Wednesday
I met with the agencies on the Tondo housing as the newspaper report the alleged opposition of the Tondo fire victims to the housing program although they also predict violence in the choice of fire victims for settlement on the temporary housing project we are setting up on other public land.
The demonstration houses will be set up on the extension of Roxas street and on the two Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority] and Public works land near the area.
I created a committee to coordinate with national government agencies headed by Mayor [Antonio] Villegas. But I intend to run the whole thing myself.: As Imelda says Mayor Villegas in just trying to catch on to our coat tails as he is losing Manila.
The NPA’s [New People’s Army] are planning large attacks on government installations tomorrow night.
I attach the reports.
11:00 PM April 8, 1971[1]
Thursday
This is the first time the family spends Holy Week in Manila and during my presidency in Malacañang. And we are close to each other staying with Imee.
Yesterday when Dr. Piamonte removed the bandages off Imee’s face, I was alarmed at her swollen face. The eyes are still black from the trauma of the operation on the deviated septum. Her injury of the nose some time ago when she hit the hand rail of the golf cart with her nose was worse than we thought.
We had hoped that the nose would improve but I thought that it had not although the doctor tells us that the whole face including the nose is still swollen and it would not subside until after a month. So we are still hoping that she will look better when she comes back from England.
The children are planning to leave for school in England on the 14th and that is only 6 days away.
V.P. [Fernando] Lopez has declared in Baguio that he is definitely running for President in 1973 if he is nominated by a coalition or the Nationalista Party. Otherwise he retires.
So has Sen. Salvador Laurel proclaimed himself in Batangas some time ago.
Sen. Gerardo Roxas declared himself available for the Presidency in Cebu.
But they are supposed to organize a coalition for the 1971 local elections against all my candidates. This, however, are all newspaper stories.
I wish they would do so. I estimate they would not be able to get 10% of the governors and mayors. Then all the issues they are raising would be settled.
So we will have to campaign hard this year.
The political moves are too early. This violates the spirit of the law limiting the period for nomination and campaign to 150 days for national candidates and 90 days for local candidates.
But this is encourage[d] by the newspaper[s] without exception.
The Bulacan PC [Philippine Constabulary] and elements of the 10th BCT [Battalion Combat Team] have surrounded some HMBs [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan] in Biak na Bato area in Sta. Maria Bulacan, killed two HMB’s, captured the Amazons as of last night, and still waiting to pounce on the others, suffering only one, wounded in the leg.
We are, however, waiting for the planned attack on the government installation in Central Luzon, set for 2300 hours.
12:15 PM April 9, 1971[2]
Friday
The planned attack by the NPA [New People’s Army] against the Tarlac Prov. [Provincial] PC [Philippine Constabulary] Hdq., Candaba, Arayat and La Paz Municipal Halls did not come off as expected.
But the 1st PC Zone is still on red alert.
We celebrated or remembered the Fall of Bataan quietly but impressively. Wreath laying at Libingan Ng Mga Bayani with Ambassador [Henry] Byroade then at the American Battle Monuments at 8:30 and 9:00 AM respectively.
This afternoon we had a sunset ceremony of laying the wreath on the waters at Manila Bay opposite Mt. Samat. The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor took charge and I did not deliver a speech at all but left it to Commodore Jose Andrada (Retired).
After arrival at 9:00 PM, we went to Nayon Pilipino where I started to drive the whole family around in the Marquis (a Mecury convertible Model 70) then drove them back to Malacañang with the top down, with the two girls laughingly screaming as I sometimes lifted my two hands off the wheel on “Commence Exercise.”
We are reprinting the Winston Churchill article on Revolution and the communists which was written 41 years ago and printed anew on the February issue of Readers Digest.
It is a simple and clear digest of the insidious plan and action of communism.
12:00 PM April 10, 1971[3]
Saturday
Imelda and I have finalized the plans for the Tondo rehabilitation.
Tomorrow we hear mass at the public mass to be celebrated by our chaplain; Father Bautista then inaugurate the first two buildings of the temporary houses on the Customs land across the street from Don Bosco.
I sign the orders creating the committees and setting aside one-half of the extension of Roxas Blvd. for the demonstration houses as well as the Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority] and Public Works areas. We might also use the reclaimed area.
We will not force anyone to adopt this method but those who want to can use the temporary houses and sign the agreements.
