The First Lady underwent minor surgery last night at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The operation lasted from 11:15 P.M. to 11:30 P.M. A tendon suture which was causing irritation due to a foreign body reaction was removed. She was allowed to leave the hospital the following morning. Other than this irritation all the other injuries sustained are healing very satisfactorily.
Anesthesia was given by Drs. Quintin Gomez and Paciencia Disini. The surgeons were Drs. Pacifico Yap, Abelardo Inocentes, Jorge Neri and Mario Hufana. The internist was Dra. Juanita Zagala and the Clinical Pathologist was Dra. Amelia Garcia.
Written at 10:00 PM January 5, 1973[1]
Jan. 6, 1972 as I Friday
was up to 3:00 AM this
morning working on
pending papers—
Although Imelda was still sleepy from the anasthesia [sic] of the operation we left the Veterans Memorial Hospital for Malacañan.
Received the credentials of Amb. Pauwi of Bangladesh at 11:00 AM.
Before that I met the Sec. of Trade, Ting [Vicente] Paterno, Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros, Sec. of Agri. And Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] on the schedule and briefing of Sen. [Daniel] Inouye and others, the AID [Agency for International Development] program, the cement authority studies etc.
After the ceremonies for Amb. Pauwi, I worked on the problems of land tenure, exports, investments etc.
Secs. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] and [Conrado] Estrella [Sr.] signed the swap of the Cojuangco haciendas with virgin public land ln Palawan.
10:40 PM January 6, 1973[2]
Saturday
Worked on my speech tomorrow on the first 100 days.
The thrust will be a return to a more rigid enforcement of the martial law decrees, general orders, instructions etc.
For there has been a slide backward to the old society.
Reform and the political campaign for the ratification of the constitution do not seem to mix. Because the campaigners tend to seek special privilege and exemptions from general rules. And expenses as well as favors.
So I am ordering the cancellation of the campaign for ratification of the new constitution and a shift to an information drive on the reforms as well as The New Society.
And the Citizens Assembly the barangays.
No more free debate in the meantime.
And I impose the death penalty by musketry on the manufacturer of heroin and the kidnappers and robbers using guns and uniforms. Rumour mongering will be treated like subversive propaganda.
12:30 PM January 7, 1973[3]
Sunday
Report on the first 100 days of martial law and the New Society. Had to delay the speech over TV to 7:00 PM from 6:00 PM because the teleprompter was not ready. We had to call for the KBS [Kanlaon Broadcasting System] teleprompter which had to be set up and specially prepared as the type was blurred and too wide on the paper to be screened with the type large enough to be read.
Mariting March, her daughter married to Alfonso Fierro and son Manalo arrived for a visit up to Friday.
After dinner Imelda, Imee and Irene brought them to see Manila.
Bongbong is too tired from water skiing this morning up to afternoon to go.
2:30 AM Jan. 9th January 8, 1973[4]
Monday
Open House from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
The Supreme Court at 4:00 PM today released its unanimous decision as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal upholding my 1969 electoral victory over [Sergio] Osmeña [Jr.]—on the merits.
It also is an assertion of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, just as it did in the decision a week ago upholding the constitutionality of the Anti-Subversion law, RA [Republic Act] 1700 declared unconstitutional by Judge Simeon Ferrer, the brother of Comelec [Commission on Elections] Chairman Jayme Ferrer. Judge Ferrer is CFI [Court of First Instance] judge in Tarlac, Tarlac.
Yesterday I informally notified Ambassador [Henry] Byroade that the infiltration of Malaysian agents, guerillas and Malaysian-trained men into Sulu and Mindanao.
The reports are disturbing and confirm such training, expenditure, arming and infiltration into Sulu and Mindanao of armed men by land from Malaysia. They are contained in Envelope No. XXXXI-A and XXXXI-A-1.
The Citizens Assembly want to vote on the new constitution and may demand a stronger government.
I repeatedly receive reports from the barrios that the citizens assemblies will disregard the questionnaires to be submitted and instead may demand that the referendum be considered a plebiscite on the new constitution, that the [sic] a stronger government be established, if necessary along the lines of the new constitution but without the ad interim National Assembly, that no elections be held for at least four years that the president be allowed to push through the reforms.
This would indeed be a welcome development.
Sens. [Daniel] Inouye, [Ernest] Hollings, [Joseph] Montoya and [Birch] Bayh were brought to Malacañan at 4:00 PM by Ambassador [Henry] Byroade and Dr. Tom Niblack of US AID [Agency for International Development]. I furnished the senators a briefing paper on reforms and the program of rehabilitation copy of which is in Envelope XXXXI-B.
The folder on Public Order is marked XXXXI-C.
Written at 10:00 AM January 9, 1973[5]
Jan. 10, 1973 on board Tuesday
the 777
We seek change not just to prevent revolution but return the dignity of the individual and the nation. The individual so he can be the equal of any man in all things.
