Open House at 9:15 AM. Before that had breakfast with Sen. Barry Goldwater Sr. and his son Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr., brought by Ambassador [Henry] Byroade by helicopter (our helicopter) from the airport (From 8:00-9:15 AM).
Then awarding of the prizes in the PACD [Presidential Assistant on Community Development]-Seato [Southeast Asia Treaty Organization] barrio development contest among the 33,661 barrios. First prize went to Barrio Lanno, Baugin, Ilocos Norte.
Official Gazette for January 7, 1972: “THE PRAYER for peace becomes more urgent and the demands for greater labor to attain it by the leaders of mankind more exacting,” thus declared President Marcos in an exchange of toast with heads of diplomatic missions led by Msgr. Carmine Rocco, dean of the diplomatic corps in the Philippines, during the traditional New Year reception held at the Maharlika Hall of Malacañang, where the President and the First. Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, received New Year well-wishers. “As we look around us,” continued the President, “we see more and more the expressions and demonstrations of disparity between the advance and progress of natural sciences on the one hand and political science on the other. We see man move forward not only within our small sphere, the earth, but, into the space that once was referred to as a strange and unknown world but which has now been moved into as a new frontier by man’s ingenuity, talent and daring.
“However, as we move forward to other worlds we seem to have retrogressed in the efforts of man himself to harness his heart, his emotions and his feeling and, thus, we witness all around us the conflicts and disagreements, often violent, between races and peoples, factions and governments, and all to no purpose apparently except to satisfy certain prejudices, biases and preconceived notions and desires.”
Thousands of well-wishers had gathered as early as 8:30 a.m. at the Malacañang grounds for the start of the reception which was delayed because of the breakfast tendered by the First Couple in honor of visiting Senator Barry Goldwater and Rep. Barry Goldwater, Jr. who were enroute to Sydney, Australia.
The long queue of well-wishers was spearheaded by the Senate group led by Senate President and Mrs. Gil J. Puyat, followed by members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Cornelio T. Villareal, Justices of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Roberto Conception, members of the Cabinet headed by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, and the chiefs of diplomatic missions led by Msgr. Carmine Rocco, papal nuncio to the Philippines.
The reception was interrupted for a while when the President had the traditional exchange of toasts with diplomats, and after which the President and the First Lady resumed receiving well-wishers. These included the generals of the armed forces, led by Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; representatives of the press, personal friends of the First Family, personnel from the Office of the President, and other government officials.
In the afternoon, the President was guest of honor and speaker during the presentation of awards held at the Malacañang ceremonial hall honoring the three most outstanding model barrios chosen under the PACD-SEATO Model Community Development Contest for 1970-1971.
The President paid tribute to a lady barrio captain who was an awardee, pointing out that her accomplishment indicated the fact that “sometimes man may dream big but it takes a woman to really implement and bring it down to the level of comfort and living that development and beauty really mean.
In presenting the plaque of merit to the barrio captains, the President particularly noted the achievements of Mrs. Juana de Dios of Barrio San Jose, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, winner of the third prize, as “indicative of a woman’s touch.
The Chief Executive assured the barrio officials that he will continue to support the contest and see to it that proper emphasis will be placed to the achievements “of our leaders in the barrios.”
The ceremony was witnessed by the officials of sponsoring agencies led by Rosendo Marquez, PACD officer-in-charge; Jose Panganiban of the SEATO; and Mrs. Leticia R. Shahani of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Inasmuch as the prices seem to be going up, we have closed the contract with Thailand for 60% of the 300,000 tons of rice import payable in ten years with 3 years grace at 7½% interest, the balance of 40% in cash (we are asking to negotiate the terms of the cash portion).
Exercised again this afternoon as I have felt no pain and I could stand up the whole day on the new pair of boots made by Frankie Teodoro (Ang Tibay) for me.
Am now taking colchicine four times a day with 3 aspirin tablets and 3soda mint (to alkalize my urine).
Then met Sec. [Arturo] Tanco [Jr.] on the conservation program for forestry, the financing of the rice production program (we have P208 million to be generated from the sale of still unsold RCA [Rice and Corn Administration] rice) and his resignation after May. I asked him to get a good undersecretary first.
I enclose his letter and my notes on the rice purchase.
He assured me he has not gambled in any casino as claimed by the rumormongers. Women maybe but not dishonesty.
We are going to divide the country into big zones so that there may be forest reserves where no settlers may go in and reforestation can be pushed hard.
In the toasts for the Diplomatic Corps this morning, I spoke of man pushing the frontiers of natural science leaving behind the less progressive social and political sciences as man cannot seem to attain peace and unity.
And in the Barrio Development Awards l spoke of the need to go deep into the needs of the barrios to answer the nagging question of reform and a more equitable society.
I enclose the Central Bank Report.
Doctors today will prescribe colchicine once a day, too much of it is the cause of his diarrhea.
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