April 6, 1971

Tuesday

Docked at Gaang [Currimao, Ilocos Norte] at about 5:10 AM although we were at the entrance to the port earlier we could not go in as it was dark and it has two channels of entrance which have to be negotiated skillfully.

Then I sent Bongbong with Mayor Irineo Rubio of Pinili to go to Solsona, one of the eastern-most towns [in Ilocos Norte] to hunt deer and wild chickens.

When we reached Batac at 9:30 AM at the house we received a message from the radio (SSB) that he had bagged one deer and one wild chicken. I asked him to come back so we could leave at 12:00 AM.

I visited the sea wall, lighthouse area and the beach area I had bought sometime ago[1]. I was greeted warmly by the townspeople who came flocking out of their houses to meet me.

Although I have given breakfast to the welcomers on board the 777, I had another breakfast in the White House[2]—Batac, attended to the needs of the people, visited the General Hospital I had put up, inspected the road project (about 20 kilometers are still uncemented of the national highway between Badoc and Batac and the asphalt mixing plant in Bacarra is not yet operating) then went to Laoag to inaugurate the extension of the electric power lines from Ambuklao to Laoag.

This was a dream came true as this meant that the common people could now have electricity at lower prices.

Before this I had visited all the schools along the way including the Ilocos Norte Institute of Technology, the former Batac Agricultural College.

The trip was worthwhile as the people received us warmly as usual.

We took off from Gabu which I have ordered to be turned into an alternate International Airport with expenses coming from the Belgian loan of $1 million.

Arrived Manila at 1:05 p.m.

Went direct to VMH [Veterans Memorial Hospital]. And was surprised to see the pleasant change of Imee. She is a [lovier?] courageous girl.