March 14, 1971

[1] Official Gazette for March 15, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS started the workday at his desk as usual, than at midmorning disengaged to address two gatherings. First, the President motored to Camp Aguinaldo, where he was guest of honor and speaker at the 9th anniversary rites of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Supply Center (AFPSC). In his speech, the President expressed confidence that the Filipino “can do great things in the face of the impossible,” including (meeting the nation’s need for change, provided, he said, there is common purpose and unity of effort, performed with “a high sense of duty and honor.” He took cognizance of the achievement of the unit, when he noted that it has demonstrated its ability to fill the needs of the military through innovation and ingenuity in the absence of tools, equipment, and funds. In solving the country’s problems, compounded by the imperatives of change, the President said, “a soldier or a plain citizen can contribute invaluably to the democratic revolution I have envisioned not through extraordinary feats but simply in the fulfillment of obligations as citizens or as public servants.” (See pp. for full text of the President’s speech.) The President later toured the AFPSC’s sprawling plant and warehouse complex, including the section which builds components of the Marcos pre-fabricated schoolhouses, and various exhibits of modern weaponry as well as the emergency dispensary clinics used during disaster operations. From Camp Aguinaldo, the President proceeded to the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion where he addressed the provincial, municipal and city treasurers and assessors of the Philippines, on the occasion of the group’s 53rd annual convention. In his address, the President urged the said officials to pursue the ideals of the democratic revolution by serving faithfully as public servants and as prime movers of national development. He described the urgency of instituting reforms, stressing some of the most crucial changes needed, including the more equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth so that the few who are rich may not get richer, while the average and the poor citizens may enjoy more advantages; the broadening of land reform; the implementation of mass public housing projects; the facilitation of the award of land titles to landless farmers; and the prevention of the use of political influence and economic power to advance the interests of a few oligarchs to the detriment of the majority of the people. The President returned to Malacañang to past high noon. While engaged in paper work in the afternoon the Chief Executive signed the appointment of Augusto Pacis as city treasurer of Cebu City, as well as submitted to the Commission on Appointments the following for confirmation: 1. Francisco T. Bueser, as auxiliary city judge of San Pablo City; 2. Miguel P. Avestruz, as municipal judge of Daram, Samar; 3. Francisco G. Centeno, as provincial treasurer of Batangas; and 4. Jose R. Vera, chairman, and Asterio Favis, Jesus M. Bondoc, Daniel Visco and Rogelio W. Manalo, as members, of the Board of Assessment Appeals of Manila. The President also issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday, March 31, 1971, as a special public holiday in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte. The date marks the 450th anniversary of the first Holy Mass celebrated in the Philippines. The Mass was held at the island of Limasawa, off the mainland of Leyte. Among others, the President congratulated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her victory in the recent elections in India. He sent the following. congratulatory message: “I AM HAPPY TO LEARN OF YOUR EXCELLENCY’S OVERWHELMING NEW VICTORY STOP MRS MARCOS JOINS ME IN CONVEYING TO YOUR EXCELLENCY SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS STOP AS PRIME MINISTER OF A GREAT NATION YOUR EXCELLENCY HAS A VITAL AND HISTORIC ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MANKIND STOP FILIPINOS ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR GOVERNMENTS AND OUR PEOPLES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF FRIENDSHIP AND TRUE UNDERSTANDING.”

[2] Official Gazette for March 16, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS ordered Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to work out arrangements with the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market (GMTFM) toward making the Fishermen’s Market in Navotas, Rizal operational by the end of the month. The President said the opening of the fishermen’s market will contribute to the stabilization of the prices of fish and other sea products in the Greater Manila area. Their arrangements ordered by the President for the GMTFM to include the completion of construction and the installation of the needed facilities, for eventual turn over to a fishermen’s cooperative. To prepare the groundwork for the market’s transfer to the cooperative, the President ordered Secretary Tanco to take steps toward the organization of a cooperative for fishermen. In the course of his work on official papers in the afternoon the President designated Jesus A. Avanceña as acting member of the board of governors of the Development Bank of the Philippines. The President also submitted to the Commission on Appointments for consideration the nomination of Oscar T. Eusebio as register of deeds of Rizal.

