December 2, 1970

Wednesday

Met Faq Special Committee on Rural Reform headed by the former President of Columbia.

Then [Kenneth] MacLesh of the Natural Geographic who is also an anthropologist.

Governor [Samuel] Reyes—he is interested in a sugar mill for Isabela.

We suffered about P25 million damage to our tobacco in the warehouses. We are selling them by public auction.

Hope to put up thru the private sector a redrying and cigarette manufacturing plant in San Fernando, La Union.

Played golf, then medical tests.

Mons. Gavin of Malaysia insists that it was he who disarmed Benjamin Mendoza, the would be assassin. He probably thinks so. What actually happened was that Mendoza stabbed at the Pope so fast that those close to him including the Pope’s secretary, Mons. Maceli and Mons. Gavin.

Thus I had to parry the two knife thrusts one (the first) lower than the second which was definitely aimed at the Pope’s throat. I also pushed the Pope back who fell backwards on Imelda.

Then everybody swarmed on Mendoza and may have missed the two original thrusts with the knife that constituted the first danger to the Pope’s life.

Mons. Maceli pushed up to my right front and Mons. Gavin helped to grapple with Mendoza.

11:35 PM December 3, 1970[1]

Thursday

Imelda and I are going to sleep at Suite I which is actually the guest room for heads of state. Our big bed which was blessed by the Holy Father is there. Imelda and I had sentimental reminiscences of Paris and New York in November on our honeymoon in 1954 because of the chestnut glace.

Talked to Bongbong and Father Bernard. Bongbong says the attempted assassination of the Pope was prominent front page in the London newspapers and while they explained that there had been doubt as to who had saved the Pope’s life, [Benjamin] Mendoza, the would be assassin had been asked and he had pointed to me as the man who had parried the knife thrusts. And Bongbong is quite proud of his father. “Runs in the family,” he bragged.

Father Bernard says in the last fortnight Bongbong has been lazy but well adjusted. He makes believe he knows but he does not. In history he has been observed to be “flippant” and his ideas not well thought out.

Bongbong leaves Worth on the 10th, leaves London for Rome by Alitalia at about 10:00 AM on the 11th, takes PAL [Philippine Air Lines] from Rome to Manila and arrives at Manila at about 2:00 PM on the 12th (Sunday).

Am working on cooperatives, free schooling, electrification, land reform, manpower training and the other projects.

Mons. Gavin of Malaysia has issued the statement that he did not see me parry the knife thrust of Mendoza. This appeared in The Evening News.

The Daily Mirror, however, carried the statement of the Archbishop of Indonesia to the effect that he did see me do so.

As usual in the occurrence of a sudden and fast event, there are several versions.

Doroy [Teodoro] Valencia, the columnist, says, who should know best but the would be assassin, Mendoza.

10:30 PM December 4, 1970[2]

Friday

I must be getting old. I am more and more beginning to reminisce. I am beginning to find sustenance in the past.

Samuel Sarmiento—He is the only Filipino winner of the “Emmy” TV award in the USA 1970. I attach his letter. In his letter to Doroy [Teodoro] Valencia he refers to the reports of “Ferdinand Marcos, Lt. Col.” from behind enemy lines to Gen. Mac Arthur. He was an instructor of AIB primarily teaching the enemy “Order of Battle.” I attach copy of his letter.

Chic Parsons—I saw him and Mrs. Parsons at the roped off area in the Quezon Circle during the last mass of the Pope on Nov. 29th. He was a submarine commander bringing AIB agents and material to the Philippines during the war. So I invited him to the Presidential Box. And I saw them walking all the way to Aurora Blvd. I asked them to ride in the security car behind us.

Admiral ______ CINCPAC [Commander in Chief Pacific] was also a submarine commander during the war operating in the Philippine waters.

We visited [Teodoro Sr.] Teddy and Toto [Rosario] Locsin at their house this afternoon. He had been attacked by the Government Report for not allowing a union in the Free Press.

As usual he was a prophet of doom foreseeing a revolution and violence soon, claiming that no President can stop this. He feels that there is too much population growth and too little [?]

The liberal bourgeoisie.

The barrios the centers of conservatism.

Our liberalism thrown back at our faces.

Finished the outline for my speech before the Free Farmers Federation next Sunday. We encourage the ventilation of grievances but we must not resort to violence nor to any violation of the law.

We will restudy the present policy in the disposition of public lands which is stacked against the small man in favor of the big fellows.

All acquisitions of public lands by title or license or lease should be subject to private rights if any.

Cooperatives for all recipients of public lands so that they may protect their rights and advance their interests.

Cooperatives should be set also for all tenants in land reform areas.

This will place them on equal footing with the big land owners.

I write this at 8:10 PM December 5-6, 1970[3][4]

Dec. 6th, Sunday, as we Saturday-Sunday

approach Manila

They are setting the sea detail for docking on Pier 5.

We have spent the day in Talaga Bay, Mariveles, Bataan although I helicoptered at 9:30 AM to Malacañang to speak at the Free Farmers Federation convention. For the first time I had only one Huey unescorted and piloted by two young lieutenants because the other helicopters were sent to Maricaban Island and Limbones. But we skirted the Bataan peninsula eastern coast to Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal and Manila. It took us 45 minutes when I returned to Talaga Bay at 1:30 PM with Lt. Col.[Petronilo] Lapeña and [Delio] Oxceña [Oseña] piloting, and flying only at 80 and 90 knots an hour instead of 100 and even 110 as we did when going to Manila; it took us only 25 minutes passing by the Cavite coastline, cross water to Corregidor and Sisiman Cove then south to Talaga Cove and Bay.

Promised Rotary International President William Walk that I would go to Sydney, Australia to speak to the Rotary International (15,000 Rotary heads) on May 16, 1971. He was accompanied by Senate Pres. Gil Puyat and Rotarian Francisco Delgado.

The reception I received from the Free Farmers was warm, spontaneous and genuinely enthusiastic. And I identified myself with them and the entire reform movement. “You are the hope that we can achieve the peaceful reformation of our society. For if we cannot reform peacefully, violent reformation is inevitable. As long as I am President, the head of state will encourage you.” I appealed for farmers’ cooperatives.