In the meantime, the Congress should approve the new law on resettlement of the Tondo fire victims.
Saturday has been a restful and happy day as Imelda and I slept late and planned for our future.
The girls leave for London on Wednesday. Bongbong leaves later.
Imelda may go with the girls.
10:30 PM April 11, 1971[4]
Sunday
Gen. [Abdul Haris] Nasution has arrived for a five-day stay in the Philippines. He was invited to be the guest speaker during the graduation of the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on April 15th.
He wrote the book on guerilla warfare based on the Indonesian experience. He told me this afternoon when I received him and his party at the Study that his book was translated in Cairo with his permission but translated in the PENTAGON WITHOUT his permission.
Gen. [Fabian] Ver whom I sent to meet him with Senate President Gil Puyat, Speaker Villareal, Sec. [Carlos] Romulo and Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile says that when Sen. Pres. Gil Puyat asked him whether he (Gen. Nasution) knew me well, he answered that “he did and had great respect for the man;” that we had a military background together but that my star had risen higher than his in politics; that he was my only guest when I received all my decorations in a formal parade and review in Camp Murphy; that we both come from Batac (his in the Batac of Java and mine of Ilocos Norte).
We heard mass at Tondo at 8:15 AM. There were demonstrators carrying hostile placards demanding titles to the land in Tondo. When we went to inspect and open the first two temporary bunker houses, they followed. But so did the crowd.
I thought that there would be an unpleasant confrontation. But when an Antonio David, the Executive Vice President of CTF approached me and started complaining in a loud voice about the men in government (the security guards of Nassco [National Shipyards and Steel Corporation] or Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority]) being allowed to build houses in the vacant lots held by government. I took the opportunity of talking to the crowd mounting a platform and using the mike to tell them that I had come to look into the alleged confusion of the government plans for them. What they cheered was when I told them that while the newspapers say that the government does not bother to ask them what they wanted, I had personally come to them to ask them what they wanted and that I would listen to their requests.
Of course at this time the red flags of KASAPI [Kapulungan ng mga Sandigan ng Pilipinas] and the Kabataang Makabayan as well as the followers of Restituto de Leon were being waved at us at close quarters.
But after I had spoken for a few minutes and after I ordered Chief of Police [Gerardo] Tamayo not to allow the building of houses in the government lots (subject of the complaint of Antonio David) the leaders started to come up the platform and to shout that Restituto de Leon should come and that all the placards are unnecessary and should be put down.
So I invited all of them to come to the palace tomorrow at 10:00 AM to confer with all the government officials who had anything to do with the rehabilitation of Tondo in my presence. I told them I would invite Mayor [Antonio] Villegas, Dir. [Alejandro] Deleña, Gen. Tobias, the SSS [Social Security System], GSIS [Government Service Insurance System], NASSCO etc. I also invited [Rufino] Cardinal Santos or his representative.
I believe we will be able to solve the problems there. This morning the Tondo people agreed to the construction of roads in Bo. [Barrio] Magsaysay.
But the solution for the slums is to return the unproductive elements to the provinces to farm and to teach those who remained a living so they can be given jobs and can become productive units of our society.
This should be the orientations even of the Social Welfare Dept. and not just give out doles.
9:15 PM Apri1 12, 1971[5]
Monday
Squeezed all the information on the communist attempts at a coup d’etat in Indonesia in 1948 und 1965 from Gen. Abdul Haris Nasution in a private conference at 7:00-8:30 PM tonight.
He said that they followed the usual pattern of infiltrating and obtaining the support of the Armed Forces before they tried a coup.
But the worst part was President Sukarno was with the conspirators in the Communist Party either because he had been convinced by Subandrio who had turned communist and who was in control of the Intelligence of the government or because he believed he could use the communists against the generals specially Gen. Nasution whom he suspected of trying to take over the government from the beginning so much so he was dismissed as Chief of Staff in 1952 when he wrote his book on guerilla warfare (he had a 3 year period of rest from the service before he was called back of Sukarno to put down the Sumatra rebellion in 1955).
Gen. Nasution said that in Indonesia the communists started as they are starting here in the Philippines. But they succeeded fast because Pres. Suharto was led by the communists into believing that he was the leader of the Emerging Forces and the 750 million people of China as well as the nuclear weapons of China would be at his disposal.