[3] Official Gazette for March 17, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS had a busy day with callers, including many provincial delegations who came to discuss local problems. Early in the morning, the President as usual worked at his desk, to act on urgent state matters. Then toward midmorning, he began receiving visitors. The first to see him was a group of Reparations Commission officials, led by Chief of Mission Eulogio Balao. They took up with the President the financing, through the Reparations Commission, of priority projects. Next, the President received Senator Ambrosio Padilla, who accompanied Mayors Perfecto Lim and Graciano Lim of Pintuyan and Liloan towns, respectively, both in Southern Leyte. The President also inducted the new officials, namely: Jose Evangelista as chief of mission Class III and career ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary; and Recio Garcia as member of the board of governors of the DBP. Among those who witnessed Garcia’s oath taking were Dr. Pacifico Marcos, and close friends and relatives. Present at the induction of Evangelista were Mrs. Evangelista, BIR Deputy Commissioner and Mrs. Conrado P. Diaz, Brig. Gen. Antonio D. Evangelista and Undersecretary of National Defense Manuel Salientes. At noon, the Presi dent and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, were hosts at luncheon for UPI President A. A. Thomason and Mrs. Thomason. The U.S. press mogul arrived in Manila in the course of a survey of Asia. Other guests at the luncheon were representatives of local mass media. Later in the day, the President received delegations from Samar, Bukidnon and South Cotabato. Again, they came to consult with the President on local problems. In the evening, the First Couple tendered an informal dinner in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Thomason, with newspaper and magazine publishers and editors as guests.

[4] Official Gazette for March 18, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS said the country may expect sugar surpluses in the next three years and should prepare now to solve any problem on over-production might cause. As the same time the President expressed optimism that the Philippines would not only continue to get its quota from the United States but perhaps succeed in increasing it. The President made these points in a speech at the opening of the sugar industry convention, where he was guest speaker. Arriving at the convention at 11:15 AM the President was welcomed and escorted to the presidential table by Don Manolo Elizalde, president of the Sugar Club of the Philippines, Inc. and the Sugar Association; Don Carlos Ledesma, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters; Ciro Locsin, president of the Sugar Producers’ Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc.; and Ernesto V. Santos, president of the Sugar Exporters Association of the Philippines. The President started the day with a breakfast with UPI President A. Mims Thomason, and publishers and editors of newspapers, after which he put in some desk work. Later in the morning, Thomason returned to Malacañang to interview the President. Accompanying Thomason was Vicente Maliwanag, Manila UPI manager. Then the President received at formal rites the credentials of the new Swiss envoy, Ferdinand Dufour, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. The ceremony was attended by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of General Services Constancio E.   Castañeda, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes and Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes. After a spell of work back at his desk, the President again submitted to an interview, this time by Fr. Martin Ramsaver of the Ateneo East Asia Pastoral Institute. The Jesuit priest was accompanied to Malacañang by Fr. Friedrich, a colleague from the EAPI and a television reporter. Before noon, the President also had a conference with NBI Director Jolly Bugarin and put in an appearance at the sugar industry convention at the Hotel Intercontinental. He had a working lunch with Henry Kearns, president and chairman of the Export-Import Blank, along with Secretary Romulo, Central Bank Governor, Gregorio S. Licaros, Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata, and J. E. Corette, general counsel of the Export-Import Bank. In the afternoon, the President worked mostly at his desk, but disengaged from it at about 4 PM to receive two large delegations from Bataan and Pangasinan who took up local problems with him, notably public works and PACD projects. The Bataan delegation, headed by Gov. Guillermo Arcenas and Rep. Pablo R. Roman, was composed of the mayors of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Bagac, Morong, and officials of the Federation of Barrio Councilmen of the province. The Pangasinan delegation iwas headed by Land Authority Gov. Conrado Estrella, Vice Gov. Vicente Milora, former Vice Gov. Nancy Q. Sison, Board Members Porfirio Sison, Agerico Rosario, and Alfonso Bince, Jr., and included delegates to the Constitutional Convention and municipal mayors from five districts. After receiving the provincial delegations, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, received Mr. and Mrs. A. Mims Thomason who came to bade goodbye before leaving Manila.