And I am preparing the reforms that I refer to. It will probably shock many of my affluent friends. “I do not care if such reforms or changes are called or labeled communist or socialist. If they are for the good of the country and our people we will adopt them.”

Ate at Malacañang with Father [Isidoro] Otazu [O.S.B.], Father Rector of San Beda, whom I invited to go with me to Talaga Bay. Then we ate again with Imelda and party at the unfinished house in Talaga. Took a nap from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Swam until 5:30 PM. Cold but not chilly.

Yesterday, the 5th, we attended two weddings in the morning, one at 7:00 AM (Mary [the Queen] Church, Greenhills), the marriage of the son of Ambassador [Modesto] Farolan and Linda Rigor, and another at 8:00 AM at ______ the marriage of the daughter of Cong. Carmelo Barbero to Manuel Villaruz (they met when they were scholars on cooperatives in Israel).

Then we passed by the San Juan house which still showed the effects of the typhoon (Yoling) and took the boat at about 10:15 AM for Talaga where we arrived at about 12:30 PM.

We went ashore at about 2:00 PM, looking over the bay and the house, swum at 5:00 PM and were back on the boat at 6:15 PM.

Spent the evening up to 11:30 PM in lively conversation.

11:30 PM December 7, 1970[5]

Opened the Ilocano presentation at the Nayong Pilipino at about 9:00 AM.

Appointed Gov. Jose Evangelista as Chairman of the Public Service Commission and administered his oath of office before the Governors and City Mayors’ League who visit me on the first Monday of every month. They came to seek the use of national engineers’ equipment for road-building without rent which I ordered and for the release of funds for public works which I postponed for the final listing of projects and of priorities.

Met the Russian delegation headed by Dr. [Valentina Lubomudrova, member of the USSR Presidium], and Professor Nicolai Tsagolov with [Igor Podberesky][6] the scholar specializing on Tagalog.[7]

We will soon start the initiative of establishing trade and cultural and ultimately diplomatic relations with Russia and the Socialist countries of Europe. Red China is another matter because of its avowed purpose to dominate us in its drive for an Asian hegemony under its leadership.

Worked on the contingency plan for Mindanao and the anti-smuggling campaign reports.

Met the Boy and Girl officials of Manila, Caltex officials and the Papal Nuncio.

Played 18 holes in Manila Golf with [Domingo M.] Ingo Guevara, Belek Madrigal and Ricky Cu-Unjieng. Imelda picked me up and came over to the 18th fairway with Hebu, Vicky and Chito Madrigal.

Before the boy and girl officials for the yearly week-long celebration of the youth, I quoted the saying of Lao Tze—“Make well of this day, for every today well spent makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

I am slightly disturbed by the licentious attacks against me insinuating dishonesty. So I have decided to file a case against Franz Pick[8] the monetary writer who claimed that I have dollars hidden away somewhere which is more than the dollar reserves of the country. I believe it is about time we took a stand on this.

I have directed Press Secretary Kits [Francisco] Tatad to phase the important news that we will have for release in the next several months.

Imee is completely occupied in her role as the tragic mother Maurya in the famous play [Riders] to the sea by [JM Synge].

Irene who saw her today says she was good, was actually crying on stage; and so was the audience.

We will see her tomorrow at 5:00 PM.

11:00 PM December 8, 1970[9]

Tuesday

Worked on and approved the 15th year reparations schedule tonight.

Also directed the sale at public bidding of 120 million kilos of tobacco now in the bodegas by a cabinet level bidding committee composed of the Sec. of Finance, Sec. of Justice, Auditor General, Gen. Manager of PVTA [Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration] and a representative of the opposition Liberal Party.

But a P5 million deposit must be made with a P1 million peso bond and 25% to be paid within thirty days after the award of the bids.

Locked into the loss of about P100 million in taxes of cigarette manufactured here. Controlled by Chinese and Stonehill interests.

Met PAL [Philippine Air Lines] management on the pilots’ threat to resign en mass and the collapse of the Air Agreement in Washington.

Went to Canlubang for golf, a conference with leaders and the baptismal of the son of Luis (Tito) Yulo and Tessie Hugo, named Jose Marie. Studied the extension of the South Super Highway.

Met Greg[orio] Licaros and talked to [Eusebio] Villatuya of PNB [Philippine National Bank] on the SPCMA [Sugar Producers’ Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc.] purchase of Esfac [Esso Standard Fertilizer and Agricultural Chemical Co., Inc. ]—as well as the monetary situation.

The Lopezes are beginning to gobble up all kinds of businesses specially those belonging to the Americans.

They took over Meralco [Manila Electric Company], are setting up a Luboil or lubricating oil factory, borrow from PDCP (Phil. Dev. Corp. of the Phil.) where they have set Bert Villanueva as their dummy, bought AG & P then spread the word that we bought it; they are already in control of ABS-CBN and the Manila Chronicle.

Their favorite line is that they do not need any help from the government but they have been using their influences inside government to get what they want.

When they raised the rates of Meralco, they bribed Com. Enrique Medina, then Chairman of the PSC [Public Service Commission], the amount of one million pesos to get this approved.

Their man, Ramon Mitra, whom I appointed to the Monetary Board under the threat that they would continue their abuse of me and Imelda over their media, actively promote their interests brazenly and unashamedly.

They openly admit that they tap the telephone lines of their adversaries or suspected non-allies and threaten their opponents as they did when they filed an administrative charge against BOI [Board of Investments] Commissioner Tordesillas who refused to approve their applications without question and investigation.

We have to make a stand against these dangerous men and their operations. These are the men who will wreck our society—insatiable, rapacious and obsessed by the love of money.

11:30 PM December 9, 1970[10]

Wednesday

Met the military to work out the contingency plan for Mindanao and Sulu—PC [Philippine Constabulary] OPLAN Sultan and PA [Philippine Army] OPLAN KAMAGONG. Both are dependent upon mobility and communications which are presently deficient. PC has only 45% of organic transport requirement. PA in the 4th Division (according to its CG [Commanding General], Gen. Cruz) has only 18 operational tracks out of 47.