The Chief of the Indonesian Air Force, the Garrison Commander of Jakarta and even the guards assigned to Gen. Nasution were communists. So much so that when the communist coup was implemented, the operational center was the Air Force Headquarters. Sukarno was there, so was [Dipa Nusantara] Aidit the Head of the communist party and the Council of General (communist) as well as of course the Air Force Chief.
When Sukarno fell ill and collapsed into unconsciousness, Subandrio called Aidit back from Peking. The latter brought to Jakarta some Chinese doctors who after the examination of Sukarno said that the examination showed that Sukarno would not live long.
Afraid that they would no longer have the support of Sukarno and long wanting to take over as well as believing that they had the strength to do it, they pulled the coup d’etat.
When I asked Gen. Nasution why he, as senior commander, did not become the head of government in place of Sukarno, he answered that even Sukarno had recommended the appointment of Nasution as Deputy Commander next to Sukarno but Sukarno had called in the chiefs of the various services and they were against him except for the Navy or Sukarno had convinced the service chief except the Navy to oppose Nasution.
Sukarno had mistrusted Nasution from the beginning.
“Sukarno had no military capability,” Nasution said. “He surrendered to the Japanese and had to be kidnapped and forced by the youth to declare the independence of Indonesia in 1949,” he further said.
Right now he is also suspect in the eyes of Pres. Suharto who is busy consolidating his position us head of state.
And the lesson to be learned from the Indonesian experience is that if by tolerance, compassion or default, the communist party is allowed to grow, it will ultimately lead to a bloody confrontation. It is best that the communists be stopped while still weak.
Those who hesitate are lost in this game.
Asked the status quo in the House in the meantime so as to be able to set some legislation through immediately.
Also not the Tondo housing officials and Mayor [Antonio] Villegas. Settled their problems.
10:50 PM Apri1 13, 1971[6]
Tuesday
Just finished the dinner that we gave for Gen. [Abdul Haris] and Mrs. [Johanna] Nasution at the State Dining Room. In the toast I referred to him as youth leader in 1945 in Bandung, revolutionary leader, former Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense, author of the Standard text on Guerilla Warfare translated with his permission in Cairo and in other parts of the world (I did not mention it but I referred to the Pentagon) without his permission. He comes from Batac, Northern Sumatra and I come from Batac, Ilocos Norte.
I had occasion to talk to Madame Nasution and she told me that when the Jakariki (Sukarno’s Palace Guards) came to get Gen. Nasution, it was 4:00 o’clock in the morning and she confronted the men when she opened her bedroom door, closed it when she realized that the guards had entered their house but her sister in law with her daughter opened it again and the three soldiers outside fired at them and shot the daughter. At this time Gen. Nasution escaped to the back jumped over their wall to the garden of the Iraq Embassy where he hid until the brothers of Madame Nasution come to their house with help at about 6:00 AM. The Navy Commander took him out to a safe place.
However, three days before this, they had been expecting something like this to happen as the speeches of Sukarno and the other leaders were indicative of their plans.
So they failed to take precaution and did not or could not fight back.
Mrs. Nasution stayed behind with her children and brought the wounded child aged 5½ years to a military hospital where she died after five days having been shot through the right abdomen.
Last night while I was talking to Gen. Nasution, the KM [Kabataang Makabayan], SDK [Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan] and other radical groups held a demonstration outside the gates of Malacañang at Freedom Park, burned my effigy for allegedly being responsible for the kidnapping and killing of KM Secretary General Carlos del Rosario (said to have been taken by government agents), threw large molotov bombs on the Malacañang grounds shaking the State Dining Room and firing rockets which fell over the palace into the Pasig river.
The Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] drove them away and in the process of arresting some, I am afraid, roughed them up.
This morning after 12:00 o’clock, about 32 radicals invaded the session hall of the House of Representatives, practically stopped the session which Speaker [Cornelio] Villareal was presiding took over the mike at the far end of the hall and started haranguing the congressmen on where the P26 million was (this refers to the amount of deficit of the House under Speaker [Jose B.] Laurel in the year 1969-1970 which I had to cover with savings of the executive department).