[5] PRESIDENT MARCOS said that the tobacco industry of Northern Luzon is actually a healthy, self-sufficient industry which helps finance some of the prior ity projects of the government. In brief remarks before representatives of some 200 tobacco farmer’s cooperatives who were at Malacañang, the President pointed out that the government derives some P90 million to P100 million in ta xes from the industry annually. He said that while the amount is utilized principally to finance the tobacco-buying program of the government, commonly regarded as a subsidy, some of it are channeled to such priority projects as education and public works. During the call of the tobacco farmers, the Phil-Asia released the checks paying its unpaid balance of tobacco purchases. Among those who were with the group were PVTA officials headed by General Manager Federico B. Moreno and representatives of the Phil-Asia led by its president, Vicente Velasco. At breakfast in Malacañang, the President and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, were hosts to the officers of the Press Photographers of the Philippines. He also inducted the officers, who were elected to their posts. Inducted were Jolly Riofrir, president; Rogelio Carpio, vice president; Eduardo Martinez, secretary; Rodolfo Sakdalan, treasurer; Vernie Razon, Ricardo Vida, Conrado de Lumen Ching, Go Chue King, Felix Lloren, Angel Guillas, and Gaudencio Sillona, Jr. directors. Starting his workday in earnest, the President first did a spell of work at his desk. Then he began receiving callers. First to see him were Senators Ambrosio Padilla and Mamintal Tamano and Rep. Teodulo Natividad, with whom he conferred on the solon’s fact-finding survey of Mindanao. Another group that called on the President was composed of 23 members of the executive board of the joint international conference of Anti-Communist Leagues, who had gathered in Manila to prepare the groundwork for the joint meeting here of representatives of some 90, countries throughout the world. Other callers included Agnette Blaistrup, president of the International Planned Parenthood Federation; Gohkok Kee, regional patron; Raymond Guarttet, regional secretary; and Dr. Rube Opelo, chairman of the Southeast Asia and Oceanic regions; all of the same organization, who paid their respects on the President, following their arrival to attend the regional conference of the IPPF in Baguio City. In the afternoon, the President confined himself, to office work, in the course of which he issued an executive order reconstituting the Presidential Action Committee on Land Problems and coordinating the activities of different agencies involved in the administration of land and forestry laws. The President emphasized the urgent need of coordinating the activities of many different agencies and committees involved in the administration of land and forestry laws, as well as agencies, committees or bodies attending to the needs of small farmers and the cultural minorities in order to protect the rights of small settlers, small landholders and members of the cultural minorities and assure speedy justice in resolving their land conflicts and problems. Named to compose the reconstituted committee were the secretary of agriculture and natural resources, as chairman; the governor of land authority, as vice chairman; and Raoul Beloso, chairman of the defunct Small Farmers Commission; PANAMIN Chairman Manuel Elizalde, Jr., the Chief of Constabulary, the commissioner of national integration, the directors of lands, forestry, and mines; and the president of the Federation of Free Farmers, as members. In his order, the President abolished the Small Farmers Commission, the Committee to study Priorities in the Distribution of the Public Lands and the Committee on Social Justice and Agrarian Reforms.

[6] PRESIDENT MARCOS pared down his schedule of callers to be able to concentrate more on state business. He received only a group composed of 82 members of the provincial electric cooperatives team, who called to pay their respects following the conclusion of their 10-day seminar workshop on rural electrification in Los Baños, Laguna; Dr. Allan Kline of CARE, and S. Muhammad Ali former editor of the Bangkok Post, who interviewed the President. In brief remarks before the cooperatives team members, the President underscored the role of cooperatives as “crucial and pivotal” to the economic development of the country. The President stressed the need for the adoption of ingenious ways by which the people could bypass the obstacles of limited resources. Because the country is developing, he said, “we must meet the question or the problem of limited resources with a little more ingenuity, and cooperatives is one of them.” The President pointed to the success of pilot farming cooperatives in Magalang, Pampanga and Llanera, Nueva Ecija as “fruits of the cooperatives program of the government today.” Dr. Kline informed the President that the CARE has entered into an agreement with the Department of Education for the construction of 200 kitchens in elementary schools of La Union, which would prepare hot lunches for barrio school children. Dr. Kline, who was accompanied to Malacañang by Undersecretary of Education Narciso B. Albarracin, showed the President the model of the kitchen which will cost P2,600 each. CARE has allocated ?75,000 funds for the purpose. During the call, the President accepted the invitation of the CARE official to inaugurate one of the kitchens at Rosario, La Union on April 2. The afternoon was devoted by the President to paper work, in the process issuing an executive order constituting the “Fund for Assistance to Students” and created a Students Assistance Committee, which will serve as the trustee of the fund. The fund, amounting to $605,000.00, would come from the special fund for education authorized by United States Public Law 88-94, pursuant to a “Project Agreement” between the Philippines and the United States. The fund was made available for educational purposes and activities of benefit to Philippine students. The President also submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nominations of the following to posts in the government: 1. Usman Manalundang, as city treasurer of Marawi City; 2. Agustin R. Ferrariz, as city superintendent of schools of General Santos City; 3. Gregorio E. Echavez, as municipal judge of Tagum, Davao del Norte; and 4. Rasidali C. Abdullah, as clerk of court in the Court of First Instance of Lanao del Sur, Bayang branch. The afternoon was devoted by the President to official papers. In the evening, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, attended the reception tendered in honor of Brig. Gen. Fabian Ver by the Sarrateños at the Manila Hotel. Ver’s nomination as brigadier general in the Armed Forces of the Philippines was confirmed, and the reception was held to honor him.

[7] PRESIDENT MARCOS had to forego with attendance at two gatherings because of the pressure of desk wor k and other matters of state. The President was supposed to address the opening of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) regional conference in Baguio City, and the opening of the 17th national meet of the Private Schools Athletic Association held at the Garcia Stadium in Tagbilaran City. The President instead asked his brother, Dr. Pacifico Marcos, to read for him his prepared speech at the planned parenthood conference, and Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto M. Maceda to deliver his message at the PRISAA sports festival. In his speech at the IPPF meeting, the President declared that rapid population growth is one of the gravest problems of the nation and that the government and private organizations should “work together to face the challenge of this problem.” “No greater challenge can be given to anybody at this time in the history of mankind” the President said. He recalled that along with 17 other heads of state, he had signed the UN Declaration on Population four years ago, on Human Rights Day. The President said that he was in full agreement with the declaration’s statement that “the population problem must be recognized as a principal element in the long range national planning if governments are to achieve their economic goals and fulfill the aspirations of then-people.” In the speech read for him by Secretary Maceda, the President said that development of sports is a valid enterprise, especially for developing countries like the Philippines which, he said, needs all the sound minds and the sound bodies it could muster to perform the tasks of nation-building. He disclosed that under his administration, a nationwide sports program had been launched to imbue the people with the value of athletics. “Although this program is aimed at raising our standards in athletics, we are more concerned with generating in our people, and especially among the youth, a high zest for sports, both for the joy of competition and for the iron incrusted on the character by the rules of the game,” the President said.

[8] PRESIDENT MARCOS concentrated on desk work, in the course of which he issued two executive orders and, among others, submitted more nominations to public posts to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation. Sent to the Commission on Appointments were the nominations of Mamerto Coliflores, Celestino Brillantes and Emman uel Banzon as municipal judges. The two orders is sued by the President were for: 1. The merger of the Special Action Unit (SAU) and the Complaints and Investigation Office (CIO), to integrate operations toward greater efficiency in dealing with problems and grievances elevated to Malaca ñang by the general public; and 2. The creation of the Philippine Agricultural Training Council (PATC), which will centralize policy and implementation of projects aimed at modernizing agricultural techniques. The SAU and the CIO were merged to eliminate overlapping of functions and to streamline units of the Executive Office, such that these will be more responsive to the needs of those of the public seeking assistance in the solution of their problems. In creating the PATC, the President emphasized the need for a central policy coordinating and implementing body in the adoption of modern agricultural methods and farming techniques and in the effective promotion of manpower training and utilization. The President observed that the continuous development of agriculture is indispensable to effective economic and social development, and that Philippine agricultural productivity and efficiency can be further enhanced by modern agricultural methods and farming techniques and effective manpower training and utilization. The only group of callers received by the President was composed of municipal and barrio officials from Surigao del Sur, who came to the Palace with Rep. Jose G. Puyat, Jr. to discuss local problems.

[9] PRESIDENT MARCOS launched the development performance evaluation system (DPES), aimed at assessing the performance of various departments of the government in developing efforts. He signalled the start of the work of the audit team in a meeting in the morning with a number of Cabinet officials. At the same time, the President, through Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., directed all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government to submit to the Cabinet secretariat a little listing and brief description of all programs related to national development and the Five-Year Economic Development Plan. The President stressed that particular attention be given to the development performance on priority projects, such as cooperatives, housing and electrification; and on on-going projects such as land reform, family planning, peace and order, and educational reforms. At about mid-morning, the President received the group representing the International Executive Service Corps (IESC), headed by A. L. Wilcox, Volunteer director of operations in the Philippines. The President enlisted the services of the IESC in further improving the performance in tourism and exports development, two of the biggest dollar-earning industries of the country. Other members of the group who saw the President were Robert A. Sheldon, IESC Volunteer Executive with Imperial Resources, Inc.; Theodore Krueger, with Radiowealth, Inc.; Walter Walking, with Filipinas Cement Corporation; Joseph Woppman and George A. Smith, with Universal Textile Mills, Inc.; Richard Odell, with Union Glass and Container Corporation; Harry J. Kahn, with Fil-Hispano Ceramics, Inc.; and Henry C. Pfannkuche, Philippine Prestressed Concrete, Inc. Then the President sat down with Edouard Axelrad, president of the Banque de Paris Pays-Bas, who came to survey investment possibilities in the country. Axelrad was accompanied to Malacañang by Hans Menzi; French Ambassador Pierre Revol; and Andre Garcia, commercial counsellor of the French embassy. Toward noon, the President conferred with Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Central Bank Governor Gregorio S. Licaros, DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata, Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel B. Syquio, Commissioner of Highways Baltazar Aquino and PACD officer-in-charge Rosendo Marquez on the feasibility of procuring cement through the DBP to augment the supply of provincial engineers’ offices. The President also received Philippine envoy to Germany J. V. Cruz, who paid a courtesy call prior to returning to his post. Ambassador Cruz was accompanied by Tomas de Castro, the Philippine envoy to Argentina. In the evening, the President sat down for an interview by Dennis Warner, Australian author and journalist. Other callers on the President included Rep. Aguedo Agbayani of Pangasinan, Gov. Tito Primicias, Land Authority Gov. Conrado Estrella; and Rep. Artemio Al. Loyola with a delegation of mayors and treasurers from Davao del Sur.

[10] PRESIDENT MARCOS received only one group of callers in the morning but he summoned some officials for meetings. Mostly, he concentrated on his desk work, among others forwarding two more nominations to public posts to the Commission on Appointments. Nominated were Norberto C. Maramba, as municipal judge of Cabatuan, Isabela; and Constancio H. Alimagno, Sr., as auxiliary municipal judge of Calamba, Laguna. Later, the President conferred with Reps. Mohammad AH Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Macacuna Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur and other local officials of Lanao on local matters. Others in the group included Provincial Board Members Vicente L. Jariol and Datu Mitoon Bitoon Ampang of Lanao del Norte, and Mayor Masiw Manalocan of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur. The President devoted the rest of his working hours in the afternoon to official papers. In the evening, the President was guest of honor at the induction of officers of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), held at the Sulo Restaurant in Makati, Rizal. In his speech, the President stressed that the important goal of the tourism promotion program of the country should be the correction of the distorted image of the Philippines abroad through the encouragement of tourist visits here, who shall then “discover us for what we really are.” The President said that the country’s stakes in tourism include the shaping of the Filipino image abroad as well as the increase of foreign exchange earnings which are urgently needed for the country’s development. The country, he said, need the help and understanding of those who are in a position to help shape the image of the country abroad, an image presently shaped generally, “unfairly or fairly, by what is written about us.”

[11] PRESIDENT MARCOS worked all morning up to 11 AM on state papers, then began receiving callers. First to see him was Graham Sinclair, Jaycee world president, and a group of other Jaycees, including local leaders of the movement. He took occasion to commend the Jaycee movement for its contributions to the improvement of communities and community life. Others in the group were Bob Crane, past U. S. Jaycee vice president; and local Jaycees, namely H. Marcos V. Calo, national president; Nemesio G. Co, executive vice president; Jimmy Yao, vice president for Eastern Visayas; Pedro Enriquez, Jr., secretary-general; Wilfrido Sanchez, national treasurer; and Jose M. Balatbat, national chairman, international relations commission. Following this call, the President received Mayor Filemon Javier of Mandaluyong and Mayor Lucio Gutierrez of Malabon. A group representing the League of Mayors of Marinduque also saw the President. All took up local problems with him. In the afternoon, the President held another conference with business leaders and top government officials involved in the promotion of tourism and the anti-pollution drive. After several briefings on the problems of tourism and the danger of air and water pollution, particularly in the Greater Manila area, the President appealed to the private sector to extend its assistance to the government in the promotion of tourism. The President also; 1. Directed the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry to get together with the Philippine Chamber of Tourism in order to thoroughly discuss the problems of tourism in the country. 2. Directed the Secretary of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank to confer with the officials of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines regarding the possibility of exempting imports of equipment and kitchenware not locally available tax-free, and the possibility of reducing the tax on hotels and restaurants. 3. Directed the National Air and Water Anti-Pollution Commission to undertake a more serious study of the problem of air and water pollution, particularly in centers of population like the Greater Manila area. 4. Directed the Board of Investments to look into the possibility of cancelling the registration of industries which do not actively participate in the anti-pollution campaign. Present at the meeting were Secretary of Commerce and Industry Ernesto M. Maceda, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of Finance Cesar E, A. Virata, Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., BTTI Commissioner Gregorio Araneta, and Deputy Commissioner Fred Salcedo, SSS Administrator Gilberto Teodoro, Presidential Review Committee on Integrated Government Reorganization Armand Fabella, CB Gov. Gregorio S. Licaros, Ministers Sergio Barrera and Jose Plana of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Customs Commissioner Rolando Geotina, BOI Chairman Vicente Paterno, GSIS General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr., and NEC Chairman Gerardo Sicat, NSDB Chairman Florencio Medina; Jesus Cabarrus, Vicente Jaime, Ting Roxas, Andre Charriere, Rebecco Panlilio, Manuel Elizalde, Sebastian Ugarte, Generoso Tanseco, Chester Babst, David Sycip, Antonio Delgado, Jose Mananzan, Pilar Garcia, Siegried Beil, Julio Francia, Alfonso Yuchengco, Ramon del Rosario, Jose Cabarrus, Carlos Palanca, Jr. and others. At about 5 PM , the President presided at the kickoff of the fund drive of the Zarzuela Foundation of the Philippines, held at Malacañang’s Maharlika Hall. In his speech, the President praised the effort of the group to revive the zarzuela, which he said is reflective of the people’s values and which revival may also bring back folk art. After the ceremony, the President returned to his desk work.