PC estimates possible enemy strength at 800 armed men (MIM [Mindanao Independence Movement], Ansarul Islam, Green Guards, etc.) and presently has a strength of about 3,500 officers and men. PA has a strength of 1,500 including trainees.

We must maintain the ratio of our troops to that of the enemy at no less than five to one.

The contingency plan for Manila and the surrounding area OPLAN ISMA is operational. They have had two exercises already and worked out the concentration of troops in two hours.

Called in the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] men (heads of offices) and told them that many of them have been using my name in collecting from taxpayers. I told them that I was angry and showed it.

I directed a re-organization from top to bottom specially on the income tax, business tax and specific tax divisions.

I may have to remove Com. Misael Vera from the BIR.

Next in the reorganization is the Bureau of Customs. Com. [Rolando] Geotina may have to go.

Received [Erbito] Salavarria, the Filipino new world flyweight champion who knocked out Thai champion [Chartchai] Chionoi on the second round.

Have just received a report that the demonstrations have resulted in the wounding by shooting of two students and the injury of a policeman.

Was interviewed by Julie Yap Daza, Daily Mirror columnist, early this morning.

10:55 PM December 10, 1970[11]

Thursday

Am working on the changes on foreign policy. Spent the whole morning studying the pros and cons of diplomatic relations with Russia. Dr. Valentina Labomondrova is here from Moscow. I have ordered the Executive Secretary, PES [Presidential Economic Staff] and BOI [Board of Investments] Chairman Ting [Vicente] Paterno to meet with her to find out what advantages there would be in diplomatic relations with Russia. And how it would affect our relations with the U.S.

And Sangley Point was returned to us this afternoon. This is the result of the reminder we sent the U.S. government last November. But actually Ambassador [Henry] Byroade had alerted us and suggested that we send a note of reminder so that the Philippine government would look as if it had won a point from the U.S. However, I feel that we were baited into a trap because now the Philippines cannot complain of any loss of income because of the closing of Sangley. About 1,400 Filipino laborers and employees will have to go and lose their jobs although it will take seven to eight months for the actual transfer. And now the complaints of the Cavite officials on this would have to be met by the Philippine government and not the U.S. officials. We really got taken!

Worked practically two hours on the Marcos Foundation and its investments with [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto.

Consulted him and Johnny [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Justices Tony [Antonio] Barredo and Dingdong [Claudio] Teehankee [Sr.] and they all agree that our idea of filing a case of blackmail or libel is not wise.

They recommended that we meet the Dovie Boehms [Beams] attack with silence and not descend to her level. A tabloid could do well with the nudes and the report of her psychotic state. But we should show these facts to all our friends specially the senators and congressmen.

We could insert the documentation of the character of this woman in the case filed by the U.S. V Arts against her and the writers and newspapers. Thus prove the falsity of these gossips being purveyed through media and the coffee shops and wreck her credibility.

11:30 PM December 11, 1970[12]

Friday

Talked to Bongbong at about 8:00 AM Manila time to confirm his schedule. He leaves London at 11:00 AM London time for Amsterdam where he takes the KLM [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij]-PAL [Philippine Air Lines] plane for a direct flight to Manila. He arrives at Manila 2:15 PM Sunday. This wrecks our plans for him for the week-end.

Imelda and I talked to Gov. Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez who has been in San Francisco only for a few hours. He has not been able to talk to Loyd Hand or Nanoy [Potenciano] Ilusorio nor Bert Maniquis. He is going to get the court record of Dovie Boehms [Beams] in Nashville, Tennessee where she was found guilty of adultery and was practically found insane, schizoid, narcissistic, suffering from illusions and perhaps hallucinations).

My government advisers (Sec. of Justice Vicente Abad Santos, UnderSecs. Ramon Fernandez and Guillermo Santos, Sol. Gen. [Felix] Antonio and Atty. Jose Africa) all recommended that I do not personally file a libel case even against Graphic which has an article openly mentioning my name and that of Imelda. So U.S.V. Arts has to file the case.

Am preparing to attend the Islamic Supreme Council meeting in Marawi City on December 27th. It will break my holiday but we cannot help it.

And met the Rizal mayors. Decided to extend cash releases for repairs and reconstruction of schoolhouses blown by Tphoon Yoling.

Worked on the Cotabato Tiruray-Moslem-Christian conflict. Heard the side of Mayor Michael Sinsuat of Upi, Cotabato on the “Toothpick” [Feliciano Luces] case. I have ordered Task Force Maguindanao to be turned over to the Provincial Commander; Col. Zarrosa, Task Force Commander to be reassigned and his deputy Capt. Tronco to be recalled to Camp Crame; all the Tirurays to be disarmed as they are no longer fighting outlaws but killing Moslems and Christians (law-abiding farmers). All the schools have been closed except those in the poblacion of Upi, five barrios close to the poblacion and those near the farm of Datu Blah Sinsuat.

We have to stabilize the situation as even the Ilocano farmers and church ministers swear to the fact that the Tirurays, armed by the military, including Toothpick who is roaming around armed, are causing the disturbance.

9:15 PM December 12, 1970[13]

Saturday

Bongbong must be on his way home by KLM [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij]-PAL [Philippine Air Lines] by now. We are busy preparing for his arrival.

I hit a one over par 73 in Wack Wack this morning teeing off at 6:45 AM and finishing at 11:00 AM. We started out on the second nine. I birdied No. 10, was on the green of No. 11 on the regulation second shot but three putted for a bogie 5, parred No. 12, birdied No. 13, three putted 14 for another bogie, hit the upper branches of the acacia tree left of the front of the green in No. 15, approached to within one meter and missed this short putt for a bogie 5 for my third bogie with two birdies, and parred 16, 17 and 18, the last an approach putt from about twenty five meters to three meters beyond which I sunk.

