The Korean government through Ambassador Kim Se Ryun presented this afternoon on their national day their own art of self-defense the Taewok-Don [Taekwondo] at the Maharlika Hall and not at the lawn in [Bahay] Pangarap because it rained.
Opened the NPC [National Power Corporation] tournament this morning at Fort Aguinaldo 9-11 AM. Saw almost all those that are most critical of me.
Could not sleep last night up to 4:00 AM notwithstanding one librium at 1:00 AM. I finally had to take a Nubrium at 4:00 AM and slept up to 8:00 AM. Slept one hour in the afternoon.
Then went to Fort Aguinaldo for the prize awarding but they were through and SSS [Social Security System] for the organization of free legal clinics by the various bar associations because Doy [Salvador] Laurel is using the CLASP [Citizens Legal Aid Society of the Philippines] as his own personal organization to build himself up nationally. He wants to be President.
Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez has just arrived from Worth Abbey School. He says the faculty is good, the students are high grade, the atmosphere spartan but the comfort and food precisely bad. This should frighten Bongbong as it did Jose Maris and Andy Soriano’s son but Bongbong seems determined.
Official Gazette for August 15, 1970: President Marcos spent all of the morning at his desk working on official papers. He had no visitors on his schedule in the morning. At mid-afternoon, he received the Korean ambassador and members of his staff, including his wife, in connection with the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea. A unique feature of the visit was an exhibition of the Korean karate called Taekwondo, which two Korean blackbelters performed. Bongbong, the President’s son, who was initiated earlier into this sport, also did a small exhibition, by breaking two 1-inch boards, the first with a hand strike and the second with a sidekick. The President expressed appreciation for the exhibition, and moved to have AFP, PC and Metrocom troops trained in the sport. For this purpose, he requested Ambassador Se Ryun Kim to loan out to the AFP the two Korean experts. The request was immediately granted.
The rest of the afternoon was spent by the President back at his desk, in the course of which he issued a proclamation declaring Monday, August 17, a special public holiday in the City of Pasay to give residents the opportunity to celebrate with appropriate ceremonies the City’s charter anniversary, which falls on Sunday, August 16.