We have just come from the Nayong Pilipino on the Awarding Ceremonies.
“Comfrey,” the new vegetable from Ukraine and Japan via the Sucat farms of Sanvictores and Johnny Ferrer, guaranteed to stop the aging process and to lower blood pressure.
“The fundamental unity of man and earth.”
“The historical lesson that the dramatic and sensational decisions are destructive while the quiet and unnoticed ones are constructive.”
“The imperative of self-help.”
“The people must decide their own destiny. Good decisions will be made by the wise and prudent lender, but the decision must be implemented by the people to be of any value.”
I met with the cabinet at about 8:30 AM in the GHQ [General Headquarters], Camp Aguinaldo briefing room, then at 9:30 AM with the National Security Council.
The strike by the national government employees seems to have affected only the CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration]. We are offering the 5% increase effective Nov. 15th and the Wapco [Wage and Position Classification Office] recommendation effective Dec. 1st. The CAA employees (traffic controllers and supervisors) have the arrival and departure of all foreign planes while domestic planes have been limited to daytime flights.
The employees will decide on the offer tonight.
The National Security Council briefings were effective. Foreign policy changes and our options arising out of the UN [United Nations] decision to bring in Red China into the UN and the Security Council by Sec. [Carlos] Romulo.
The posture of self-reliance in defense by Gen. [Manuel] Yan, arms production by Usec. [Manuel] Salientes, Col. dela Cruz (Orduque officer) and Ting [Vicente] Paterno and The Communist Threat by Gen. Ramos.
I have just received the letter of Sen. [Gerardo] Roxas on my request for cooperation, copy of which I attach. They even want to look into the finances of government as well as the financing institutions.
No Official Gazette entry for this day.
My intention is to keep them cooperating on foreign policy, long range defense plans and long range development projects.
I have met with Justice Antonino Barredo and Sol. Gen. Felix Antonio. Tony has consistently held to the view that my power under the constitution to suspend the privilege of the writ should not be limited or questioned as the decision of its use is a political decision.
He reports that Justice J.B.L. Reyes is a public opinion barometer. He follows what he considers is popular. Or he is too close to [Eugenio] Iñing Lopez [Sr.] to be scholarly on this case.
I have told Tony I intend to lift the suspension and then allow what I know will happen to happen—and that is the spread of terrorism into Manila. Then I will wait for the wishes of the people.
The government employees have just accepted the 5% increase in pay effective July 1st and the Wapco increase beginning Feb. 1st, 1972. This means an immediate disbursement of about P24 or P25 million for the 5% increase.
They have just blackmailed us to salary increases!