Official Gazette for December 24, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS met with his Cabinet to review and assess the administrations performance during the year about to end, and to find out its failings and problems. The meeting started with the President thanking the members of...

Worked till 2:00 PM (Met the Ilocos Sur leaders all over again. Changed the provincial commander) Taped my Christmas message before the Belen after conferences with Bobby Benedicto, etc. Then received carolers up to 2:00 AM. Official Gazette for December 23, 1971:...

1:45 AM December 23, 1971 Washington Sycip of Sycip, Gorres and Velayo saw me on the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] and Luis Vera’s efforts to break up the big accounting firms. Jim Wollahan [sic] [John Wolahan] of Caltex saw me on oil exploration, prices and the...

“Without the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Republic would have fallen and disintegrated before the evil forces that seek to destroy it by violence,” I said at the parade and Official Gazette for December 21, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS was guest of honor in a parade...

Office of the President of the Philippines Manila Press Release There will be no martial law for Ilocos Sur. But additional troops will be sent to identify, locate and apprehend for punishment whoever perpetrated the attacks on the eight towns of that province. I ask...

Slept till late. Woke up at 6:30 AM, read and worked, then went back for an hours sleep. Talked to Gov. Antonio Villanueva on the attacks on the eight towns of Ilocos Sur. He denied that the attacks were made by any of the men of Crisologo or his men. He called...

Finished the book of [Thomas] Bailey on Presidential Greatness up to 2:00 AM this morning. Greatness is judged by the manner a President overcomes the obstacles presented to him. The bigger the crisis, the bigger the President. He also explains the bias of historians...

Official Gazette for December 18, 1971: Notable among the few callers of the President were Bolivia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Madame Mario Gutierrez who called at Malacañang to pay their respects. The President and the Bolivian official compared notes on the...

1:30 AM December 18, 1971 Pakistan has surrendered East Bengal and Dacaa [Dhaka] is in the hands of the Indians. Bangladesh is a reality. Although the first massive act of war was the sneak attack by the Pakistan Airforce on the Indian airfields, aggression pays. And...

9:00 AM—Met Archbishop [Teopisto] Alberto, Bishops [Mariano] Gaviola and [Jesus] Varela and Pepe Oledan on my appeal for support for strong arm reaction to the criminal and subversive elements. I informed them that the situation may become worse before it becomes...