We have been sleeping in Suite I since two nights ago because the allergist, Dr. Kua Lim discovered molds and bacteria in our bedroom and gymnasium below and they are now being cleaned completely.
I have been able to placate the hill tribes, the Palawan Tausogs, the Manobos, the Higaonons, the T’oboli [sic], the Mansakas etc. as well as the Moslems.
We met with the Alontos (Domocao, the delegate, Madki and Gov. Tarhata Alonto Lucman) and the Cotabato Datus, the Sinsuats, the Ampatuans, Kudanding etc.
And started operations PARE [Program of Assistance for Returning Evacuees] under Gen. [Teodorico] Almuete and Chairman [Ernesto] Aboitiz of the MDA [Mindanao Development Authority].
Interview by [Michael] Richardson of the Australian paper The Age.
And met the delegations led by Gov. [Moises] Espinosa of Masbate, Gov. [Jose Tecson] and Congressman [Vicente] Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur and Cong. [Armando] Gustilo of Negros Occidental.
Official Gazette for October 19, 1972: THE NEED for national unity was stressed by President Marcos in a speech read for him by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor at the celebration ceremonies of International Credit Union Day at the Social Security System building in Quezon City. The need is specially felt at this time, the President said when “our national purposes are being challenged by an alien ideology.”
In another speech read for him by Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, the President said he decided to proclaim Martial Law to match the extraordinary powers wielded by the enemy and to deny to the communists their goal of capturing the government. The occasion was the opening ceremonies of the SEATO Exercise “Sea Scorpion” at the Philippine Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard.
“We have chosen to fight, as the SEATO nations have chosen to fight any overt aggression, for indeed the basic concept of SEATO is that of offering resistance to any attempt of a takeover of the government of free countries in Southeast Asia,” the President said.
The President also launched the Program of Assistance for Returning Evacuees (PARE) with Brig. Gen. Teodorico Almuete (ret.) as overall coordinator, to bring permanent peace to the Lanao and Cotabato provinces. He decided to launch the program following his series of conferences with Mindanao leaders as far back as 1969. This week, the President held no less than four conferences with Mindanao leaders to seek solutions to the peace and order problem and launch economic plans for the region.
In his persistent efforts to pursue his objective, the President had time and again extended an invitation to Muslim and Christian leaders to join hands with the government, and many political leaders have agreed to help in this direction. Delegations from Zamboanga del Sur, Negros Occidental, Masbate and Kalinga-Apayao called on the President and personally expressed their endorsement of Martial Law. They also pledged their support and participation in the implementation of all the President’s proclamations decrees, letters of instructions and general orders.
Talked to Kokoy [Benjamin Romualdez] on the U.S. situation. Washington [is] apparently for my martial law but not that of Pres. Park Chung Hee of Korea. He does not seem to have any reason for it as he is now negotiating the union of North and South Korea.
Am now working on the labor intensive investments like garments, embroideries and cottage industries.
And the impact infrastructure like the roads and destroyed dikes, irrigation, electric and power projects etc.
Finalizing land reform (ownership phase) on the basis of transfer of ownership over land in excess of six hectares.