Official Gazette for November 27, 1970: President Marcos and the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, led the nation in extending a warm welcome to His Holiness, Pope Paul VI.
In his welcome remarks, the President said that His Holiness came “at a time of trial, of deep sorrow and. deprivation as a result of a natural calamity which reminds us that all of us are in the hands of God,” and “at a time of national ordeal as we seek to change and alter the very basis of our fundamental law of our society.”
The President pointed out that faith and freedom, faith in Christ and freedom in democracy—the two most priceless gifts of Western civilization,” are now under trial.” For these reasons, he said, “because we cherish this faith and the freedom of true democracy, we greet you as a dedicated successor of your namesake, Paul, who said that he had an equal duty to everyone, Greek or Babarian, learned or simple, for ‘there are no human preferences with God. (Full text of the President’s speechin OG)
In reply, His Holiness, the Pope said that “we come here in obedience to our spiritual mission: to take part in the deliberations of the conference of the bishops of the whole of Eastern Asia.” Continuing, the Pope said, “We wish to seek together, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, how best to proclaim the Gospel to the men of this time and of this continent. We are seeking to make an eternal and universal message an answer to the questions asked by the man of today. The Gospel is, for all men, the message of salvation.”
The President and the First Lady arrived at the Manila International Airport at 8:40 a.m., or 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Upon arrival at the MIA, the Chief Executive was given military honors, including a 21-gun salute and review by a composite battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
After the airport ceremonies, the First Couple spearheaded a motorcade which proceeded to the Nayong Pilipino where the Pontiff made a whirlwind tour of the miniature replica of the Philippines.
From the Nayong Pilipino, the President and the First Lady took a helicopter to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros where Liturgical Procession was held, and a Holy Mass celebrated by His Holiness.
After the Mass, the President and Mrs. Marcos returned to Malacañang while the Pope and his entourage proceeded to the Luneta, then to the Apostolic Nunciature.
Among those present at the welcome ceremonies were Vice President Fernando Lopez and Mrs. Lopez, former Presidents Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal and their ladies, former First Ladies Esperanza L. vda. de Osmeña, Trinidad Roxas and Luz B. Magsaysay, Senate President and Mrs. Gil J. Puyat, Speaker and Mrs. Jose B. Laurel, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Mrs. Roberto Concepcion, Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes, Rufino J. Cardinal Santos and Julio Cardinal Rosales; Msgr. Carmine Rocco, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines; and the presidents of the Asian Episcopal Conferences.
In his remarks at the Malacañang reception for His Holiness Pope Paul VI, who came to call on him, the Chief Executive said the Philippines has embarked on. a peaceful but revolutionary reformation in its social and economic programs, but added such a reformation can only lead to lasting results if it is based on moral responsibility.
“I believe I can assure Your Holiness,” he said, “that the public authorities of this Republic are conscious of that responsibility.” (Full test of the President’s remark in OG.)
President Marcos pointed out that national leaders are and will continue to be actively engaged inseeking an equitable and humane solution to the urgent problem of inequality between those who have too much and those who have too little.“The Pope’s timely visit,” he emphasized, “reminds Filipinos that in their solemn act of national re-examination the great encyclicals on social justice which have come from Rome since Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum down to the more recent pronouncements of Mater et Magistra and Pope Paul’s own Popularum Progressio are foundry relevant.
In his response, the Pontiff expressed his appreciation for the “remarkable welcome which we received on arriving on your soil,” and the hospitality that had been extended to them in Malacañang.
The Pope also informed the President that he was aware “of the lofty intentions which had inspired, and still inspire the policies of your government.”
This has been an eventful day. I probably saved the life of Pope Paul VI this morning five to ten minutes after his arrival at 9:30 AM and MIA [Manila International Airport] via Alitalia.