In the 1st hole, after my drive, [Benigno] Benny Toda [Jr.] arrived with his problems of PAL (the pilots 130 strong out of 260, according to him, are concentrated in Manila Hotel and have refused to report for work although the international flights have not been suspended as yet, domestic flights have been; when I talked to Capt. Felix Gaston at 1400 hours in Malacañan, he said there were 230 pilots in Manila Hotel and they demand no less the removal by Toda of [Rafael] Ygoa, Brown, Russell, Manzano and Gonzales).

So I dubbed my second shot. But made an excellent recovery approach to within two feet but I missed my putt. I parred the 2nd & 3rd, birdied the 4th but bogeyed the 5th, parred the 6th & 7th, birdied the 8th and parred the 9th to make an even par 36 for the second nine holes.

I had straightened up my stance and used my body less and my wrists more. My drives are farther and more accurate. My approaches were good. But my putting was execrable.

The Cavite and Cavite City officials have asked for the postponement of the return of Sangley Pt. to the Philippines because, of course, it means less American expenses in that province and city. But we cannot now delay the return. Even if we asked the U.S. to do so, since they are reducing forces everywhere, they could not delay the return themselves.

Sec. [Manuel] Collantes, after meeting with [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.], [Vicente] Paterno, [Cesar] Virata and others recommends immediate diplomatic relations with USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]. I am afraid Melchor has been taken by the welcome extended him in Moscow. I have not been answered the questions as to what we gain in advantage. And what are the disadvantages. Everybody is in a hurry without any hardheaded inquiry.

10:00 PM December 13, 1970[14]

Sunday

Bongbong has just arrived. His plane a [Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij]-PAL [Philippine Air Lines] DC-8 on direct flight from Amsterdam touched down at about 3:00 PM. A sizeable crowd with the usual palace friends and their children were there to greet him. The people up in the visitors terrace shouted “Bongbong” and waved to him happily. You could see they were as glad as we were to see him home for the holidays.

And we have been excitedly preparing for his arrival. His room has been refurnished and redone by [Fernando] Pandot Ocampo. We have put in our share.

The girls fixed up his and their rooms to look lived in and cozy. I put in there the stamps we struck for the Pope on his visit and the knives given me by Mayor [Vicente] Hernando of San Nicolas.

And we had the horses waiting for him at the aviary. His horse Argentina was there and at first he shied away from him. Button and Kitten were also there.

The dogs were inside because it was showering as it has been the whole day. His favorite, Sandy, of course was there. And so was Achilles the Dalmatian and the two chows, Butterball and Alaska.

After the hurry and scurry to look into his room and the peremptory demands for kuwento, we heard mass then merienda when he told us a lot of stories.

He had come to the landing ramp when we were out of the VIP reception room and he apparently had cut his hair short but it still looked long and was way down to his collar.

But the first impact was a pleasant shock. He had lost his darkness and he looked unbelievably handsome. I could see and hear that this was also the effect on his mother and the Ilocano mayors who were there.

He had acquired some kind of an English accent and the peculiarly English terms like “frightful,” “dreadful,” “chap.”

But he was changed much deeper than mere accent or adeptness in the English language.

He now placed greater importance on his academics than on sports. He casually announced that he would have to give up his judo as it cuts into his study and work on physics. And he bragged of his being told by his master that they would recommend his elevation or acceleration in physics. He also bragged that he was third in mathematics in a class of 120. Although we did hear of rugby or “rugger.”

Imelda and I are agreed that we made the right decision in sending him to England. And we remembered our fears of friends as well as enemies spoiling him, of drug-addiction, of leftists, threats of kidnapping and the fate of Presidents’ sons in the Philippine society that gave them no incentive for excellence.

Imelda and I were both in tears (of happiness of course) when we met him and talked to him. I noticed that Imelda hugged him longer than usual as I did. And she whispered to me, “You were right, we have lost a child. He is now turning into a man. We can no longer baby him.” I answered, “We will just have to have another child to baby!”

This has been a happy day!

10:50 PM December 14, 1970[15]

Monday

Our first day with Bongbong. Woke up late believing he would not be able to awake early but he had breakfast with the two girls before seven o’clock.

He looked bored the whole morning as I attended to my visitors—Ambassador [Toshio] Urabe, Mrs. Adelina Rodriguez, the Cavite officials on Sangley Pt. (we decided to inform the American Ambassador we would like to see the turn-over take place finally after one year; we are going to set aside an area for a ship-building complex for Bayside Shipping which is being given reparations items this year and some electronics factories; but best of all finish the coastal road to Cavite City although we will have to wait for the case pending in the sala of Judge de la Rosa of the Pasay City Court of First Instance; the runway is only 8,000 feet long and therefore cannot be utilized for big planes).

In the afternoon we had the Christmas festival at 3:00 PM for the indigent children. Bongbong delivered the speech for the family party in Tagalog and partly in English—“Ikinagagalak kong pinahintulutan akong umuwi nang aking mga magulang at lumahok sa inyo sa mga araw ng kapaskuhan x x x This Christmas is doubly happy for me—It is the kind of happiness that I intensely wish for everyone—for you, all our people, and our country. x x x Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat.”

But again the hysterical explosion of greetings for Bongbong. “Guapo si Bongbong,” was the comment. Of course the girls were more excited than the boys. He received all of these as a matter of fact casually.

After the induction and dinner of the officers of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce led by Mr. Antonio Roxas Chua at which they pledge cooperation with my administration anew, I met [Felipe] Baby Ysmael at 7:15 PM. He brought an air rifle with tranquilizer darts. I asked Bongbong to come and help me get the gun working. He showed scarce interest and went back as fast as he could to his room to do recording.

I am amazed at the rapport between him and his sisters. Imee had faithfully written him every event that had happened here and now they seemed to have so much to talk about—classes, the idiosyncrasies of his “mawsters,” the characters in his school, what he thought of the Filipino boys in Worth (Iñigo Zobel who he says is known to be rich but thick [headed] and is always copying his homework and the Soriano boys who are on their third year in Worth; he does not think very highly of them). They talk of drama, Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw, James Joyce and other writers.

Imelda and I just listen very fondly—too fondly I am afraid.

But he is more orderly in his habits, takes care of his room which used to be untidy before he went to Worth and seems shy with the girls.

