We have just talked to the children by long distance. They seem to be standing up to the winter very well, coal strike, power strike and all notwithstanding. Bongbong has taken the career exams and he says that he has been told he did well and I will be written about his aptitude for physics, pure math and applied math in Oxford and Cambridge after three of four years.
It took us long (over an hour) because Imee insists on accepting the lead in the drama presentation “Anne Frank” of Drama Philippines headed by Zenaida Amador. Imelda objects because she thinks actresses are looked down upon in the Philippines. And that group is supposed to take pot.
We watched the Phil Golf open by TV (as we could not go to Surigao for the North Mindanao Athletic Meet) had a heavy lunch with my golf mates, then played golf up to 6:00 PM.
Won P20 on Sugumoto against Hsiad Yung Yo who came in second.
Discussed housing and reclamation with Tony Martel.
I will develop the idea of multipurpose cooperatives into the Tulong Bayan or Bayanihan Pambansa or Bayanihan sa Nayon.
The P150 million in the budget will be used for these Rural Cooperatives at the rate of P5,000 per barrio. There are about 33,000 barrios in the Philippines.
I attach the papers for today in Envelope No. XVI-C.
11:55 PM February 28, 1972[1]
Monday
There is a spate of speculations on the U.S.-China communique after the Nixon visit.
“’The U.S. has sold Nationalist China down the river,” is a typical comment. This is because of the U.S. commitment to decrease US troops in Taiwan military installations as the tension decreases—and the agreement to treat the Taiwan question as an internal problem which means Taiwan is a province of China.
Whatever the explanations, the US seems to have humbled itself before Red China.
“Another Potsdam or Munich”’ is another comment.
“Peace at any price”—they add “even at the price of honor.”
I place in Envelope XVI-D the newspapers that carry the communique as well as comments. In the envelope are also papers given me this morning by Amb. [Henry] Byroade.
11:20 PM February 29, 1972[2]
Tuesday
Met the political leaders of Cavite, Gov. Lino Bocalan and Cong. Justiniano Montano on the spate of killings in that province.
Put the entire province under P.C. [Philippine Constabulary] control. Both of them agreed.
Issued orders of shoot to kill to all those who resisted lawful arrest and/or were engaged in the commission of a crime like carrying a gun.
Cancelled all permits to carry guns outside their residences (including licensed guns).
I attach the report on the latest murder, the ambush of Mayor Aling [Manuel] Rojas of Cavite City.
Also received the progress report on the MIA [Manila International Airport] from Col. Jolly Bugarin of the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation].
Sent Sec. [Juan] Ponce Enrile to the U.S. to negotiate for surplus equipment. I attach his instructions.
Imelda may go to Moscow, England and Madrid on the wedding of Alfonso de Borbon to Carmencita Franco Villaverde the granddaughter of Gen. [Francisco] Franco of Spain.
Am finishing the roads for the Boy Scout Jamboree at Mt. Makiling. I attach the plans.
All attachments and other papers in Envelope No. XVI-E.
[1] Official Gazette for February 28, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the day with a series of top-level conferences in Malacañang. One such meeting discussed the implications of the state visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon to the People’s Republic of China. Those who conferred with the President were Secretaries Carlos P. Romulo of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ponce Enrile of National Defense, and Vicente Abad Santos of Justice; and the members of the general staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, composed of Gen. Romeo Espino, chief of staff; Major Gen. Rafael Ileto, vice chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos chief of Constabulary; Brig. Gen. Rafael Zagala, commanding general of the Philippine Army, Brig. Gen. Jose Rancudo, chief of the Philippine Air Force, and Commodore Hilario Ruiz, nag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy. The President also summoned Ambassador Henry A. Byroade of the United States for a meeting. Early in the afternoon, the Chief Executive met with Undersecretary of Commerce Eliseo Villamor, concurrently chairman-general manager of the Rice and Corn Administration; and later with Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina. Others who saw the President included a delegation from Batanes headed by Gov. Simeon Gato. The President issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, March 4, a special public holiday in the City of Puerto Princesa, (in Palawan), to give residents there an opportunity to observe with appropriate ceremonies the 100th year of the City’s existence. In the evening, the President was the guest of honor and speaker at the 11th induction ceremonies of the new officers of the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs, held at Manila Hotel.
[2] Official Gazette for February 29, 1972: EARLY today President Marcos issued two executive orders: one creating the Philippine Tourist Board; and the other further amending Executive Order No. 212 dated February 17, 1970, and designating Edgardo E. Q. Yap as vice-chairman of the National Artificial Rain Stimulation Committee. The President attended to his scheduled callers at mid-morning. The first to be received was Mr. L. Gibbs, managing director of GM Holden, a car manufacturing firm of Australia, who called to pay his respects following his recent arrival in connection with the Australian Trade display at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati, Rizal. Australian Ambassador James C. Ingram accompanied the Holden executive to Malacañang. Later the President presided over a conference of local officials from Cavite. During the conference, the President ordered that the entire province of Cavite be placed under Philippine Constabulary control for effective maintenance of peace and order in the province. The Cavite officials present at the conference were Rep. Justiniano Montano, Gov. Lino Bocalan, Col. G. Manuel, Cavite PC provincial commander, and Col. E. D. Tobias. Also present were Senator Helena Z. Benitez who is from Cavite, and Col. E. C. Navarro, 2nd PC Zone commander. The conference was also attended by Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos and Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, and Brig. Gen. Fidel V . Ramos, chief of constabulary. The President ordered Abad Santos and Enrile to organize a team of interrogators to gather information on criminal activities from all those apprehended for various crimes. He directed Gen. Ramos to organize a task force exclusively for the province, suspend in Cavite all permits to carry firearms outside homes, and give all armed groups and wanted men in the province seven days to surrender along with their firearms. The afternoon and evening was devoted by the President to paperwork.