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Official Gazette for December 30, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS issued the following message on the occasion of the 76th death anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal:
“The light of recent events in our country brings new significance and import to the life and example of Dr. Jose Rizal.
“In a certain sense, we are engaged today in the realization of national aspirations to which Rizal first gave life and hope. He dreamed of a good society in which a people knew solidarity and identity, and in which everyone shared in peace, justice, dignity and prosperity.
“He did not live to see that society come into being, but it is the unique opportunity of those who have come after him to see this dream take root in our time in our country.
“On this 76th commemoration of his martyrdom, no more fitting homage can be made to his memory than that we affirm anew this new faith: in ourselves and the new purposes we have in common of making over our common life.”
RIZAL WANTED the Filipino people to have a new sense of identity as a nation and to instill in them a consciousness of their capacity for excellence, believing that education and enlightenment will emancipate them toward progress. These sentiments were voiced by Secretary of Public Information Francisco S. Tatad who was the keynote speaker in a community forum on “Rizal and the New Society,” sponsored by the Rizal Day Civic Participation Committee. Dwelling on the difficulty of simplifying; the national hero’s diverse gifts, talents and scope of writing, the secretary said that Rizal’s “principal field in his political writing is practical politics—how to change an oppressive order into one that would bring about the healthy development of the Filipino race.”
INTERESTED PARTIES may now file their applications for entrance to promotional-level examinations granting police eligibilities to be conducted on August 26. Polcom Chairman Crispino M. de Castro announced that the examinations will be given for the ranks of Patrolman First Class/Detective, Police Corporal, Police Sergeant, Police Lieutenant, Police Captain, Police Major, Police Lt. Colonel, Deputy Chief of Police and Chief of Police, for both chartered cities and municipalities. Deadline for the filing of applications by current members of local police forces is April 2. They must file direct to the Polcom central office at Delta Bldg., West Ave., Quezon City, or to the nearest Polcom regional training center. For non-members who have to undergo preliminary screenings on March 17-18, application papers must be filed with any of the police departments serving as Polcom screening centers, handcarried or postdated not later than March 16.
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL CARE COMMISSION (PMCC) in a year-end meeting decided to extend medicare coverage to all legal dependents of members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS). In effect, Medicare Program I will already cover 20 million Filipinos or one-half of the country’s population. Their coverage, however, cannot take effect yet on January 1 but definitely the additional beneficiaries will be enjoying the benefits in early 1973.
SALARY WARRANTS (Type A) of government personnel can now be cashed with the Bureau of the Treasury on Saturdays during regular banking hours from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to National Treasurer Vicente P. Rodriguez, who said that the bureau will maintain a substantial personnel force on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
RESULTS OF satellite observations made by engineer-scientist of the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office and the Board of Technical Surveys and Maps (BTSM) disclosed that the location of 14 islands in the Cagayan de Sulu, San Miguel and Muligue island groups as chartered in Charts Nos. 4348, 4707 and 4200 of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, are out of position. BTSM Director Marcelino S. Tabin had previously reported that Cagayan de Sulu Island is out of position. His latest report said that three groups of islands, together with numerous rocks and shoals are all possibly charted 1.63 N. miles east of their correct positions.
Bongbong VII successfully passed its dynamic test this morning at the testing ground in Cotabato eastward towards the China sea. It went up 40,000 feet at least and flew 12 miles straight to the area. Sec. [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and [Juan] Ponce Enrile came aboard the 777.
Caltex through, Chevron’s D.O. “Suede” Nelson and Texaco’s Mr. Allison, Caltex Phil. Ray Johnson signed the service contract for oil exploration in the Sulu Seas.
This will usher in a new era as Caltex know-how, facilities and resources should assure the discovery of oil. Esso and the French have discovered oil in a well named Nymphe, 17 miles from Taganak (Turtle) Island.
Fighting has resumed in Jolo (Sibalo Hill) and Basilan.