[12] PRESIDENT MARCOS was guest of honor and speaker in the morning at ceremonies launching Exercise “Subok” aboard a Philippine Navy vessel at Pier 15, South Harbor. In his speech, the President hailed the military exercise as a measure of the vigilance of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), and a way of strengthening the regional shield of the free nations of Southeast Asia, but added that the greater duty of SEATO “is the duty to increase our inner capabilities of peaceful advancement.” Free peoples, he said, must constantly strive to make “the idea of growth and human progress possible, through increased knowledge, goodwill and mutual trust.” The President stressed as well the importance of discipline, the “energizing and elevating force of the human personality which makes mankind ready at all moments to face the unpredictable.” Only in this way, he said, could the nations “develop to its fullest extent the competence for nationhood, for fruitful international relations, and if need be, for the armed struggle that would be the last line of defense against threats to our individual and national freedom.” After the launching ceremonies, the President motored to the nearby office of Commissioner Rolando Geotina to check on the operations of customs offices. He told Commissioner Geotina to keep on intensifying collections to meet the increasing requirements of the government. The President also ordered Commodore Santiago F. Nuval (ret.), special assistant on port administration, to update the integrated development plan which was designed to improve and modernize port facilities all over the country, particularly those utilized as international ports of call. He likewise instructed Eduardo Gatchalian, chairman of the embroidery and inspection board, to check into reports of sale of textile imported as embroidery materials in quantity in local markets. The President told Gatchalian to take immediate steps toward the prompt prosecution of embroidery firms found engaged in the smuggling of textiles. During his visit, which lasted for about 30 minutes, the President also served notice that he would like to inaugurate the Fishermen’s Market in Navotas, Rizal after the Holy Week. The Chief Executive said that the opening of the Fishermen’s Market would contribute to the stabilization of the prices of fish and other sea products in the Greater Manila area. He had previously instructed Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Arturo R. Tanco, Jr. to work out arrangements with the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market (GMTFM) for making the market operational. The GMTFM would in the meantime manage the market pending its eventual turnover to a fishermen’s cooperative. The President also had given Secretary Tanco the job of organizing the cooperative for fishermen, with the view of eliminating middlemen who were reported as raking most of the profits from the industry and contributing to the high prices of fish in the market. Regarding the development of ports, the President stated that priority should be given to big ports like Manila. Other ports earmarked for development include those of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga. Back in Malacañang, the President worked at his desk. He issued a proclamation which reserved two parcels of land for a settlement site of members of cultural minorities in Mindanao and a subterranean national park. Some 1,375 hectares were proclaimed by the President in Kidapawan, Cotabato for the exclusive use of the Tirurays and Manobos upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This new settlement would be under the administration of the Commission on National Integration. In another proclamation, the President declared an area consisting of 3,901 hectares situated in Puerto Princesa, Palawan for national park purposes. Later in the afternoon, the President swore in Dr. Narciso Albarracin as undersecretary of education. Dr. Albarracin’s nomination was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Following the induction, the President signed the nomination of Dr. Pablo T. Mateo, Jr. as assistant director of the Bureau of Private Schools, which he submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.

[13] PRESIDENT MARCOS had a busy schedule conferring with his close advisers and working on state papers. The President started early in the morning clearing his desk of pending state papers preparatory to his leaving for the South on a five-day trip and his traditional Holy Week retreat in Baguio City. At 11 AM , the President inducted into office Undersecretary of Agriculture Jose Drilon, Jr. as chairman of the board of the Rice and Corn Administration. Present at the induction ceremony were Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpuz, and Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration Board Chairman Federico B. Moreno who had earlier submitted his resignation to the President. After the induction, the President met with Secretary Virata, Secretary of Public Works and Communications Manuel B. Syquio, PCAD Officer-In-Charge Rosendo Marquez, Commissioner of Public Highways Baltazar Aquino and Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy-Changco. At about 1:45 PM , the President and his family left the Palace for Pier 15 in Manila’s South Harbor where they boarded the RPS 777 for the trip to Bacolod City, the first leg of a five-day journey to the South. Among the papers signed by the President in the morning were the nominations of the following: 1. Isabel de la Puerta, as branch clerk of court in the Court of First Instance of Quezon, with official station at Lucena City; 2. Cresencio P. Dalocanog, as municipal judge of General Luna and Pilar, Surigao del Norte; and 3. Alejandro R. Bongcaros, as municipal judge of Dapa and Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

