Just came in from the 5th Anniversary of Let’s Talk Business. I spoke of the economic situation now and what to expect in the coming years.
After golf met with Greg[orio] Licaros on borrowing abroad. We must now seriously go after loans for our industries specially the export-oriented ones.
Then conferred with the congressmen and governors. Lunch with Ilocos Norte 1st District leaders. [Antonio] Tony Raquiza is a sure winner. Settled the quarrel with his Piddig mayor and with Cong. Roque Ablan.
Official Gazette, October 21, 1970: The President was kept busy by an unusual number of callers, many of them public officials, while also engaged by paper work and other state business. The brisk pace of his activities was broken in the evening when he left Malacañang for the Plaza, where he was the special guest of the TV program, “Let’s Talk Business,” on it’s anniversary.
Among those who called on the President was Gen. Jesus V. Vargas, former AFP chief of staff and now retired, and for sometime now the secretary-general of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, who paid his respects shortly before departing for Bangkok, the SEATO home base. Gen. Vargas, who was accompanied by Col. Jose Reyna, arrived in Manila from Honolulu where he attended the SEATO1 Military Advisers’ meeting, held October 14 to 16.
The President also received a big number of congressmen, provincial governors and mayors who took up with him local problems, particularly the need for funds for relief and the reconstruction of public works projects destroyed by the series of typhoons and floods.
Reps. Ramon Durano of Cebu, Ali Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte called on the President to inform him of the arrival of the remains of the late Rep. Floro S. Crisologo in Manila. The three congressmen said that the remains of the deceased congressman were brought by the PAF plane from Vigan to Manila. The remains will lie in state at the Crisologo home in Heroes Hill, Quezon City, and will later be transferred to Congress for the necrological services.
The President’s other callers included Reps. Jose Alberto of Catanduanes, Roberto Sabido and Amando Cope of Albay, Goclofredo Tan of Quezon, Felipe Azcuna of Zamboanga del Norte, Natalio P. Castillo and Pablo Malasarte of Bohol, Tadanan Anni of Sulu, Vicente Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur, Emerito Calderon of Cebu, Teodulo Natividad of Bulacan, Jose Puyat, Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Macacuna Dimaporo of Lanao del Sur, Nicanor Yinguez of Southern Leyte and Roque Ablan, Jr. of Ilocos Norte. Governors Jose Evangelista of Ilocos Norte, Samuel F. Reyes of Isabela, Chatto of Bohol and Jose Roño of Western Leyte; and Olongapo City Mayor Amelia Gordon who was accompanied by former Gov. Manuel Barretto of Zambales.
Among other actions, the President directed the Philippine National Railways to extend free transportation to travelers and cargo for two weeks in the Bicol area, in order to facilitate relief work and help typhoon victims rehabilitate themselves. The President also proclaimed two special public holidays in two separate localities. October 22 was proclaimed a special public holiday in Tagbilaran City to mark the 28th anniversary of the Battle of Ubugan in that City. October 23 was proclaimed a public holiday in Badoc, Ilocos Norte in observance of the 113th birthday of Juan Luna who was a native of that town.
The Battle of Ubugan is held in great significance because it was in that barrio of Tagbilaran City 28 years ago where a band of Filipino guerrillas under Captain Francisco Salazar dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese Imperial forces.
The Ilocos Norte leaders feel that the province has not been given due attention by me. The national highway from Ilocos Sur to Batac is badly rutted. The National Power Corp. extension lines from Ambuklao Hydroelectric plant have been stopped at Vigan because the posts and line would pass by the Girl Scouts compound. There is no other source of income except agriculture (rice and Virginia tobacco). Mining and fishing are ______.
Gov. [Jose] Evangelista wants an appointment to a national office like the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission. But he is known as a politician and not a legal practitioner although he did top the bar exams on the subject of commercial law and political law.
I could not help Sec. Raquiza when he was under attack for the Public Works equipment purchase and borrowings. I practically forced him to resign as Sec. of Public Works and Communications.
Since then (1968) he has been floating around and he is well nigh penniless.
He has come to me repeatedly voicing his humiliation in the hands of his replacement as congressman, Roque Ablan and the latter’s leaders. In tears he has recounted how he has lost both position and prestige.
So I have asked the mayors to support him and give him a prestige vote.
But the Ablans have really become rather arrogant and overbearing, according to the people.