The Liberals senators are allegedly angry at Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat for his statement that the three reelectionist senators of the NP [Nacionalista Party], [Alejandro] Almendras, [Dominador] Aytona and [Eva Estrada] Kalaw were not running as Nacionalistas but under the Liberal Party. The three senators are also feeling rejected. And the Nacionalistas are not too happy either. So there is a move to unseat him as Senate President.
Worked on the guidelines for car manufacturing, the 4th priority Investment list and the export list.
Met Gen. [Eulogio] Balao and Repacom [Reparations Commission] Chairman [Anacleto] Mangaser on the 16th year schedule of reparations.
Am studying the replacements of [Jose S.] Laurel [III] in Tokyo, [Ernesto] Lagdameo in Washington and [Luis] Gonzalez in Madrid as ambassadors.
Had an electrocardiograph taken this morning and this afternoon after exercise because of some pain in the region of the heart. But it turned out to be muscular fatigue of the pectoralis because of too much exercise yesterday.
The children are busy preparing to leave for London tomorrow at 1:00 PM via Hongkong and Rome.
12:30 PM April 14, 1971[7]
Wednesday
Imee and Irene left for Hongkong by Cathay Pacific and then to Rome by Quantas; from Rome to London next Sunday by Alitalia.
Imelda cried a little but the children were dry-eyed although long faced.
Irene goes to St. Leonard School at Hastings while Imee goes to Mayfield which is in between Hastings at the southern coast of England and Worth, Bongbong’s school.
It will be lonely and quiet here in the palace when Bongbong leaves for London next Sunday. Imelda may go with him to see to the proper accommodations of the girls.
In the meantime, Gov. [Benjamin] Romualdez and Dra. [Paciencia] Inday Disini accompany them on their trip.
But it is best that the children now go out of the Philippines in view of the expected outbreak of hostilities in the country and their growing precociousness.
Last night we slept in our bedroom, the children having their mattresses carried and put on the floor beside our bed.
We slept late. At 9:05 AM Irene woke up and called the time to Imee. We asked the two girls to come and lay in bed beside Imelda and I. We embraced them and kidded Irene about her sharp memory but lazy study habits. We reminded her of her continuous eating.
But finally we had to get up. We asked Imee to promise to take care of Irene and not to order her around too much.
The old friends were there to see them off at the airport at 1:30 PM.
We had brought Pugger (Snow-white) and he was actually whining and crying as if he knew they were going away for some time.
Before we went down the Palace we had family pictures, solos and pictures with the favorite dogs (Imee with Snow White, Irene with Cuddles, Bongbong with Sandy or later with Achilles the Dalmatian whom I later took over).
Then we all prayed before the Infant Jesus on the southern side of the Ceremonial Hall.
I cancelled all my appointments in the past three days except for the important ones so I could spend as much time as I could with my children.
We romped around the park across the river, played with the dogs, visited the horses and made out jokes on each other.
We invented games and puzzles. And worked out puns.
I have never been as close to my family as I was the past few days.
Of course the invasion of my golf course by the Green Revolution (home gardens of the PSU [Presidential Security Unit] and PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion]) is a favorite subject of jokes.
And Irene’s growing tummy and buldit[8] which makes her the symbol of the Double “C” (“C” stands for curves) while Imee’s long eyelashes and called “pilikis” as well as her beautiful teeth after her braces looking like false teeth because they are so regular and lined up.[9]
I declared 175 more municipalities (5 provinces Pangasinan, Isabela, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Iloilo) as land reform area at 3:00 PM at Maharlika Hall through the Land Reform Council headed by Gov. Conrado Estrella.
Pres. [Diosdado] Macapagal and former Huk Supremo Luis Taruc were present. So was Gerry Montemayor of the FFF [Federation of Free Farmers].
I intend to declare the entire Philippines as a land reform area before the end of 1973.
When I asked Pres. Macapagal what he thought of the Huk Supremo, he said “Magingat-ingat tayo. When he delivers speeches in the provinces, he always says that communism is better than democracy.”
12:30 PM Apri1 15, 1971[10]
Thursday
The [Gil] Puyat ouster move.
Sec. Constancio Castañeda and Sen. Leonardo Perez sent by Puyat.
Called [Ambrosio] Padilla, Magnolia [Antonino], [Wenceslao] Lagumbay by telephone.
Will meet [Alejandro] Almendras and [Dominador] Aytona tonight. They will be brought by [Jose] Joe Roy.
I estimate that the move will not prosper.