Incidentally all the girls big and small wanted to meet him and shake his hand.

He seems decided not to go to Oxford after Worth but to go to the University of the Philippines instead for his law degree. Apparently, he is affected by his classmates who seem to think that Oxford was not much.

And anyway, he says, for him to go to Oxford, he would have to stay six years in Worth.

We are letting him make up his own mind. After all he seems to know what he wants.

11:05 PM December 15, 1970[16]

Tuesday

Dictated the outline of the State of the Nation Address next January. It will be a plan for reform.

I have ordered the filing of a criminal case of smuggling against Congressman [Felipe] Azcuna. This should prove that there is a law that applies to all.

And I have ordered the reorganization of the PC [Philippine Constabulary] Provincial Commands. The entire provincial PC personnel of Ilocos Sur has been changed completely. Col. Zorrosa of the Magindanaw Task Force has been removed and so has the Chief and Deputy Chief of the PC Criminal Investigation Section.

This afternoon Commander Villa, one of sub-commanders of Dante [Bernabe Buscayno], was killed with 3 other NPA [New People’s Army] men in an encounter at about 3:30 PM at Concepcion, Tarlac. A woman inside the house they were holed in was killed.

I have also ordered the use of cement for payment by the national government of the rural improvement fund for the barrios, highway special fund and local government shares of the excess income tax. We will try this in the distribution of cement credit cards in Bicolandia, Rizal and Bulacan. I go to Bicol next Thursday and Rizal and Bulacan next Friday.

I am watching the basketball finals of the Asian Olympics in Bangkok transmitted live through satellite direct—between the Philippines and Korea. It is one minute and 24 seconds to go and the score is 67 Philippines and 62 Korea.

The game has just finished in a flush of excitement with the score at 70 Philippines and 65 Korea. [Jun] Papa starred in the game scoring 33 points of the 70 we scored.

Bongbong and I are alone in the living room watching the game but Bongbong has gone to sleep. I woke him up 7 seconds before the end of the game.

10:30 PM December 16, 1970[17]

Wednesday

We have been in a rush all day as we dispatched the Maligayang Pasko Motorcade to distribute gifts to the poor.

We have worked out with the Sec. of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank, Chairman of DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] and Secretary of Public Works the payment to the local governments of their allocation of excess income tax, highway fund and rural fund in kind like cement and GI [galvanized iron] sheets. But Sec. [Cesar] Virata’s grey hair has increased because of the DBP foreign obligations up to June which may amount to $60 million.

Called a conference with Gov. [Simeon] Datumanong of Cotabato and mayors on the Tiruray-Moslem feuds. Both sides are now to blame for the killings. So we have to hold a peace conference in Cotabato on the 28th and invited all groups.

Finalized the plans for the Mecca pilgrimage.

Tomorrow we go to Bicol (Pili, Cam. [Camarines] Sur then Bato). We will return by noontime. Weather is good.

11:30 PM December 17, 1970[18]

Veterans Memorial Hosp.

Imelda and I went to Bicolandia by plane. I took the Fokker, she took Silverio’s Cessna-4.

Distributed the first cement credit cards as well as the excess income tax credit advise [sic], the first to capitanes del barrio and the second to municipal mayors. GI [galvanized iron] sheets will also be distributed.

It (the credit card system) seems to be a success.

We go to Bulacan and Rizal tomorrow.

I am at the VMH as [Veterans Memorial Hospital] I sleep here after a castor oil purgative of ten capsules; tomorrow they wake me up to give me enema in readiness for my GI [gastrointestinal] series and proctoscopy.

This afternoon I awarded the certificates of marksmanship to the experts of PSU [Presidential Security Unit] and PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion]. This was preceded by a marksmanship demonstration of combat shooting, fast draw, hip shooting “high-noon style,” men pitted against each other and also shooting at silhouette targets.

Volunteers were requested. My aide Mayo and Bongbong volunteered. He used a .38 4-inch revolver and hit the heart of his silhouette target; when I shouted between the eyes, he hit the head at will. I could hear Col. Berenguel of OSI [Office of Special Intelligence] exclaim, “Say, he can shoot!”

I must practice my marksmanship.

12:20 AM December 18, 1970[19]

Friday

Proctoscopy and systoscopy (that is nothing but an examination of the lower bowels [in my case up to 23 centimeters] with an instrument inserted through the anus to check ulceration from chronic amoebiasis or growth which may be benign or malignant) was [sic] negative. All clear except for some indications of swelling of the blood vessels or symptoms that may lead to hemorrhoids (what a messy thing).

X-Ray examination of upper bowels and intestines (after a two-liter barium enema following two one liter warm soap and water enema following a “fleet enema” to hasten the result of the castor oil purgative which did not seem to work except to cause me some stomach discomfort in the middle of the night inasmuch as I was given only twenty cc when I should have been given thirty cc or 15 capsules of 2 cc each instead of only 10 capsules) was also clear.

So we are free of the nagging fear of ulceration, malignancy or growth in the lower GI (gastro-intestinal) tract which always cropped up whenever I suffered from sudden increased frequency of bowel movements. In this case it increased the day before to ten times. But it is probably due to tension and my diet which has plenty of roughage and also durian.

Barely made the Bulacan gathering of mayors and capitanes del barrio or punong nayon at 10:00 AM as we finished with the examinations with the proctoscope and systoscope by Dr. Yap and X-Ray by Dr. Carangdang, who has acquired a toupee, at 9:15. A fast shower and breakfast then a 30 minute drive through the North Diversion Road and we were with Gov. [Ignacio] Santiago and Cong. [Rogaciano] Mercado in Guiguinto.

Back to Manila at 1:00 PM, took a 30 minute nap after seeing Sec. of Justice [Vicente] Abad Santos to see to it that the would be assassin of the Pope [Benjamin Mendoza] does not go scot-free on a technicality as the whole world is watching the case.

Then the Rizal capitol at 3:00 PM. Again the distribution of checks, medical kits and gifts up to 4:50 PM.

And the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] General Staff and Command School at 5:10 PM.

Quite a busy day.