The nation so it is truly free and not dependent on any other nation for its survival both militarily and economically.
Thus we say the ultimate aim of revolution is to change man himself—to change his mind, his spirit and his heart.
To do so, there must be continuity of policy, stability of leadership and strength of government.
Thus the need for the people’s support. And the mechanism to not only convince the people—starting with s credible program—unselfish and wise—but to open the way for the people to articulate their sentiments.
This is where western democracy has failed. Because the articulation of the sentiments of their people have been merely few and far between through the ballot which still is controlled by media—a media that is elitist, not free of the selfish direction of both prejudice and pecuniary consideration dictated by its very nature of depending on its acceptability by its pandering to the people’s morbidity for the dramatic, shocking and unbelievable—so it can make money and thus support not only itself but its owners.
Given this premise that media while performing a public service is not an instrument of the public but of the elite—the question is what then is the alternative within the capability of the small developing country like the Philippines.
Thus the Citizens’ Assembly or the barangay. It is efficient, inexpensive and pervasive. It includes the 15 year old and even the illiterate. And it draws from the traditions of our race. Therefore, it draws on spiritual strength.
It is broader than even the ancient Athenian democracy of Aristotle for it is national and not limited to a city state of a few thousand people. It could embrace a voting people of more than twenty million.
So I await the results of this experiment with bated breath. For here is a creation from my mind on which depends the whole structure of our peaceful revolution.
From the success of the barangay we can move to almost anything. For with the people united in political action, anything is possible.
And few of the old political leaders realize it. They are still enmeshed in the wire of the old Western style balloting and the plebiscite as well as elections.
From here we go into the legislative council that should be Filipino.
And an advisory council of more efficient form. For even in this we have slowly gotten caught in the weaknesses of the western type of bureaucracy.
12:25 PM January 10, 1973[6]
Wednesday
After the dinner for Sens. [Daniel] Inouye, [Joseph] Montoya (and lady), [Ernest] Hollings (and lady), [Birch] Bayh (and lady) and Mrs. Stevens wife of Rep. [sic] Sen. [Ted] Stevens. I had a conference with Sen. Inouye before dinner. He was concerned about the visit of the F/L [First Lady] and the second batch of question in the Citizens’ Assemblies. I attach notes on toast 1made.
Water-skied for about three hours at Talaga. Finally made one round on one ski but could not place my right foot on the rear sock.
We returned to Manila at 2:30 PM to arrive at 4:30 PM.
Met Dir. Gen. [Gerardo] Sicat, Sec. C. [Cesar] Virata, Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros and Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] on the Land Reform Program—the accurate statement of funds needed, sources (US and Japan loans or aid—commodity loans; as well as our holdings and shares of stock and realty and virgin lands) the coming panel of Japanese experts, World Bank mission, Dr. Gustav Ranis on unemployment etc.
I ordered that the question in the Citizens Assembly may be disregarded and any recommendation may be submitted.
11:30 PM January 11, 1973[7]
Agoo (Sta. Rita) at Thursday
the house of Cong. [Jose] Aspiras as
the Marches are in our beach
house. I came to Agoo by CB King Air
at 4:35 PM arriving at 5:15 PM at San Fernando.
The Fokker 259 was just landing from Agoo.
Imelda and the children brought the Marches and Fierros to Fuga. Windy, cool but nice. “Es un paraiso,” said Mrs. Maritiu March.
I stayed behind to attend to urgent matters of the citizens assembly or barangay. I announced in my speech before the League of District and City Engineers (Highway and Public Works) that there will be free debate but in the level of the barangay not among the elitist—the vociferous who claim to represent the people.
And that the barangays should be allowed to decide on any question or issue that they wish.
But they should be free to speak and vote.
The barangays should become the basis for new political structure. Either the constitutional convention should be called anew to amend the constitution—like returning to the presidential system with no limitation as to the number of times I can run for office and/or eliminating the ad-interim assembly—or the citizens assembly can amend the constitution and approve or ratify it by plebiscite.
In any case, ratification should be allowed to be made by the citizens assembly.
Had a good walk at the beach at 6:30-7:30 PM then dinner, rondalla (Pilita and Amado). Tomorrow I water ski.
1:00 AM Jan. 13th January 12, 1973[8]
Friday
The Citizens Assembly are going on quite well as expected.
Our visitors, Mariting March, Manalo March, Alfonso Fierro and wife Marita, daughter of Mariting took the KLM [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij – Royal Dutch Airlines] at 7:00PM for Rome and Madrid.
Imelda brought them up by plane to Baguio then back to Manila at noon from Poro Pt. after an 8:00 AM car ride from Agoo (Sta. Rita) this morning. I water skied in Poro Pt. 10:15-11:00 AM then took the CB King Air for Manila.
Gen. [Jose] Rancudo showed me the military installations of the Malaysians in Banguey
Island. This may be the training ground of the troops being sent to Sulu and Mindanao.