A certain Benjamin Mendoza of Bolivia, a painter who has been in the Philippines for about two years which included a one-man show at the National Museum under the sponsorship of the Museum and Asst. Director Andres Cristobal Cruz, tried to stab the Pope with a foot-long Arab-looking kris-dagger with an eight-inch long blade which was blackened deliberately.
This happened after we had passed through the line of high government officials ending with Sec. Manuel Collantes, Acting Sec. of Foreign Affairs and the Pope was extending his hand to Cardinal Kim of Korea who was kneeling. I was slightly behind and to the left of the Pope.
Suddenly this Benjamin Mendoza pushed his way to within one meter to the right front of the Pope. He was dressed as a priest and was holding on the palm of his right hand a box with a crucifix on top of it. What attracted me was the point of a dagger barely beginning to show underneath. I have the habit of looking at the hands of people around me when I am in a crowd and my security is trained to do the same.
I ran or took two steps to the right rear of the Pope, parried the hand of Mendoza which had lunged towards the Pope, with my left hand, and hit the arm with a karate right hand chop and at the same time pushing the Pope backwards and out of the way of the dagger thrust with my left hand. There was a bishop to my front who blocked my way and must have received the right foot kick that I threw at Mendoza afterwards (towards his scrotum). I did manage to kick Mendoza in the shin of the left leg and he lost his balance as NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] Director Jolly Bugarin and another security wrestled with him.
My karate chop had dislodged the dagger from his hand and the Pope whom I pushed a second time lost his balance backward into the arms of Imelda who was right behind who held him up, otherwise he would have fallen to the ground.
Later Capt. Doliva, Imelda’s aide-de-camp picked up the dagger and Imelda picked up the cross of Mendoza.
There is a still picture of me hitting the man with a karate chop from behind and to the right of the Pope.
“We are certain,” the Pope said, “that the cordial meeting between the Successor of Peter and the highest official among the clear Filipino people, the only people in the Far East that is Christian, in this greater part of the world, will likewise be an. effective endeavor for new and vigorous efforts in favor of man.”
We were supposed to shale hands with the diplomatic corps and cabinet members as well as other religious leaders (Muslim, Protestant, Independent, etc.) but because of the upsetting incident, I led the Pope to the Dais where we delivered our speeches. Incidentally I addressed him Pope Pius VI instead of Pope Paul the first time that I named him. This was the only slip I made in what listeners called an impressive welcome speech.
Later we went the round to shake hands.
But this incident would not have occurred if the Pope’s staff had allowed our own men to put in a close-in-security.
Then the garb of priest misled everyone. Now every priest is suspect. Whether the Vatican staff allows it or not we are guarding the Pope.
I have had to bandage my right hand as my old sprain was worsened by the strong karate chop. It was worth the pain. What a tragedy it would have been if Mendoza had succeeded in killing the Pope!
And what a relief the attempt was not by a Filipino!
The Pope is happy with what he termed the “explosive enthusiasm” demonstrated by the people in welcoming him in the route he took.
When I apologized in the afternoon when he visited us at 5:30-7:00 PM, ate merienda with the four of us and conferred with me alone with Bishop Matchinkos interpreting, for pushing him so hard and for the incident of someone attempting against his life, he waved it off and said it could have happened anywhere and it is overwhelmed by the spontaneous and riotous reception. Millions must have welcomed him.
He was taken from the Nunciatura and returned there by Irene and Imee who reported that he had said upon seeing the dancing and the singing that the people must be close to me as they can dance and sing in the palace.
I feel that I have been an instrument of God in saving the life of the Pope.
When the assassination attempt was made, my mind and body functioned automatically. Of course there was no time for rationalization and deliberation but I felt myself move as if guided by an Unseen Hand. As I write this my hair stands on end as I realize what this means.
There was no hesitation in my movements. It was as if there was a script I was following which I had been made to memorize long long ago and which I merely executed—the role and action coming naturally as to a well-rehearsed actor.
And there was no feeling of anger or fear or any other emotion on my part.
It was as if I was just an instrument—unfeeling, unthinking and unhesitating.