Inaugurated the Navotas Fish Market. Got a very warm reception.
We will work on the P60 million Navotas Fishermans’ port soon. P37 million from the $5.5 million from ADB [Asian Development Bank] and P23 million from our government.
After golf with [Lorenzo] Loreng Teves, [Jose] Joe Alberto, [Roberto] Bert Sabido, [Nicanor] Nick Yñiguez, I met the steel committee with the Jacintos, Aytona and Don Manolo Elizalde.
Received letters from Henry Ford and Mrs. Jean MacArthur.
[1] No Official Gazette entry for this day.
[2] Official Gazette for April 9, 1971: Except for his attendance at the commemorative ceremonies marking the 29th anniversary of Bataan Day, President Marcos otherwise had another relatively quiet day as the nation paused in observance of Good Friday. The President motored to the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio, Rizal at about 8 a.m. for the commemorative rites. He led in laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. From the Libingan, the commemorative ceremonies shifted to the nearby U.S. Military Cemetery, where the same rites were held. Later in the afternoon, the President motored to Pier 15 where he boarded the RPS 777 for the Bataan Day commemorative rites at sea, off Mariveles, Bataan. Among others present at the ceremonies were AFP top brass led by Gen. Manuel T. Yan, chief of staff; Brig. Generals Rafael Ileto, Fidel Ramos and Eduardo Garcia; Rep. Ramon D. Bagatsing, and Ernesto Rufino, past president of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, and other officers of veterans organizations, including Mrs. Charles Shaw, national president of the American Legion Auxiliary. In-between the commemorative ceremonies, the President confined his other activities only to the most urgent state business. In his Bataan, Day message issued earlier, the President said: Once again we commemorate the Fall of Bataan, in remembrance of those who fell in the last war. Almost three decades have now passed since that clay in Bataan, and perhaps we only dimly remember their heroism in the relative calm of our times. Yet the long span of the years has not diminished the significance of their sacrifice; rather it assumes a new meaning at this time of self-confrontation. For if in time of war, it took heroes to keep this nation from the rule of tyrants, it takes the same kind of heroism to move this nation in time of peace. Neither can we forget that the world we live in today is haunted by a tenuous, if not a violent and volatiles, peace. The wars that continue to rage in Asia and the Middle East inflict a deep wound upon the hearts of men everywhere, but especially upon us who have paid the supreme exactions of war. The history of Bataan and the men who died there continue to strengthen our bonds with all those who must, today or tomorrow, fight for their peace and freedom.
[3] Official Gazette for April 10, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS continued to have no schedule of callers, but spent a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon on important matters of state, including urgent desk work.
[4] Official Gazette for April 11, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS resumed his regular schedule of activities, paced by his inauguration of the first two units of bunker-type houses constructed by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) at the customs area in North Bay Boulevard for the temporary retention of the fire victims in Tondo. The emergency housing complex was designed to house some 3,000 families. The President inspected the bunker-type houses after attending an Easter Sunday Mass with the fire victims at the chapel of the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo. With the President were the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos; their children Irene and Bongbong, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco, Senator Helena Benitez, chairman of the Senate committee on housing, urban development and resettlement; Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad, Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes and Undersecretary of Health Clemente Gatmaitan. In the course of his brief remarks before the Tondo fire victims, the President invited their leaders, including those of other civic organizations, to a meeting in Malacañang with national and city officials concerned with the Tondo rehabilitation work. Back in Malacañang, the President signed the appointment papers of Estefania Aldaba-Lim, a Malacañang special consultant on community services, as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare, vice Secretary Gregorio M. Feliciano, who has resigned. Undersecretary Petra R. de Joya of the DSW was designated to discharge the duties of secretary in the absence of Dr. Lim, who had left for an official mission