Typhoon Unding hit us in Manila at about 4:00 AM but slowed down from 205 kms per hour to 130 kms an hour when it hit the Sierra Madre. And then it veered a little so its eye missed Manila move north and hit Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zamboanga up to Pangasinan.
At 5:20 AM the Filipinas Hotel went up in flames and 44 have died in that fire trap.
Another fire at Alabang. Two casualties.
There was an earthquake up north, No. 5 at center, No. 2 at Aparri and Vigan.
The good news is there are orders of surrender—Commander Gordon in Cotabato and the [Punzalan?] brothers, Gulen, Purino and Alex in Sulu.
And the Dimataling-Pagadian attack of about 1,000 rebels by Col. Queddeng of Zamboanga Sur has succeeded in driving the rebels to the mangrove swamps. They will continue pursuing.
Domocao Alonto sent me a cable on the death of his nephew and asking me to deescalate the fighting in the south.
The Sec. Gen. of the Islamic Conference, Karim Gaye wants to come here to renegotiate a settlement.
We are trying to finish all operations against the MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] before we even talk of negotiating.
And yet we have to keep the good graces of Arab states lest they cut our oil supply. We are dependent on them for about 80% of our requirement.
Attended to the rationalization of the CHDF [Civilian Home Defense Force] on civilian forces we have arrived.
It is unknown where this text comes from because this entry is missing.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.