Bongbong’s graduation from seventh grade. And I was the commencement speaker. The title—“The student leaders of the 70’s.”
Hanz Menzi tells me that Manila Times and the other newspapers are conducting a survey on the grievances and revolution. But Chino [Joaquin] Roces prepared the questions and are loaded against the administration as usual.
So we are conducting a survey of our own.
Official Gazette for April 23, 1970: President Marcos spelled out the qualities of leadership which he commended to the youth of the country, saying that the ’70s need leaders because of the aggressive society that is developing. In a speech as guest of honor at the commencement exercises of De La Salle College’s elementary school, held at the college auditorium in Greenhills, Mandaluyong, Rizal, the President said that the student leaders of this decade must be “homegrown nationalists, preachers of a Philippine ideology, and inspired by Philippine revolutionary and intellectual leaders.”
The qualities of leadership which the President singled out are scholarship, rectitude, self-discipline, a sense of humor, and involvement with the nation’s history, traditions, and aspirations.
He also underlined the need for the young, including those who would be leaders, to undergo intensive preparation for youth’s central role in the affairs of the country. (Full text of the President’s speech in OG.)
The pleasant journey to the De La Salle College capped the President’s day. He was both a proud parent watching his son Ferdinand, Jr. graduate, and an ebullient guest speaker at the exercise. Other than this excursion to Greenhills, he worked at his desk in Malacañang through the day, disposing of urgent state papers. He resumed his work shortly after arriving from the De La Salle graduation ceremonies.
The President filled a number of vacancies in the Department of Education with the designation of two new bureau directors, four assistant directors, one assistant city superintendent of schools and one member of the Board of National Education. Those designated were:
1. Assistant Director Liceria B. Soriano as acting director of public schools, vice Juan L. Manuel who was promoted to undersecretary of education; 2. Dr. Lorenzo G. Cesar as assistant director of public schools, vice Jose Enriquez, retired; 3. Ponciano B. Pineda, assistant director, Institute of National Language, as director of the institute, vice Jose Villa Panganiban, retired. 4. Fe Aldaba Yap, a division chief in the Institute of National Language, as assistant director of the institute, vice Pineda; 5. Andres R. Asistin as assistant director of the Bureau of Vocational Education, a newly-created position under the current general appropriations act; 6. Godofredo L. Alcasid as assistant director of the National Museum, which position has been vacant for years; 7. Dr. Josefina H. Navarro as assistant superintendent of schools for elementary education in Manila; and 8. Arturo M. Guerrero as member of the Board of National Education, representing the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges.