Official Gazette for February 17, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the monument to the country’s three martyr priests—Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora at the Plaza Roma in Intramuros.
The First Couple were fetched from Malacañang by Justice Calixto Zaldivar of the Supreme Court. Justice Zaldivar is the chairman of the Gomburza Centennial Commission.
The unveiling and dedication of the monument was in connection with the observance of the 100th anniversary of the execution of the three martyr priests.
The First Lady unveiled the monument, assisted by Justice Zadivar and relatives of the martyrs.
In his speech highlighting the unveiling ceremony, the President pledged to exert every effort to recover from the Spanish government the documents on the proceedings of the trial of the martyr priests.
He recalled that “the Spanish colonial government shrouded the events of 1872 in mystery, and the proceedings of the trial of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora have remained unavailable even today—and even the graves have not been located.”
In desiring the acquisition of the trial documents, the President stressed that his interest lies on the plane of political theory, as he would like the Filipino people to consider whether it would not be more “a source of pride for us if the three priests were not innocent of the crime attributed to them.”
The President declared:
“I am motivated by my personal beliefs and by my oath of office to see to it that the grounds be minimized for citizens becoming firm in their convictions that there is no longer any way getting justice save through the destruction of the entire political and social system. Since there are many obstacles to granting justice to citizens, brought about by a number of causes, some historical, some fortuitous, everyone should be permitted not only to be critical of the system but to persuade vigorously the administration and the government to listen to their way on justice.
“It is in the spirit that we, today, dedicate this memorial to Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, the Filipino patriots, from whose blood issued the great Filipino nation.”
Prominent among those who attended the unveiling ceremony were: the officers of the Gomburza Centennial Commission headed by Justice Zaldivar and the relatives of the martyrs—Natalia Gomez-Quintos, Carlos Xeres-Burgos, Alfred Xeres-Burgos, and Leonardo Guerra. The members of the Cabinet, the Diplomatic corps, and the Supreme Court.
After the ceremony, the First Couple returned to Malacañang, arriving shortly before 11:00 a.m.
At Malacañang, the President received a big group of Ford Motor Company executives who were in Manila to inspect the proposed site of the Ford assembly plant at the Free Trade Zone in Mariveles, Bataan
The Ford officials informed the President of their observation that with his vigorous and active leadership the Philippines appears to have assumed the leadership in the progressive car manufacturing field which may well set the pattern for all countries in Southeast Asia.
On the other hand, the President expressed satisfaction over the interest shown by a lot of car manufacturers in setting up factories in Mariveles. He said this was an indication that the political leadership in Asia have awakened to the need for cooperation and integration of their efforts in the economic field.
He promised to extend all possible support from the government to the progressive car manufacturing program, adding that he hoped it “would further advance our standards in the field of car manufacture.”
The Ford group was led by Allan C. Foran, president of Ford (Phil.) Inc., and accompanied by Chairman Teodoro Pena of the Free Trade Zone Authority.
The Ford executives’ call was followed by a luncheon conference the President had called among Visayan representatives who informed him on matters affecting their respective constituencies.
In the afternoon and until early evening the President went over reports and other urgent state papers which needed his immediate attention.
Gomburza—[Mariano] Gomez, [Jose] Burgos and [Jacinto] Zamora day.
We celebrated the centenary of their death by garrote by the Spaniards after conviction by court martial for allegedly inciting the Cavite Mutiny of 1871 [1872].
And in my speech I spoke of the Gomburza martyrdom as having started the fire and fervor of the desire and consciousness to be one nation.
“It laid the moral basis for the Revolution of 1896. It was the beginning of the Revolution.”
Went back to the palace to meet with the Ford executives and have lunch with the Visayan congressmen and leaders. The latter wanted taxes they are paying to be spent for the economic development plan in the area. They wanted help to be strengthened so that they may help me—after they had pledged loyalty to me and the First Lady—even to the extent of suicide. I assured them that there would be no need to commit suicide. But that we had to arrange a settlement with the Lopezes first—thru [Alfredo] Piding Montelibano [Sr.] who was their spokesman. And then they must help raise the funds for the program. Public works may not be as effective as in 1969 (about 40% effective only) to win the support of the people. So we have to think of some other way to benefit the individual voter directly. Thus, manpower training, housing, electricity, barrio employment, cottage industries etc.
We will prepare an economic plan for the Visayas.
Then interview by Slim Aaron[s] and Linda Ashby of Town and Country, the snob magazine of the Hearst Publications in the U.S. They have helped other countries tourist problem and international image development. So we are sending them by Air Force Fokker tomorrow to Zamboanga, then Davao & back.
This evening we had the Dwight Davis tennis courts at the Park which I had reconstructed inaugurated by USAFIP, NL [United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon] while we played golf.
Then we ate kilawin kambing, pinakbet. And joked of old times when we were soldiers. Com. Lino Patajo, Commodore [Santiago] Nuval, Gen. [Gerardo] & Mrs. Tamayo, Tancred Guray, Mike Rilloraza, Tony Saug, Babang Cabanso, Ireneo Salazar and my brother Paking [Pacifico E. Marcos] were there.
Met Delegate [Eriberto] Misa brought by Congressman Jose Puyat. Then later Delegate Elizabeth Chiongbian brought by Cong. [William] Chiongbian.