June [Ramon] Cruz [Jr.], GSIS [Government Service Insurance System],
You should have at least acknowledged the Presidential decision to stop individual housing loans and utilize GSIS resources for massive low-cost housing in the Sunday Times magazine article.
Because it was a presidential decision, not yours, nor the GSIS.
F. E. Marcos [Signed]
10:00 PM March 17, 1972[1]
Friday
Worked the paper on the foreign policy for the communist countries.
It is my intention to deliver this as a speech before the Rotary International 301-A tomorrow noon.
Talked to Imelda who called up at 4:30 AM (this morning) as she wanted to clear her speech before the Praesidium. And she leaves for Leningrad tomorrow. She is still complaining of the cold. Still 10 below 0.[2]
Met the Fokker people who are trying to sell a Fokker jet for $4.1 million to $4.8 million. I do not believe we should buy this. I told them we would have to repair the MIA first.
Then met some delegates and members of the Senate.
And distributed the titles to the lands of the Taal victims. The resettlement is in Batangas.
10:00 PM March 18,[3] 1972[4]
Saturday
Spoke on the New Foreign Policy before Lions International 301-A (Palawan, Marinduque, Masbate, Catanduanes to Manila).
I thought it excellent.
It has started to rain rather hard. We were rained out at golf at 5:00 PM. These is a depression east of Samar and Mindanao where it has been raining for days.
Issued the company grade promotion in the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines].
And worked on prices.
[Jose] Joe Alberto birthday dinner and work on the budget.
10:00 PM March 19, 1972[5]
Sunday
Am waiting for the return call from London of Imelda who is supposed to have arrived there at about 7:00 PM Manila time. Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez called up at 5:30 PM when l was playing golf.
Have been busy the whole day catching up on my paperwork.
Have to finish the listing of irrigation projects, highways, piers, schools, hospitals etc. for which funds have to be released.
And I am busy reassessing the situation on food production as prices continue to behave erratically.
Vegetables, milk and other consumer items have gone up,
I am also reassessing the communist activities: Arson, robberies, ambuscades etc. They seem to be succeeding in their expansion and penetration of the barrios.
I attach an intelligence report.
10:00 PM March 20, 1972[6]
Monday
Opened the Association of Science of Asia at the NSDB [National Science and Development Board]. This is the formal organization of science started some time in 1970.
Then met some delegates—Velasco of Cotabato and Tony Raquiza, Gen. Manager [Ramon] Ravanzo [Jr.] of NPC [National Power Corporation], the Asian head of UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] and the Phil. representative Mr. Harding. Our country program which includes the Laguna de Bay Development and the feasibility study of an atomic generator is considered a model for developing countries.
We showed the movies of the Bongbong II rocket launch on March 12th at Carballo [sic] Island to the cabinet.
And discussed the deficit (expected P399 million) have to reduce it, how to update the provincial and city reporting and whether we can spend P100 million for infrastructure this summer, what changes are required in the agricultural production program.
Project Sampaguita which seeks the recomposition of any substance in a solution of H20 with the formula is formally launched. I talked to Serafin Rosa of 9-B Batino St., Project 3, Q.C. Tel. + 989334 this morning.
The formula looks promising. It could mean all our mines are now high grade. It could mean we can now split the atom by means other than the usual.
[1] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[2] Juan Ona in an email 21 April 2018 provides an amusing angle to the visit: “The KGB committed a major blunder. It assigned a Spanish-speaking agent as the administrative liaison officer (traffic, security, accommodation, material schedules, etc.). The KGB was not as flexible, efficient, and all-powerful as everybody thought. It failed to replace him with an English speaker. Since besides the First Lady, I was the only Spanish-speaker in our group, I became rather important. During our first night in the Soviet guest dacha in Lenin Hills, her maid Lucy Rabino woke me up. The FL was asking for orange juice, and Lucy could not make herself understood. I went to the KGB agent and he ordered the kitchen to take orange juice to the FL. It was well past midnight and the FL was still talking with the President! I am sure the Soviets had the entire several hours conversation recorded. Good for them! Surely they had a good time listening to the Imeldifics , embellished in Tagalog, Visayan, Waray, and Ilocano. Since then I made it a point to stay up late, just in case the FL needed something.”
[3] Entry is mislabeled as March 17.
[4] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[5] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[6] No Official Gazette entry for this day.