The distribution of excess income tax credit advance, highway checks, credit cards for cement, medicines and Christmas bags is going on very well and is received with enthusiasm even by the opposition.

More and more leaders are beginning to refer to Imelda as the next President.

11:00 PM December 19, 1970[20]

Saturday

Talaga Bay at the Beach

Referred to as Rojas Hotel

We cast off from Pier 5 at 3:00 PM and rounded Cochinos Pt. into Talaga Bay at 5:00 PM. The low pressure area west of Mindoro has dissipated and the weather is good although the sky is overcast. The sea is calm and I took a nap after starting the book of [Albert Speer] Inside the Third Reich.

Cochinos Pt. which 315 ft. high is actually 48 hectares and used to be an observation point for the navy. It has sheer cliffs all around except at the neck connecting it to the Bataan peninsula. It is surprising how big it is.

We are sleeping on rough steel collapsible beds which Bongbong says is similar to their beds in Worth although their mattress is thinner and made of straw. The water is still weak and so the others have gone back to the boat to sleep.

Very windy in the terrace. So when Imee and Irene went into their beds and felt the lack of wind, they had their beds transferred to the porch in front of their room where it is really windy.

Sec. [Carlos] Romulo arrived at 11:15 AM just as we were distributing bonuses from our private funds (one month’s salary in general) to the PSU [Presidential Security Unit], PGB [Presidential Guard Battalion] and Pasig Task Force which includes the Metrocom.

We gave honors to Sec. Romulo for a job well done. The Palace guards are in full regalia and the escort of honor received him. He had succeeded in the resolution against hijacking and the updating of the Charter of the United Nations. At the same time, he succeeded in his confidential mission about the blackmailing American girl [Dovie Beams?] who claimed to be close to George Randolph Hearst Sr. and Jr. When Mr. Berlin, the trustee, was told of the activities of this woman, he practically laid the law on them and stopped the article that was written by a former staff member for the Los Angeles Examiner of George Randolph Hearst Jr.

I settled the alleged seething rivalry between the Metrocom [Metropolitan Command] and the CIS [Criminal Investigation Service]. The newspapers alleged that the Metrocom had raided the CIS headquarters because of spite for the CIS report that two Metrocom men were the brains in a gang of holdup men which had perpetrated the robberies lately in Metropolitan Manila including the PLDT [Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company] holdup.

The supposed “raid” was actually just a routine arms check which was done throughout the camp, Camp Crame. But of course, the newspapers built it into something scandalous.

We finished the plans for the Cotabato peace conference which has also been exaggerated by the newspapers. And I directed Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile to lend some trucks to Manila for garbage collection.

Tonight we had beef barbecue in two spits with two calves, crackling shrimps, lechon, crabs, etc. Cong. Pablo Roman was the chief cook while Joe Rojas was the house manager. Lights are on and water in our room.

Too cold for swimming but the view is still impressive from the terrace.

Conferred on the Free Trade Zone and the development of Mariveles Port which is franchised to Asiatic Integrated.

12:30 AM December 20, 1970[21]

Sunday

We are in the President No. 777, to sleep in it and return to Manila to reach it at 8:00 AM Monday morning (this morning).

Sunday morning I woke up at 8:00 AM and was water-skiing at about 9:00 to finish at 9:45 AM.

Was at Balanga after a pleasant helicopter ride at 11:00 AM. Distributed the checks, credit advice and Christmas gifts including P1,000 per municipality. We were back at Talaga Bay at 1:30 PM.

The fresh pompano was superb. We went to visit all the coves to the west up to sundown (from 4:30-5:30).

I exercised, showered, napped a while, then worked on my speech tomorrow. Conversed till 11:00 then we returned to the boat. Heard mass at about 7:15 AM. Father [Jose] Cruz has the peculiarity of adding “m—m—m” to the last word of what he was reading. And the children were in stitches throughout the mass.

12:45 AM December 21, 1970[22]

Monday

We are still recovering from the shock of my eldest daughter deciding she will not have anymore of Assumption School but wishes to continue schooling in Tacloban. She finds she is in a rut and will end up ether a bitter activist motivated merely by hate or a part of the artist dilettantes. At 15 she seems to know more than my generation did at that age. She says she would like to acquire real values and Assumption cannot impart to her any. “What am I going to Assumption for—connections? Daddy has seen to that. Refinement? Four years of Assumption has given that to me. I do not want to go abroad because I do not wish to train for anything that I could learn there like becoming a Madame Curie. But I do want to acquire a feeling for our country which you do not acquire in Manila!”

The girl is highly intelligent and articulate in a most logical and devastating way. Makes me feel rather old.

She feels that the Assumption School is full of girls who have everything but really do not have anything. And she does not want to end up being a society matron, shallow and insensitive.

But I feel that she has a social conscience and wants to strike out on her own to learn how to make the world a better place to live in.

I believe she also wants to have roots other than Manila where one cannot really have any.

And she was sobbing and in tears when she told her mother this and me later on when I pulled he[r] aside to talk to her.

So we have consulted her Uncle Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez], governor of Leyte who is all for it but wishes to look into the standards of the Holy Infant Academy, Imelda’s school and where Irish nuns handle the administration and the teaching.

Woke up at 9:00 AM, the ship standing off the pier so that we would not be disturbed. Hurriedly breakfasted on corn flakes with milk and honey as usual, dressed up and dragged Imelda to the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] formal parade and review on its 35th inauguration.

She also distributed gifts to the children of the enlisted men and the veterans’ wives.

Promoted six colonels to generals—Fidel Ramos for chief of Intelligence; [Teodorico] Almuete, 2nd Inf. Brigade Commander; [Domingo] Tutaan, 4th PC Zone Commander; [Edilberto] Bernales, Air Division Commander; [Leovigildo] Gantioqui, Coast Guard Commander and [Octavio] Posadas, Naval Shore Installation Commander. Announced this during my speech.

Also announced the creation of a veterans bureau under the Dept. of National Defense, the bureau to administer all the different offices now attending to veterans affairs like the Veterans’ Administration, Veterans Bank, Veterans Memorial Hospital, etc. This bureau would also help in the placement of retired personnel and administer the skills development program and manpower training program for the officer[s] and enlisted personnel.