abroad. Toward noon the President received General Abdul Haris Nasution, chairman of the Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia, who arrived in Manila for a six-day official visit to this country. Mrs. Nasution was likewise received by the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos. They were accompanied to Malacañang by Senate President and Mrs. Gil J. Puyat, Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo and Indonesian Ambassador and Mrs. Utomo. Later, the President met with Senate President Puyat and Speaker Villareal, during which the three agreed on the need for action on vital measures pending in Congress, particularly those designed to increase production. They also agreed on a moratorium on intramurals to enable both chambers of Congress to devote the remaining days of the regular session to fruitful legislation. In another conference, this time with Justice Undersecretary Catalan; Macaraig and prisons officials, the President directed that strict disciplinary measures be instituted to prevent the recurring violence at the state penitentiary in Muntinglupa, Rizal. He also: 1. Directed the Philippine Navy to transfer qualified prisoners to Iwahig, Davao and Sablayan Penal Colonies; 2. Authorized the transfer of prisoners to army camps as a temporary measure until the restoration of normal conditions at the New Bilibid Prisons; 3. Released P200,000 to set up additional building where prisoners can be housed; and 4. Ordered the allocation of 40 prefabricated school buildings establishment of a medium security compound for 3,000 prisoners who, the President said, should have their own administration office, vocational shops, kitchen and mess, hospital, library and recreation hall. In his Easter message in English and Pilipino, the President said: (ENGLISH) We share anew today a special day of hope and triumph with the rest of the Christian world. Throughout its long history, mankind has always found in Easter a renascence of the spirit and a reawakening of moral energies. In the timeless story of Christ’s death and resurrection, man has always found comfort in facing the vicissitudes of his world, and hope in the healing of his troubled spirit. To its great and glorious mystery, men have learned to look for deliverance from the darkest crises of their personal lives. None of us can fail to appreciate the significance of this unique occasion, especially at this time when great tension troubles the whole of mankind, and great difficulty faces our country and people. The kind of work which we are now engaged in as a nation, and the fulfillment that Ave seek in our national life, need the kind of illumination and radiance, the sobriety and peace, that Easter uniquely brings to our individual lives. My family and I join one and all in wishing each and everyone of you a very happy Easter. (PILIPINO) Magkaisa tayong nagsasaya ngayon sa muling pagsapit ng araw na ito—isang araw ng pag-asa at tagumpay. Sa simula pa, ang Mahal na Araw ay laging sagisag ng masiglang pagkapukaw at pagkagising ng kabutihan ng sangkatauhan. Sa walang katapusang kasaysayang ito ng pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoon, ay walang katapusang dumadaloy ang kasiyahang loob upang ating harapin ang mga suliraning pandaigdig. Sa kasaysayang ito ay walang katapusang nagmumula ang likas na pananalig, sa gitna man ng pinakamadilim na sandali ng ating buhay. Walang sino mang maaaring hindi kumilala sa kahalagahan ng na-tatanging okasyong ito, laluna sa panahong ito na ligalig ang buong sangkatauhan, at maraming kahirapang tinatawid ang ating bayan at mga mamamayan. Ang mga gawaing ginampanan natin ngayon bilang isang bansa, at ang katuparang hinahangad natin, para sa bansang ito ay nangangailangan ng ilaw at liwanag na tanging Mahal na Araw lamang ang makakapagbigay. Ang aking mag-anak at ako ay kaisa ng lahat ngayon sa hangaring nawa’y sumaating lahat ang isang maligaya at mapayapang Linggo ng Muling Pagkabuhay.
[5] Official Gazette for April 12, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS had two major conferences, one on vital legislation and the other on the rehabilitation and relocation of the fire victims in Tondo. In between these meetings, the Present received several callers and worked on state papers. The President first met at about 10 a.m. with some 40 Nacionalista congressmen led by Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Speaker Protempore Jose Aldeguer, and House Majority Floor Leader Marcelino R. Veloso. He called upon the members of Congress to put an end to political wranglings and buckle down to their vital task of considering legislation. The President served notice that he was leaving the reorganization of the lover chamber entirely in the hands of its members and urged them to resolve the question of leadership as soon as possible. “I