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: PRESIDENT MARCOS met with Ilocos Sur officials led by Acting Gov. Antonio Villanueva and Mayor Benjamin Sanidad of Sto. Domingo, chairman of the Ilocos Sur Mayors League.
During the conference at Malacañang, the President appealed to the incumbent and newly-elected officials of the province to effect a peaceful and orderly turnover of authority and join hands in the peace and order and social and economic development programs.
In his appeal, the President asked the outgoing and incoming governors, as well as the chairman of the Ilocos Sur Mayors Leaque to meet with all incumbent mayors and those elected to succeed them and map out an orderly and peaceful turnover of authority on December 30.
The President also:
1. Requested Gov. Villanueva and Mayor Sanidad to recommend on who of the policemen, including those of the Vigan police force, should be armed by the PC;
2. Turned down anew the suggestion of Gov. Villanueva that martial law be imposed in the province; and expressed the belief that the PC is still capable of meeting any subversion threat in that province;
3. Announced that in connection with the Four-Year Economic Development Plan, under which the country is divided into ten regions, each with its own peculiar and specific programs and targets, the government planners would visit the province;
4. Directed Lt. Col. G. F. Cuaresma, PC provincial commander who will retire in January and will be replaced by Col. Honorio Balanon, to make sure that the PC in Ilocos Sur discharge its duties without fear or favor; and
5. Reminded those present that under the agreement forged in the previous meeting, the leaders of the warring factions and their men will fight side by side with PC in the event that the New People’s Army become active in the province.
Present at the conference were Vincent Crisologo, son of Gov. Carmeling P. Crisologo, Governor-elect Luis “Chavit” Singson and his brother, newly-elected Mayor Evaristo Singson of Vigan, Mayors Antonio Cabf.l-don of Caoayan and George Cabacungan of Sinait; Acting Board Member Juanito Tolentino; Mrs. Canuto Farinas representing her husband who is the mayor of Magsingal.
In the afternoon, the President closetted himself in his private study and worked continuously until late in the evening
It is unknown where this text comes from, because the December 23, 1971 entry is missing from the PCGG collection.