We will have to develop some bases in the southern islands—Candaroma Island off Balabat has an airstrip capable to handling a C-47 and the Sanga Sanga strip.
Submarines have allegedly been sighted in the south and a black Albatross sunk off Palawan.
Imelda’s trip to the United States is prepared. I attach the cable of Sharon which explains what [Daniel] Inouye and Amb. [Henry] Byroade felt was a State Dept. wish for her not to go.
Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] reports Amb. Byroade suggests some answers to questions in the Citizens Assemblies. This is intervention in Internal Affairs.
[1] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[2] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[3] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[4] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[5] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[6] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[7] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[8] Official Gazette for January 12, 1973: MAJORITY OF THE 53 per cent of the citizens assemblies which have completed the referendum on vital issues submitted to them have voiced overwhelming support for the way President Marcos is running the government, for the continuation of Martial Law, and for the approval of the proposed new charter except that portion of it on the interim National Assembly. Assistant Executive Secretary Flores A. Bayot who toured some provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, reported a heavy turnout of local residents at the assemblies. He estimated that some 95 per cent of those who participated in the assemblies endorsed the issues submitted to them. Mr. Bayot likewise reported that the people favor continuation of Martial Law because under it they can have more hope of a better life. SECRETARY OF PUBLIC Information Francisco S. Tatad appealed to the local Chinese community and other foreign groups to support and extend their full cooperation In the realization of objectives of the New Society because no alien guests whose only purpose is to amass profits will be tolerated. The secretary stressed it is important for the aliens who have decided to build their homes and future in the country to involve themselves in the causes and motivations that, impelled President Marcos to institute the reforms in the New Society. Mr. Tatad, addressing the bi-monthly meeting of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce, likewise favored the assimilation of local Chinese culture into the Filipino way of life because “ there is no way out you . . . are here and should help us. ” DR. PACIFICO E. MARCOS, chairman of the Philippine Medical Care Commission, reiterated to medicare members compulsorily covered by the Medicare Law, that when they require hospitalization, all they need is to go to a hospital of their choice and be attended to immediately. Dr. Marcos said that in seeking hospitalization or treatment from hospitals or doctors of their choice, the medicare members should bring with them only proofs of active participation in the medicare program, such as: 1) Employer ’ s Medicare Contribution Certification, 2) SSS Identification Card (for SSS members) and GSIS Policy (for GSIS members), 3) Current year employment Identification Card, and 4) Any other proof indicating active membership with the SSS or the GSIS which may include the new Residence Certificate. After presenting any of the proofs, all hospitals and all doctors are duty bound to render the necessary services for the treatment of a medicare patient without exacting any advance payments whether partially or in full from him for services within the benefits allowed by the Medicare Law, Dr. Marcos said. SELECTIVE BIR OFFICES especially in the national office at the Finance Building Agrifina Circle, are open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays to accommodate taxpayers. Taxpayers may pay taxes at the Sound floor of the Finance building, seek information at the Tax Information Division, second floor; obtain tax clearance certificates at the third floor Tax Accounts Division, and seek information on presidential tax decrees. A pool of competent BIR officials has been organized on these days so that taxpayers could be helped with authority. BIR regional offices are also open on these days. BIR COMMISSIONER Misael P. Vera stressed anew the secrecy and inviolate nature of returns filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue by persons who voluntarily report previously untaxed income or wealth pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 23, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 67. “ These returns will be kept in a secret file and will not be subjected to any examination, ” Commissioner Vera said. He stated that Revenue Regulations No. 15-72 penalizes any person who discloses information relating to the declaration with an imprisonment of not more than two years. ALL CITIZENS ARE called upon by the Dangerous Drugs Board to equip themselves with the basic factual knowledge of drug abuse so they can effectively help combat the growing menace. Secretary of Health Clemente S. Gatmaitan, DDB chairman, made the call in an address at the opening of the training course on narcotics and ‘ dangerous drug control and investigation at the Police Commission Academy in Fort Bonifacio. Mr. Gatmaitan stressed that like the trainees taking the course, the citizenry must equally take concern and familiarize themselves with the symptoms and effect to drugs, adding that they must be prepared to recognize who are the villains and who are the victims. Drug addiction is a grave threat in the school environment, in the home and in various sectors of society, drawing thousands of people to drug dependency and draining themselves of millions of pesos to the illicit drug trade, according to Mr. Gatmaitan. SOCIAL WELFARE Secretary Estefania Aldaba Lim announced that the DSW is stepping up its comprehensive five-year program so that a larger percentage of the program ’ s target population will be served this year. Secretary Lim said the encouraging results reaped by the DSW during the last six months inspired her to push through the five-year program (1972-76) of the department. The DSW program is designed to provide wider socio-economic opportunities and open avenues for more social benefits for families in the submarginal group or those whose average monthly income is P90 and below. This group comprises 30 per cent (10.9 million) of the Philippine population.