presume that whatever you decide on will be for the good of the country,” the President said. The President also took occasion to dismiss as ridiculous speculations that he was forming his own party, pointing out that he was convoking the NP national directorate to a meeting at the end of the month for a general assessment of party problems, Even as the meeting continued, the President broke off at 10:30 a.m. to receive, together with the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, General and Mrs. Abdul Haris Nasution, who paid them a courtesy call. The President and General Nasution had an exchange of views on latest developments in Southeast Asia and other matters of common interest to their two countries. With the Nasutions in calling on the First Couple were Mrs. Gil J. Puyat, and Indonesian Ambassador and Mrs. Utomo. Following the courtesy call of the Indonesian visitors, the President rejoined the congressmen for the continuation of his meeting with them. Toward noon the President conferred with some members of Congress, national and city officials, and representatives of the church, private organizations and Tondo residents. In the course of the meeting, the President directed: 1. the opening and clearing of six main streets in the urea, namely: Pacheco, the road behind the Don Bosco compound, Fishermen’s Channel, Herbosa, Roxas Boulevard Extension and Dandan; 2. the NAWASA to use the P500,000 payment of the city government to the agency for the construction of water facilities in the area; and 3. that no government agency, private organization or individual should undertake any construction on Roxas Boulevard Extension. The President also ordered that lands within 40 meters along Roxas Boulevard Extension be cleared of any housing, and to transfer residents thereof to the bunker-type houses built by the NHC or have them relocated temporarily at the Fishermen’s Channel. Following the conference, the President created a coordinating committee, with himself as overall chairman, to hasten the rehabilitation and relocation of the fire victims. The committee will undertake the planning and implementation of an urban renewal and housing program in the burnt area in Tondo. Mayor Antonio J. Villegas was named chairman for city government projects, while Public Works Director Alejandro Deleña was designated chairman for national government projects. Named members of the committee were Sen. Helena Z. Benitez, chairman of the Senate committee on housing, urban development and resettlement; Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr., chairman of the House committee on housing; Rep. Francisco Reyes, Land Authority Deputy Governor Ernesto Valdez, NHC Executive Vice President Gaudencio Tobias, Commissioner of Public Highways Baltazar Aquino. PHHC General Manager Sebastian Santiago, NAWASA Assistant General Manager Victor Recio, Councilor Martin B. Isidro, Col. Pacifico de Leon, liaison between the national and city governments; Col. Fidel Ventura, AFP chief of Engineers; Carlos Valdez, Jose Ma. Soriano, Nelly Nufable of the Department of Social Welfare, representatives of USAID, and such civic, religious and charitable organizations as may be willing to provide financial assistance to the program.
[6] Official Gazette for April 13, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS concentrated mostly on desk work, receiving a few government officials only, who called at Malacañang for consultations. Among other actions taken by the President in the morning was the submission to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation of the nominations of Eduardo Rodriguez as administrator of the Office of Economic Coordination and three others for municipal judges. Nominated to judicial posts were: 1. Romulo S. Sasondoncillo, as municipal judge of Pakil, Laguna; 2. Ceriaco A. Sumaya, as municipal judge of Famy, Laguna; and 3. Norberto T. Hebayan, as municipal judge of Maslog, Eastern Samar. Rodriguez has been acting OEC administrator for seven months. Early in the afternoon, following allegations made by Rep. Salipada Pendatun on the floor of the House of Representatives, to the effect that Muslims in Cotabato were being killed, and their houses being burned, no longer by fanatics, but by uniformed PC men, the President directed National Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile to create a Board of Inquiry composed of three (3) officers to inquire into the charges. In view of conflicting reports, however, the President directed Secretary Enrile to give all those who might be cited for the alleged abuses a chance to present their side, giving them the assistance of counsel if necessary. In the evening, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, tendered a formal dinner in Malacañang in honor of General and Mrs. Abdul Haris Nasution.
