Regionalization of Malacañang—a happy people.
Rich in spirit if not in worldly goods. Like coming out of a deep dive in skin diving—to come to the provinces.
Surigao—the numeralized and progressive province.
While in Manila—strikes, threat of violence or blasting of oil companies’ fuel tanks, selfish demands, conflicts.
Official Gazette for April 5, 1970: President Marcos urged early development of the Surigao nickel deposits which constitute one of the bright hopes for the country’s export earnings. At a briefing at the Research and Development Center in Surigao, capital town of Surigao del Norte, and at the inauguration of the local airport, the President said Surigao has one of the world’s biggest nickel deposits which has not been tapped. He said Mindanao, except Surigao, will be the center of investments in the next few decades because it is below the typhoon belt.
The President said that corollary infrastructure support is being provided in the form of cement roads, wharves and airports, because it is ridiculous to talk of development without adequate transportation and communications facilities. He said he plans to build at least one cemented airport at every province, and one wharf at every coastal province.
The President expressed satisfaction over the assurances of loyalty presented him last night in Iligan City by officials, political and religious leaders of the two Lanao provinces, and the cities of Marawi and of Iligan. The President and the First Lady arrived in Surigao aboard the RPS 777, at 9 a.m., and were met by a large crowd including delegates to the Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association, headed by Governor Jose Sering and Rep. Constantino Navarro.
After inaugurating the wharf extension, they proceeded to the local parish church to hear Mass, then to the provincial capitol for a briefing. From the capitol, the President’s party proceeded to the airport for the inaugural ceremonies of the newly modernized airfield. From there, the President motored to the Pacific Cement Company compound where his party had lunch. Later in the afternoon, the President formally opened the Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet. In his address, the President said he had started the regionalization of Malacañang with his trip to the different provinces of Mindanao.
“This is the beginning of a regionalization of Malacañang. It is my intention to transfer my office regionally and periodically so that the President will stay in the barrios from now on.” The President said it is a fact that people sometimes do not see the President and other national officials except during political campaigns. “From now on, the First Lady and I will be available in various regions,” the President said.
The President also wished the students success, pointing out that although he had been advised to-stop athletic meets in order to economize, he decided to continue with them, subject to certain conditions, because it is the best way of building-character and physical fitness among the people.
After the Meet opening, the President and his party boarded the RPS 777 for an overnight voyage to Cagayan de Oro City. Among the congressmen who saw the President were Reps. Teodulo Natividad, Nicanor Yniguez, Vicente Cerilles, Jose de Venecia, Democrito Plaza, Floro Crisologo, Ali Dimaporo, Eduardo Cojuangco, Jose G. Puyat, Ramon Durano, Artemio Loyola, and Pablo Malasarte.
Gunnar Myrdal’s mistaken conclusions. [in Asian Drama: An Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations (1968)].
The Western World’s propensity to judge us in terms of their level of culture and material development.
Population explosion—the reassessment of its extent and need of control by UN.