I actually write this at 12:10 A.M. on Sunday evening as I have been busy and occupied.
The day started with [Joaquin] Chino Roces and Enriquito Zobel. Chino came to say that he was for the success of my administration and that his paper would help. He also pumped me for information. “Are you decided to arrest them?” he inquired. I said yes but I must settle the economic questions of the stability of the currency, the legislative
Official Gazette for March 28, 1970: President Marcos had a work-day not very much removed from his usual norm in Malacañang, as he worked on state papers, received callers, and presided at a round of conferences.
Among the top officials he received was Vice President Fernando Lopez, the first visitor to see him. The two officials discussed a wide range of government problems. After this meeting, the President received the group of officials who came to thresh out the mechanics of the proposed reorganization of the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority. In this connection, the President named a special committee to oversee the reorganization and to look into the recommendations of a previous presidential committee which studied the problems of the government water firm. The next group of officials took up with the President the needs of the tobacco industry, and as a consequence of this meeting, the abolition of the government subsidy to the industry was mapped out to cover three years.
Other callers included Sen. Ambrosio Padilla and Rep. Emilio Espinosa of Masbate. During the day, the President also found time to meet with Manila newsmen covering Malacañang. In the afternoon, he worked mostly on state papers, staying at his desk till evening.
In an Easter Message to the nation, the President said:
“As Easter Sunday dawns, the Christian community once again feels the unmistakable surge of hope and the affirmation of faith. Today more than ever, Christians the world over need such an affirmation of the spirit for the Christian ethic is engaged by relentless forces which seek to destroy it. Already, many of those professing Christianity are wavering in their beliefs. Others have all but buried their faith.
Not long ago, the question was asked, or rather stated, God is dead. It would seem so, with certain peoples turning godless, certain ideologies denying indeed the existence of a Supreme Being. But for the larger community of the civilized world, God remains at the center of the universe and at the center of life.
We in the Philippines certainly assert this belief, in our continuing allegiance to our Christian faith. And though other Filipinos may worship other faiths, they too in their own way affirm God, and in thus upholding the spiritual side of man, they share with all Filipinos a sense of holy community.
I like to think that Easter this year, the beginning of a new decade, observed as in years past with the same luminous joy, the same vitality of faith, will also mark the beginning of a new promise of national community. A community welded together both by common aspirations and by a renaissance of spiritual fervor. For Easter is a rebirth, Easter is regeneration. This ushers in for us a new nation, a new national fervor. Let it be the harbinger of a better day to come.
“We are often challenged by thoughtful countrymen to reassert moral authority over the nation. I feel that if ever this country will return to a high moral plane, there must first be a spiritual rebirth. For such a condition must be both the work of the people and of their leaders. As faith springs from below, so must the moral order spread from the roots to all the components of a living being.
Let Easter Sunday be the beginning of this miracle for the Filipino people.”
program and the social welfare program first. And there must be an overt act. Enriquito said—“But not too late, Mr. President.” Not much advance from the last meeting.
I ordered the final draft of the contract for the private buyers to put up the P100 million for the Trading Centers of Virginia tobacco, to change the classifiers and graders with those coming from the buyers, and to convert the liability that is Virginia tobacco now into an asset by making it an export product. Had Moreno, [Placido] Mapa [Jr.] and Congs. [Floro] Crisologo and [Simeon] Valdez in the conference. Told Sen. Pres. [Gil] Puyat about it.
Ordered Nawasa [National Water and Sewage Authority] not to increase the rates of water and sewage until there was a reorganization. Asked Sec. [Felix] Makasiar, Sec. [Blas] Ople and Gov’t. [Government] Corporate Counsel to study the limits of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on changes and assignments of personnel.
Had lunch with one half of the jet fighter pilots of the 5th Fighter Wing under Gen. [Jose] Rancudo. They looked like the better type of officers.
Must now lift the gold subsidy but should allow the sale of gold in the open market to make up for the lost income.
Played 18 holes in Mansion Golf Course jogging up and down the hillsides.