[7] Official Gazette for April 14, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS limited his schedule to only one engagement—the proclamation of five more provinces as land reform areas in ceremonies held at the Maharlika Hall. The whole morning and early evening were devoted to paper work. Proclaimed were eight towns of Isabela, nine towns in the fourth congressional district of Pangasinan, eight municipalities of Quezon, 13 in Iloilo province, including Iloilo City; and the entire province of Camarines Sur. In his speech at the proclamation ceremonies, the President underscored the need for eliminating the oppressive features of the nation’s outmoded land tenure system before “a meaningful level of economic development” can take place in the country’s essentially agrarian economy. “We know that if we fail to bring about land reform through peaceful and democratic means, attempts will be made to carry it out by force and violence,” the President said. He pointed out that despite the odds the administration has to contend with, its achievements in the area of land reform had been very substantial. As of December 1970, he said, the land reform program had spread to 16 provinces, involving some 161 municipalities with a total of 222,021 rice and corn farmers working on an area of about 544,789.82 hectares. Undertaken by the government under the land reform program were the acquisition of private agricultural lands, the opening of public lands or settlement projects, and manpower and clientele development programs, the President said. He disclosed that as of December 1970, 99 estates had been acquired, covering an area of 68,974 hectares with 51,339 farmer beneficiaries. Aside from this, the President said, 35 estates had been acquired by the Land Bank with a total area of 4,009 hectares, costing some P16,893,800, and with 2,316 farmers directly benefiting from the acquisitions. He also mentioned the acquisition of 30 settlement reservations and EDCOR farms with an area of 527,033 hectares, on which some 24,509 families had been settled under the government settlement scheme. “The process of land reform will go on until it is completed,” the President said. “Before the end of 1973, before I step down from the Presidency, the whole Republic of the Philippines shall have been declared a land reform area,” he said. The President was introduced by Conrado F. Estrella, Land Authority governor and chairman of the Land Reform Council, who formally read the proclamation declaring an additional five provinces, as land reform areas. Present at the proclamation were former President Diosdado Macapagal under whose administration the Land Reform Code was enacted; senators, representatives, governors, city and municipal mayors; and a large delegation of farmers from the newly proclaimed localities. The President was back to his desk work later in the afternoon, in the course of which he submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nomination of a career minister, Monico Vicente, as Chief of Mission, Class III.
[8] Kapampangan word for “buttocks.”
[9] The fourth page of this entry is missing.
[10] Official Gazette for April 15, 1971: AFTER AN early morning stint at his desk disposing of official papers, the President turned to other official activities, which started at 10 a.m., with the conferment of the Order of Sikatuna, rank of Maginoo, to former Mayor Gordon S. Clinton of Seattle. Clinton was specially cited for his “abiding concern for the well-being and greater welfare” of the Filipinos in Seattle, both in his capacity as former mayor of that city and as a private citizen. The conferment ceremony was followed by the oath-taking of the chairman and five members of the newly reconstituted Institute of National Language. Sworn in by the President were Director Ponciano B.P. Pineda (Tagalog), chairman Dr. Lino Q. Arquiza (Cebuano), Dr. Nelia Cuanco Casambre (Hiligaynon), Dr. Lorenza Ga. Cesar (Samar-Leyte), Dr. Alejandro Q. Perez (Pampango), members; and Assistant Director Fe Aldave-Yap, secretary and executive officer. The President then received the members or the CFI-National Association of Clerks of Court led by Vicente S. Pulido, president, who called at Malacañang on the second day of the three-day annual convention of the group to pay their respects. Also received by the President were Mayors Emma Gaddi of Kidapawan, Cotabato, and Florencio Bernabe of Parañaque, Rizal who took up with him local matters. In the afternoon, the President motored to Navotas, Rizal for the inauguration of the Navotas Fish Market. In his speech inaugurating the 3-hectare fish landing complex, the President described the Navotas Fish Market as a precursor of a more intensive effort of the government to transform Navotas into a center of the country’s fish industry. The President said that the government has allotted P60 million for the construction of a fish port in Navotas, complete with such facilities as refrigeration storage, auction rooms, and facilities for fish brokerage activities in connection with wholesale transactions. Of the P60 million, he said that the Asian Development Bank has already assigned to the Philippines a loan of $5.5 or some P37 million for the construction of the fish port. The President, in the presence of national and local officials, big and small fishermen of the Manila Bay area, and residents of Navotas, signed an executive order opening the Navotas Fish Market and creating a Fish Landing Authority for Navotas. Under the order, the authority to administer the fish market was transferred from the GMTFM and the DBP to the cooperative union, to be established by the fishermen of Navotas. He asked the fishermen-residents of the municipality to hasten the formation of these cooperatives. Among those present at the ceremonies were Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata, Commodore Santiago Nuval (ret.), of the Bureau of Customs, Navotas Mayor Felipe del Rosario, Commissioner of Fisheries Andres Mane, and DBP Governors Leon O. Ty, Atilano Cinco, Jose Estevez and Jose D. Ocampo. The Navotas Fish Landing Authority will manage and operate the fish market under the administration of the Philippine Fisheries Commission. Earlier in the afternoon, the President formally accepted the resignation of Director Alejo Santos of the Bureau of Prisons and named Brig. Gen. Vicente Raval (ret.) to succeed him. The President also issued a proclamation authorizing the Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP) to conduct a nationwide fund campaign during the period from April 15 to June 15.