Imelda played a trick on me this morning. It will be one of those family jokes that only she and I will understand—complete in the saying of but a few words. She played her part well as she mischievously embroidered her fanciful story which at first jolted and shocked...

I write this at our living room while Imelda is giving a small quiet dinner at the State Dining Room for Offie (Ofelia) Recto, wife of Vincent Recto, recently elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention and friend. Today (this morning, 11:00 AM up to lunch at...

I went to Ilocos Norte by plane (Fokker) waking up at 6:15 AM to see Baguio in a fog and the plane not yet in Loakan Airfield, going over some papers and issuing instructions, breakfast and dressing up ready to drive to Loakan at 7:00 AM, where we awaited the arrival...

Today’s newspapers all cry for some reforms in the Armed Forces. As I wrote yesterday, this is an opportunity to strengthen the military organization in motivation, orientation and morale. Gen. [Manuel] Yan reported by telephone about an hour ago that Lt. Victor...

We are all preoccupied with plans for the new year—the venality and viciousness of the media and the arrogance and cupidity of the Senate; a tax-free shopping center in the International Airport; the rich in our society investing their money abroad or buying insurance...

2:30 AM Actually written on the new year 1971 I am reviewing the contingency plan for the proclamation of martial law if the occasion demands it. This is OPLAN Bukang Liwayway. As we were gathered to await the new year, I was a little sad that I and all these...

The critical question of a bold and strong leadership to meet the threat of anarchy and a daring attempt to create a revolutionary situation has come up again. This was triggered by the bold raid by Lt. [Victor] Corpus of the PMA [Philippine Military Academy] armory...

A 1st Lt. Victor Corpus, a PMA [Philippine Military Academy] graduate but a leftist who had been under the influence of [Dante C.] Simbulan (another PMA graduate but a Red) at 1725 hrs. while incoming as officer of the day at PMA hogtied the armorer and two guards and...

We are at the lounging room of the ship after a light dinner. We have passed Buqui Pt. the northernmost point of Masbate and are south of Ticao and Burias proceeding northwest towards the south of Marinduque straight for the Batangas coast. Light seas, the ship...

We have just come from deck where Imelda insisted on staying as the ship started rolling, pitching and yawing in heavy seas. The children have stretched out to sleep in the deck lounging chairs finding the deck less conductive to sea-sickness. Last night 3/4 of the...