The Phil. Embassy in Saigon has reported the war situation has become critical. Evacuation plans have been prepared. I have called a Security Council meeting for Monday. I intend to invite members of the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committee. I spent the whole...
1972
May 2, 1972
Quang Tri (in Vietnam) has fallen to the North Vietnamese. And Saigon is heavily invested. While Tom Donohue of the U.S. Embassy says that the North Vietnamese have not performed as well now as they did in the Tet offensive of 1968, it seems to me that since the...
May 1, 1972
9:30 AM After Tina Castillo’s wedding Imelda has given me a gold Libra necklace which symbolizes September (although she says I am a Virgo). But most important is her touching note on our 18th wedding anniversary which I attach. As my children would say, “Nakakaiyak...
April 30, 1972
Appointed Under Sec. Estelito Mendoza as Solicitor General and Under Sec. of Defense [Efren] Plana to replace him. The Bulletin put thumbs down on the alleged “Zona” for wanted persons in Ilocos Sur. So I had Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile to explain there was no abuse of...
April 29, 1972
I ordered Asst. Ex. Sec. Bobby Reyes: To prepare a proclamation declaring May 7, 1972 a National Day of Prayer For Peace. Imelda and I will hear mass in Antipolo at 9:00 AM. Everybody to wear patadjong and camisa with bandana. Masses will be ecumenical and nationwide....
April 28, 1972
Created the new category of award and decoration of National Artist for the first awardee, Fernando Amorsolo. “Sunlight, the signature of his art.” Necrological Services at the Cultural Center at 9:30 AM. Graduated the trainors in cooperatives at the Maharlika Hall...
April 27, 1972
Cavite Naval Base for the launching of a 65 ft ferro-cement boat, a station hospital, quarters and officers club where we had lunch. Then an inspection of Sangley P[oin]t. The Admiral’s quarters have been fixed to accommodate the First Family. I have ordered the...
April 26, 1972
The wounded in Cabugao has increased to more than 200 and the dead number 12. I have rejected the proposal to declare martial law in Ilocos Sur. But I have ordered a dragnet of strangers in any locality in the north. Adrian Seca has come to offer 50% of Pacific...
April 25, 1972
At 1:30 AM, two hand grenades were thrown at the dance floor of the town fiesta of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, where only Gov. [Luis] Chavit Singson and Mayor [Pacifico] Apostol of Cabugao were dancing. This resulted in 8 killed and 123 wounded. I sent Sec. Johnny [Juan]...
April 24, 1972
The Daily Express was inaugurated at the Port Area this afternoon at 4:30 PM. The first edition will come out on April 27th, Thursday. The Taal Volcano exploded 47 times rocking the island in the last 24 hours. The South Vietnamese have lost another three bases in the...