Kalipayan
Ulot, Tolosa
Leyte
I talked to Gen. [Fortunato] Abat at 6:00 AM by long distance telephone from Manila to Cotabato. No attack on Cotabato City in the night.
At 10:00 AM when I talked to Col. ______ his Deputy from Ulot by long distance, he confirmed that the enemy had dispersed and our boys are pursuing them.
The enemy has also withdrawn from Upi.
Talked to MGen. [Fidel] Ramos in Davao City as well as BGen. Abat who flew there for the conference.
In Santa Cruz, Davao [del] Sur the attack of about 200 rebels on July 23rd, was repulsed by the local police and the CHDF [Civilian Home Defense Force] with only one casualty—an army man. Five more killed on the enemy side and nine captured. The enemy withdrew.
So I could just rest here in Ulot and I do not need to go to Mindanao.
I went water-skiing (I have never seen the water in Ulot so calm) at noon, napped, played golf and pelota.
Will play golf at 6:00 AM tomorrow.
Official Gazette for July 26, 1973: THE PRESIDENT authorized, the Central Bank to build an international conference center and bring Manila a step closer to becoming the financial center of Asia. Under Presidential Decree No. 520, the CB will organize and capitalize an independent corporation to operate the conference complex to be named the Manila International Conference Center. The giant joint conference of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank scheduled in Manila in 1976 will be hosted by the center. A portion of the reclamation area near the Cultural Center of the Philippines is being eyed by the CB as site for the conference center which will be one of the most modern of its kind in the world.
THE PRESIDENT hailed the 10 outstanding Ilocanos who received the “Tawid” (Heritage) awards for 1973 and said they reflected the “new achieving spirit” of the Filipino and the transformation of our moral and spiritual infrastructure under the New Society. The President’s speech was read for him by Dr. Pacifico E. Marcos, Medicare chairman, before a distinguished Ilocano audience that gathered at the Cultural Center’s Little Theater for ceremonies held once every two years under the auspices of the Ilocano Heritage Foundation. The President pointed out that the key factors in the national drive for reforms are not only natural resources and capital wealth. “We have to strengthen our national character, firm up the collective backbone,” he said. He was happy to observe that the Ilocano pioneering spirit and habits of frugality and industry have become a part of the national character.