I must finish the reorganization of the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

And we must never allow the recession in the United States to contaminate the Philippines. Kokoy who has just arrived reports that 5th Avenue in New York is bleak and inactive while [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto reports that in the Guinsha [Ginza] in Tokyo, sales for one day reach one billion dollars!!

10:40 PM December 22, 1970[23]

Tuesday

Today was my family day. Spent the afternoon trying out our guns for the hunting trip to Sablayan, Mindoro Oriental on Christmas Day while the three girls of the family were spectators in the [Bahay] Pangarap side. Good-natured bantering all around like the Romualdezes owning the park ground (a zacate field then) as shown by the title and bought for only 20 centavos a square meter during the time of [Manuel] Quezon.

Then practiced a little golf and went to the house of [Jose] Joe Campos to hand him over the gift of a Virgin which arrived only after our dinner at Kimpura where we ate tempura and sashimi.

Pleasant evening.

The morning I administered the oath to the six generals I appointed yesterday; brought Gov. [Gregorio] Licaros and Sec. [Cesar] Virata to meet a certain Mr. Wright who is offering $140 million at 8½% interest payable in 15 years (too good to be true); approved the reorganization of the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue]; conferred with Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile, Gen. [Manuel] Yan and Gen. [Eduardo] Garcia on Cotabato, Quezon and Ilocos Sur; approved some highway constructions in Ilocos Norte and Pampanga (P2 million each) chargeable against the P9 million available; met [Roberto] Bert Sabido on the sale to his group of 40% of Georgia Pacific; gave instructions to USec. [Isosceles] Pascual on expediting oil concession application approval, the Madarero and Walstrom cases.

Then I met Sec. Uayda [Oweide] of UAR [United Arab Republic] come here to attend the Moslem conference in Marawi.

The question of diplomatic relations with the USSR [Union of Soviet Socialist Republics] has caused a tempest in a teapot. Even CPR [Carlos P. Romulo?] cautious against precipitate action.

But I have directed the study groups of the Dept. of Foreign Relations, the Dept. of National Defense, Dept. of Commerce and Industry, Education and NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] to update their studies.

Today I also approved the new rules streamlining and simplifying the procedure for exports. This should improve our export earnings.

11:30 PM December 23, 1970[24]

Wednesday

We have all done our Christmas gift choosing. I asked Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] to buy some warm clothes in the United States for Bongbong: fur-lined boots, gloves and jackets—including a Coleman pressure heater, the latest shirts, trousers and belts (I have ordered a gold huge buckle for him and had my Argentinian calf-skin complete with hair, redone by my tailor to fit him) and have ordered some things from Hongkong through Helen Cu-Unjieng. I am giving Meldy and the girls some jewelry.

And we have decided on a cruise on Christmas. We board the 777 after the dinner in Malacañang when all the relatives gather and receive our wishes and gifts—then a nine and a half hours [sic] trip to Sablayan, Mindoro and from there a twenty four hour trip to Iligan or Baloi Airport to where I will be ferried by helicopter (the Sikorsky Amphibian which we will carry on the deck of the 777). I am supposed to fly to Cotabato to reach there at 8:00 AM, Dec. 27, 1970. There we hold a peace conference up to 9:30 AM when I fly back to Baloi then motor overland to Marawi where we are supposed to arrive at 11:00 AM. We stay there up to the evening when we motor back to Iligan, board the ship and cruise back to Manila (36 hours).

This will be different from the sterile Christmases we have spent in the Palace opening gifts.

We will go hunting in Sablayan and meet the barrio people.

As the year ends, I cannot but assess the gains and the losses of 1970.

This has been a year of crisis and trial. We have had a monetary crisis (which as the French have slyly observed was caused by the short-term loans from the Americans, so they the Americans should assume the burden of solving it); a crisis that resulted in the discarding of a legal rate of exchange for the floating rate in February in the middle of the riots, demonstrators and threatened rebellion as well as plots for my assassination and a coup de’etat [sic]; soaring prices and wages; a curtailment of government expenses and of credit resulting in a slowing of economic activity; the stoppage of public works and a corresponding disaffection of the people who find a livelihood in them; the worst floods and typhoon in history that have rendered hundreds of thousands homeless and farms as well as industries paralyzed.

And we have come up from a $300 million deficit of last year to a $35 million surplus in our balance of payments by the end of the year. The HMBs [Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan] and NPA’s [New People’s Army] are on the run, demonstrations are tamed down to placard-carrying with an occasional Molotov cocktail. The minimum wage was increased from P6 to P8 daily in industrial areas without any serious disruptions. We are slowly resuming the industrial pace and working out solutions for land disputes. Our government and banks are once again guaranteeing foreign loans for export-oriented industries. We are issuing credit cards for the reconstruction of damage hospitals and school buildings.

And I have increased the tariff duties on crude oil and “other items” to raise a possible additional income for the general fund of P60 million.

With the US AID [Agency for International Development] support of P200 million, reparations from Japan of P200 million and outright cash from the government of P200 million, we will now go full blast on a P600 million national electrification program.

The same thing is true of cooperatives and exports.

There are those like [Teodoro] Locsin of the Phil. Free Press who feel that there will be chaos in the Philippines. They are all being proven wrong. But they die hard. And they will continuously befoul the atmosphere hoping that thus they will not be too far wrong.

But we will have to push on resolutely and determinedly, take the beatings from the cynics as well as we can preferably in silence as even the tranquilizing medication of a reply is a luxury we can no longer afford given the schizophrenic press that we have.

“There is a campaign of hate being waged against you,” Delegate-elect Vincent Recto exclaimed to me, “and you must do something about this.” “This [sic] young upstarts,” (referring to the student demonstrators), Don Manolo Elizalde told me, “must not be allowed to insult the Presidency and the President. “I wondered amazedly if he expected me to shoot them down to silence them. But this was probably his way of remonstrating with me on my policy of encouraging demonstrators and asking everyone to speak out their minds freely.