[14] PRESIDENT MARCOS arrived in Bacolod City in the morning, where he was guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association meet. A big crowd led by officials of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental was on hand to welcome the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, on their arrival at the city wharf on board the RPS 777. With the First Couple were their children Imee, Bongbong and Irene. After exchanging greetings with his welcomers, the President motored to the city cathedral where Te Deum was sung in his honor. The President then proceeded to the Paglaum sports complex for the opening of the sports festival. In his speech, the President pledged that the development of athletics at all levels will be given priority, saying that “it is in athletics that we find perhaps the secrets of discipline that is needed today.” The President also gave assurance that the powers of the presidency would continue to be utilized for the continuation of the Philippine’s sugar quota in the American market. He hailed the sugar industry for pioneering in the manifestation and demonstration of concern for the toiling masses, citing the Sugar Industry Social and Economic Development Fund, to be generated from contributions of P1.00 for every picul of sugar produced. On the country’s security and economic condition, the President said that while the riots and demonstrations may prejudice temporarily, they do not threaten the stability of the government or affect economic development. “Your government is stable and capable of maintaining its stability not only with force but with persuasion,” he said.

[15] PRESIDENT MARCOS received a rousing reception on his arrival in Tagbilaran City on the second leg of his five-day visit to Visayan and Mindanao provinces. Accompanied by the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, and children, lmee, Bongbong and Irene, the President arrived in Tagbilaran at 1:30 PM He was met at the local wharf by a large crowd which waited in spite of a driving rain. “This is a showering reception,” the President quipped as he shook hands with his official welcomers headed by Gov. Lino Chatto, Reps. Natalio P. Castillo, Pablo Malasarte and Teodoro Galagar; City Mayor Venancio lnting, and mayors of Bohol. From the wharf, the motorcade of officials took about an hour to negotiate the one kilometer distance to the city church because of the enthusiastic, jostling crowds that closed in on the President’s car along the route, to get a glimpse of him and the First Lady. Te Deum was sung in honor of the First Family, after which the President proceeded to the Bohol Cultural Center where he addressed an audience which included national, provincial, municipal and barrio officials as well as public school teachers and students who had converged at the Center. In his speech, the President appealed for public support to the democratic revolution he enunciated in his state-of-the-nation address to Congress. Then the President invited the local officials to the residence of the provincial governor, where they discussed with him local problems. While at work on official papers in his cabin in the morning, the President signed the designation papers of Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata as chairman of the Philippine delegations to two international conferences scheduled to be held in Paris in April and Kuala Lumpur in May. The President named Secretary Virata as chairman, with NEC Chairman Gerardo Sicat as vice-chairman of the Philippine delegation to the Inaugural Meeting of the Consultative Group in Paris. At the same time, the President designated Secretary Virata head, with Ambassador to Malaysia Romeo Busuego and PES Director-General Apolinario Orosa as vice-chairmen of the Philippine delegation to the Sixth Ministerial Conference for Economic Development of Southeast Asia, to be held in Kuala Lumpur. Among others, the President submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the nomination of Minister Alejandro D. Yango as chief of mission, class III, in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

[16] PRESIDENT MARCOS, on the third leg of his five-day visit to the South, inaugurated Surigao City as the 17th city in Mindanao. In ceremonies held at the local athletic stadium, the President reenacted the signing of the city charter, which has been approved on August 30, 1970, and administered the oath of office to the officials of the new city headed by Mayor Pedro Espina. In his brief speech, the President told the people he had included Surigao del Norte in his itinerary because he had wanted to check on the destruction brought by destructive floods in the province. The First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, who accompanied the President on the trip, brought with her rice and other foodstuff which she turned over to local officials for distribution to the indigent flood victims. The President had previously dispatched some 300 sacks of rice and release funds from the Department of Social Welfare for the extension of relief aid to the flood victims. The presidential party landed in Surigao at 8 AM aboard the RPS 777 after an overnight voyage from Tagbilaran City. After the Te Deum at the city cathedral, the President and the First Lady inaugurated a nearby telephone exchange capable of handling nationwide and overseas calls. Rep. Constantino Navarro, who introduced the President at the city inaugural rites, assured the President that the people of Surigao are 100 per cent behind his democratic revolution. The presidential party pulled out from the city wharf shortly before 12 noon, for Maasin, Southern Leyte. Enroute to Maasin, the President had the ship anchored off Barrio Matingbi of Dinagat, the biggest of the six municipalities on the island, and went ashore. The presidential party was met by a large crowd headed by Dinagat Mayor Ruben Ecleo. The President ordered the release of P50,000 for the construction of the hospital on the island, which is 14 nautical miles from the Mindanao mainland. He also released another P50,000 for the completion of seawalls. The First Couple was accompanied on their island visit by Rep. Constantino Navarro. Informed of the hijacking to Canton of a PAL BAC–111 aircraft, which was on an early morning flight from Manila to Davao, the President expressed concern over the safety of the passengers on board, and appealed to those government in a position to extend assistance to use their good offices with the People’s Republic of China for the safety of the passengers and the aircraft. A statement issued by Press Secretary Francisco S. Tatad said: “The government is deeply concerned over the hijacking of a Philippine Airlines BAC–111. We have asked friendly governments who have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China to use their good offices in helping ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft, and we are appealing to all those who are in a position to extend assistance, to help in their eventual release. “Even now, friendly governments are trying their best to help. “We ask the families of the passengers aboard the missing aircraft to have faith in our efforts. The government shall spare no effort in seeking to ensure the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.

