couple returned to Malacañang, arriving shortly before 11:00 a.m. At Malacañang, the President received a big group of Ford Motor Company executives who were in Manila to inspect the proposed site of the Ford assembly plant at the Free Trade Zone in Mariveles, Bataan The Ford officials informed the President of their observation that with his vigorous and active leadership the Philippines appears to have assumed the leadership in the progressive car manufacturing field which may well set the pattern for all countries in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, the President expressed satisfaction over the interest shown by a lot of car manufacturers in setting up factories in Mariveles. He said this was an indication that the political leadership in Asia have awakened to the need for cooperation and integration of their efforts in the economic field. He promised to extend all possible support from the government to the progressive car manufacturing program, adding that he hoped it “would further advance our standards in the field of car manufacture.” The Ford group was led by Allan C. Foran, president of Ford (Phil.) Inc., and accompanied by Chairman Teodoro Pena of the Free Trade Zone Authority. The Ford executives’ call was followed by a luncheon conference the President had called among Visayan representatives who informed him on matters affecting their respective constituencies. In the afternoon and until early evening the President went over reports and other urgent state papers which needed his immediate attention.
[5] Official Gazette for February 18, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS had his usual schedule of callers which included delegations from the provinces who came to request for fund releases to finance various improvement projects in their respective localities, including the construction of public buildings. The President informed them that a list of priorities was being drawn, and the first priority was being given to communications and transportation facilities like roads and bridges; the second for projects involving production like flood control and irrigation; and the third for hospitals, health centers and schools. The delegations included those from Davao del Sur and Davao City headed by Gov. Nenito Llanos, Sr. and Mayor Carlos Ginoo, respectively. The delegations were accompanied by Reps. Lorenzo Sarmiento and Constancio Maglana. Other delegations the President received were those from Loay, Bohol and Luna, Kalinga-Apayao, which were respectively headed by Mayors Francis Clarin-Zarraga and George Bargas. In between receiving callers, the President signed a number of designations, including that of Dr. Generoso E. Espinosa as acting health officer of Olongapo City. Dr. Espinosa succeeded Nicanor Ednalino, retired. The President also issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday, February 23, a special public holiday in Marinduque. The day marks the 52nd anniversary of that province. The Chief Executive also conferred with Sen. Mamintal Tamano on matters pertaining to cultural minorities, and with the Director of Plant Industry Eliseo Carandang. He received callers until 2 p.m.
[6] Official Gazette for February 20, 1972: NOW FREE from the usual schedule of callers, President Marcos devoted most of the morning and afternoon to desk work. In the process, the President: 1. Issued a proclamation declaring Monday, February 21, as a special public holiday in Batangas, in deference to the death of Gov. Antonio Carpio. diately the plan to reorient the country’s educational system as recommended by the Presidential Commission to Survey Philippine Education. The President ordered that the survey be implemented “not later than June, 1972, so it can be fully implemented by the end of 1973.”
[7] This entry might be missing a page or two at the end.