Yes, a campaign of hate actually starts when you aspire for the presidency or for that matter gain some degree of prominence and acquire any possibility of becoming president. And you will just have to absorb all the blows thrown at you and keep on moving towards your objective.

After serious study, I find no reason to fear the demonstrators (even the radicals) and the HMB’s or NPA’s. They serve the purpose of keeping our people reminded that we must reform for the better if we would keep our heads.

They may harass, but that is all they can do. We must not allow the harassment to weaken our will nor lessen our pace nor deflect our purpose and line of progress.

The development program is still the principal occupancy. We must devote most of our energies and our resources to it. We must not be pricked and baited into abandoning it or suspending it.

This is why I am concerned about the complacent conservation and old-school lethargy and orthodoxy of my cabinet members specially the Secretary of Finance.

We have to push them into new ingenuity and initiative. Otherwise we will stagnate—holding on to the sterile paper balances of accounts in the government budget.

We will have to start priming the economy soon or we will have the symptoms of recession that they now have in the United States.

3:00 AM December 25th December 24, 1970[25]

aboard the 777 Thursday

bound for Sablayan

After the Media Noche we left the Palace for this ship. But with the waiting for the others like Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] and Juliette [Romualdez], we finally left at about 2:00 AM.

The morning I devoted to golf, preparing gifts and seeing the sugar people on the appointment of Ramon Nolan as trade representative with the personal rank of ambassador to go to the U.S. to work on the Sugar Act extension as 14 South American countries are trying to take over our quota. I also directed the collection of P1.00 per picul on an expected 30 million piculs for the next calendar year, the P30 million to be administered by a trust of sugar and union people (½ for bonuses and ½ for social amelioration). Will organize a Sugar Commission to work on the problem of surpluses.

Saw Ambassador [Henry] Byroade on the withdrawal of the U.S. of right of re-entry into Sangley Pt. Transmitted to him the message of Pres. [Anwar] Sadat of the UAR [United Arab Republic] that the U.S. judge UAR justly and that the ceasefire cannot last for long and then there would be war for the UAR would fight at no matter what price to recover “the sacred lands” taken by the Israelis.

Wrote a poem for Imelda to go with her diamond rosary. [poem on the following sheet, transcription follows the draft markings]

Appointed two new Court of Appeals Justices—Juan O. Reyes and [Mateo] Canonoy.

Approved the rotation after four years policy of the Board of Foreign Service and transferred some ambassadors.

Some walked softly into my life

Sixteen years ago.

And so my heart soared

Scaled the high mountain top.

And the world lay before me

A new domain—wondrous magic land.

The land of legend and of miracles

Where time and beauty has no end.

I am pleased for you were always there

Beside me, come storm and thunder, you were anchor and armor.

Our love has refused to stray, mine

Heedful only to your magic call.

“Beloved every yesterday is a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

I write this at 4:00 PM December 25, 1970[26]

on board the 777 Friday

on the way to Iligan off Dao Christmas Day

after a visit at San Jose 11:30-3:00 PM.

Advance Party led by Kokoy returned

with the governor at 1:00 PM.

We were at the market place for a

meeting at 2:00 PM

We reached Sablayan at about 11:00 AM. While the helicopter reconnoitered for the helipad at the Penal Colony (me at first thought Davao Pt. was nearer the colony than Sablayan but the mayor who had boarded the 777 informed us that the penal colony was only a few kilometers (about six) southeast of Sablayan and the helicopter with Lt. Col. Lapeña and Capt. Asuncion, Crew member Arzadon confirmed this when they ferried our guns, Alfredo and Caloy in jungle suits to the penal colony which has a small grass runway where Dir. [Alejo] Santos and Gen. [Zosimo] Paredes landed in U-17s). Sablayan has no road connections with any other town. Its only feeder road is a self-help project of 4 kilometers to Bo. [Barrio] San Vicente where there is an old airfield (badly kept). Its transportation communication with other towns is by sea and by air. Its pier was badly battered by a tidal wave that came with the typhoons So I released P20,000 for it and P10,000 for the roads. Gave the usual credit cards for the barrios, medicine kits and bags of Christmas gifts.

We were irritated by some posters about me fooling the people and references to “Fred.” The sons of ex-mayors and the incumbent mayor are apparently activists belonging to the MDP [Movement for a Democratic Philippines] if not the ______.

But the people apparently to show their disregard for such “show-offs” and “palabas” cheered us lustily and clapped at every turn of my speech. I noted they liked the suggestion of land reform very much and showed it.

Bongbong and I went to the Penal Colony by helicopter. I was addressing the employees and prisoners at 1:00 PM wishing them a Merry Christmas and congratulating them (specially Superintendent Enriquez) for the attainment of self-sufficiency in the colony and cheering the prisoners who seemed to be a disciplined lot, with the announcement of liberalization of the policy of parole and pardon. I reminded them that I was held in the National Penitentiary for about a year on false charges and in concentration camp and Fort Santiago as a prisoner of war and so I understood their feelings—their frustrations, their hopes and dreams.

We bagged some teal and mountain ducks (small brown ones) in one of the lakes. We hiked about six kilometers to a cassava plantation where on a drive by some of the boys and employees, Bongbong shot a 100 pd. wild pig and the boys caught a 20 pounder alive. It was 3:45 by the time the picture taking of Bongbong straddling his wild pig was over. A truck (an old U.S. Army six by six) with make shift board seats brought us back to the colony administration buildings from the lake. We helicoptered direct to the ship where we triumphantly displayed our trophies of the hunt. We were ribbed by the girls that the “baboy ramo” looked fat enough to have been shot in a pig pen. But of course the pig is a wild pig with its tusks already starting to ferociously stick out of its outer lip and its mouth is pointed and its rear shanks lean.

For once we “brought home the bacon.” We had miserably failed in our hunt in Sibutu.

We had practically no lunch. So we ate at the ship, had a shower and I slept from 6:00 to 9:00.

We stayed up to 11:00 PM when after dinner the ship started to pitch and roll so much we all decided to go to bed.

Imelda is down with a cold which is developing into a flu. She has been taking Decolgen and now she took an anti-biotic. Eurothricin.[Erythromycin]