[17] Six Filipino student activists armed with a carbine, pistols and a pair of scissors hijacked a Philippine Airlines domestic flight from Cebu to Davao and diverted it, after refueling in Hong Kong and releasing 20 of the hostages, to Canton. The first successful hijacking to the Peoples Republic of China.

[18] PRESIDENT MARCOS and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, together with their children Imee, Bongbong and Irene, visited historic Limasawa Island, Leyte, to attend the ceremonies commemorating the 450th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in the Philippines. The First Family debarked at 10 AM at barrio Magallanes, one of the five barrios on the island which have a total population of 4,000. Highlight of the rites was a special Mass concelebrated by Julio Cardinal Rosales before a makeshift altar erected on the very spot where Fr. Pedro Valderama, chaplain of Magellan’s expedition, said the first Mass ever celebrated on Philippine soil, on March 31, 1521. The President’s son Bongbong read the epistle. Bishop’s of the Catholic and Philippine Independent churches took turns reading the gospel and delivering sermons during the commemorative Mass which lasted more than one hour. In his brief speech at the ceremonies, the President urged the continued partnership of the state and the church in bringing about a new reawakening of the Filipino people. The President, who was the guest of honor, recalled that when Magellan planted the cross on the island 450 years ago, it marked the beginning of Christianity in this country. By means of the cross which, the President said, symbolized the union between the state and the church, Magellan started a revolution which completely changed the culture and orientation of the Filipinos. Among those who attended the commemorative rites were Rep. Nicanor Yñiguez, members of the Catholic hierarchy and representatives of other churches, Spanish Ambassador and Mrs. Nicolas Martin Alonzo, Portuguese Ambassador and Mrs. Julio Menina Salcesas, National Historical Commission Chairman Esteban de Ocampo, National Archives Director Domingo Abella, Philippine Historical Society President Eufronio Alip, Carlos Quirino of the Filipinas Foundation, Philippine Historical Association Vice President Gloria Santos, and other provinc ial and local officials. Following the Mass, the First Family visited the nearby spring where Magellan and his men were said to have slaked their thirst and bathed to get relief from the summer heat. The First Family were also guests at the inauguration of a chapel built on the spot where Magellan had planted the cross. During the ceremonies, formations of Philippine Air Force jet fighter planes flew in salute formations over the area, adding color to the festivities. The Presidential party left Limasawa about 3 PM for the return trip to Manila. On developments on the hijacked PAL plane, the President welcomed reports about the release of the aircraft with Filipino passengers on board. The President’s reaction to the reports was preceded by an appeal to the leaders of Communist China seeking, in the name of humanity, the immediate and safe release of the Filipinos held hostages by the hijackers. He made the appeal in a cable sent through the Prime Minister of Burma, General Ne Win, from RPS 777. The President expressed the hope that through the representation of General Ne Win, the leaders of Communist China would without delay release the passengers. Following is the President’s statement on the return of the passengers and plane: I join the families and friends and all those who have prayed for the safety of the passengers aboard the hijacked Philippine aircraft in welcoming them home. My family and I are happy to note that none of the passengers suffered any injury or abuse on their person from the hijackers. Nevertheless I cannot but express dismay that so many lives had been risked and endangered by the adventurism of a few individuals. They have gained absolutely nothing by this act, and we hope that they real ize this too. We thank those who might have been instrumental in effecting the immediate release of the aircraft and the persons aboard. We wish to assure the public that the government will dig into the bottom of the incident and take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety of those who travel by air. We had occasion to express our concern over the crime committed by plane hijackers when we made a strong stand at the United Nations against air piracy. On this occasion we reiterate that concern with new vigor and new intensity.