Imelda arrived in New York about 7:00 PM our time Sunday. She called me up at 9:30 PM when I was at the pelota court.
Before that I was able to talk by telephone to Henry Ford II after he had made to toast in my favor at the party he gave Imee at Pierre’s. According to Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez], Henry himself prepared the party arriving at the hotel at 8:00 PM before everybody checking on the preparations. I must write him a nice letter of thanks.
And I must write a fascinating letter to Imee on her 18th birthday—which is today.
Also talked to Cristina [Ford] at Imee’s party—and to Romy [Rogon?], Tony [Antonio] Florendo, Mario D’Urso at the Carlyle where Imelda stays.
We are receiving all forms of offers of crude oil now. An offer was made to Gen. Rafael Ileto at $3.39 per barrel—the lowest offer so far.
There are offers from New Zealand of Arabian light crude, Kuwait and now barter of our cement with Saudi Arabian crude for five years.
So my optimism to solve the problem of oil supply soon is buttressed.
But we must look into the question of prices and the operations of the oil refineries.
And there seems to be no reduction of the consumption of power from Merlaco [Manila Electric Company]—according to reports.
If we can buy into the other refineries or keep the Americans out of them, we should be able to keep a continuous supply of crude oil flowing into the country.
And by then, I hope, we shall have found oil in our country!
Joe Kingsbury Smith left today, Thursday for Hongkong. I attach the questions of his interview.
Gave dinner for the Marcopper and Placer officials and awarded Chuck Foster a posthumous Golden Heart Presidential Award. I gave the same award to the widow Lucy.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
Entry missing from handwritten file, but is in the transcribed PCGG file. Source of text cannot be verified.
Met Gerry [Gerardo] Roxas for merienda 4:30-6:15 PM at the music room. I invited him to see if I could not convince the Liberal holdouts to participate in the building of the New Society.
So I asked him if he had any advice to give me on the organization of a Legislative Council or Council of Leaders.
He mentioned the cases of Ninoy [Benigno] Aquino [Jr.] and Pepe [Jose] Diokno, I told him that I had no intention to be oppressive but Ninoy by writing articles like that in the Bangkok Post and his bragging that he had men in the military organization as well as the threat to bring the matter of his detention, to the Committee on Human Rights, unless the charges against him were filed.
“Would he be content if we granted his petition in the Supreme Court that he be tried by a civil court?” I asked. And suggested that he, Gerry, ask his lawyers.
I also called up Sec. [Manuel] Collantes to allow his wife, Judy, to go to Hongkong on the bridge team.
But I could feel that he was like Aquino, interpreting my invitation as a sign of weakness and insecurity. What a weakling. He will probably seek a consensus. He cannot make up his own mind.