Reports are repeated on the plans of the NPA [New People’s Army] to cause violence on or about the 24th of January (opening of congressional sessions).
I enclosed the intelligence reports.
Worked on the State of the Nation address. Am not contented. Too dry. Not inspirational.
Lunch for Dr. Barco, Executive Director of the World Bank.
Dinner for Pres. Takeshi Watanabe of the Asian Development Bank.
Official Gazette for January 21, 1972: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the day working on state papers, and in the process signed the ad interim appointment of Gen. Manuel T. Yan, as Chief of Mission, Class III, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines.
Gen. Yan retired recently as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
At midmorning, the President disengaged himself from deskwork to receive the credentials of His Excellency Said Kassim Rishtya as the new non-resident ambassador of Afghanistan to the Philippines.
In presenting his credentials, Ambassador Rishtya said that although the Philippines and Afghanistan are far apart geographically, the two Asian nations share many things in common which bring them together, and that both countries have undergone “long and unrelenting struggle in maintaining and safeguarding national independence” and are “firm supporters of world peace and good understanding among nations.”
Responding to the new envoy’s remarks, President Marcos noted “that the existing bonds of friendship between our two peoples have strengthened through the years and that this has been made possible by our common aspirational determination to safeguard and uphold the ideals of liberty, fraternity, and independence.”
“My administration,” the President stressed, “looks forward to the intensification of cooperative efforts between our two countries in the field of cultural, trade, and commercial relations.”
Among those who attended the ceremony were Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes, and Acting Secretary of Health Clemente S. Gatmaitan.
In another ceremony later, the President conferred the Order of Sikatuna, rank of Lakan, on Executive Director Virgilio Barco of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in simple award ceremonies at Malacañang.
Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, read the citation which lauded Dr. Barco for hits “work in promoting better relations between the Philippines and Latin American countries” and his esteemed services to the government and people of the Republic of the Philippines,” in his capacity as executive director of the IBRD, International Finance Corporation, and International Loans Association representing the Philippines, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
After the ceremonies, the President tendered a luncheon in honor of Barco.
Present at the rites were Secretaries Cesar E.A. Virata of Finance, David M. Consunji of Public Works and Communications and Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., of Agriculture and Natural Resources; General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr. of the Government Service Insurance System, Governor Gregorio S. Licaros of the Central Bank, Chairman Leonides S. Virata and Governor Leon O. Ty of the Development Bank of the Philippines, and Chairman Vicente T. Paterno of the Board of Investments.
In the evening, the President tendered a formal dinner in honor of Dr. Takishi Watanabe, president of the Asian Development Bank.
Imelda has gone to the birthday party of Ising [Maria Luisa Madrigal-Vazquez] (after the dinner).
Increased tariff on polyester fiber.