Have been busy putting the pieces together in yesterday’s Constitutional Convention resolution inviting me to address the convention. That the vote was so close on a question which turned out to be so crucial inasmuch as it is now interpreted either as a repudiation or vindication of my leadership, came as a surprise to many.
And I had never been informed of the pivotal issue and how it may turn out against me. If we had been so informed I would have been sorely tempted to utilize all facilities to bring about a favorable vote.
So, probably, it is best as it happened. For I had announced that I would not attend the opening ceremonies a week ago. And the matter of inviting me to speak was raised the more of Delegate Roseller Lim to speak on a matter of personal privilege (that he would be booed if he spoke in favor of inviting me to speak). Then Delegates Domingo Veloso of Leyte and Manolo Cruz of Bulacan filed the formal motion to invite me to speak.
Delegate Mariano Badelles of Lanao del Norte openly opposed Delegate [Decoroso]
Official Gazette for May 29, 1971: President Marcos told some 64 graduates of the seminar on provincial electric cooperatives that they are responsible for the success of one of the most important programs of government.
Composed of representatives from the Presidential Arm on Community Development, Cooperatives Administration Office, local government, teachers and civic groups, the trainees had just completed a 10-day intensive training, preparatory to being divided into five-man teams to be called Provincial Electric Cooperatives Teams and sent to the barrio^ and towns, some to gather data for feasibility studies and others to organize or set the proper atmosphere for the organization of cooperative as a new approach to the problem of electricity.
“Thus,” the President told them, “you will bring light where there is darkness, progress where there is stagnation, knowledge where there is ignorance, abundance where there is scarcity, and health where there is disease.”
The President also took occasion to express his gratitude to the United States Government through Director Thomas Niblock of the local U.S. Agency for International Development for the various assistance given by that and other U.S. agencies to the Philippines.
Later in the afternoon, the President sent the following letter to the delegates to the Constitutional Convention:
The Delegates
1971 Constitutional Convention
Through the Inaugural Committee Chairman
Dr. Cicero D. Calderon
Manila
Gentlemen of the Convention:
In answer to a letter of your inauguration committee, I have the pleasure to accept your invitation, which I understand has been supported by a Resolution inviting me to speak.
It is my hope that this will lay the foundation for unity among our people, who are praying for the success of the Constitutional Convention.
Very truly yours
(Sdg.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
Rosales of Samar and locked horns with him in debate.
Delegate [Jose] Nolledo of Palawan, [Salvador] Britanico of Iloilo were prominent in supporting the move.
Delegates [Eduardo] Quintero of Leyte, [Fernando] Bautista of Benguet (Baguio), [Elizabeth] Chiongbian [Johnston] (daughter of Cong. William Chiongbian), [Adolfo] Azcuna (son of Cong. Felipe Azcuna of Zamboanga del Norte), [Celso] Gangan and [Heherson] Alvarez of Isabela all voted “no.”
Delegate [Federico] Ablan [Sr.] abstained.
Ros Lim says that the vote would have been at least 65% favorable if Delegate Ciceron Calderon had not announced at the middle of the voting that I had refused to attend the opening ceremonies even if the resolution were approved.
Delegate Calderon now claims he made the announcement because he wanted to prepare the graceful exit of the motion as it seemed to be losing. He was prevailed upon to leave the hall so as not to influence the voting.
______ of the congressmen.
He [Carlos P. Garca] is growing weak and senile. No orders have been issued by me. But he is less popular than [Diosdado] Macapagal.
Met the inaugural committee again at 3:30 PM (after my speech at Maharlika Hall on the Fourth Graduation Exercises of the Provincial Electrical Cooperative Team) and formally accepted the invitation to speak at the CC [Constitutional Convention] opening ceremonies.
Then held my regular press conference at 4:30 PM.
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