Thursday
The Khro [Khi-Ro Movement] headed by Manny Areola have taken over the office of Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos demanding that he order a judge of Court of First Instance to withdraw an injunction issued ex-parte against some squatters which was violated by the lawyer of the squatters for which he was jailed by the court. The lawyer, Atty. [Camilo?] Sabio, is a candidate for delegate and apparently in with the Khro.
The secretary rightly told them in a previous meeting that he would be violating the independence of the judiciary if he ordered a CFI judge around as the Khro demanded. And he would not be an instrument to such a violation of the constitution.
So now they seek to intimidate him by taking over his office and, as usual, threatening everybody with bodily harm.
The Metrocom [Metropolitan Command]-MPD [Manila Police District] riot squads have arrested them to be brought to precinct for investigation.
The KHRO did this in Davao del Norte on releases of public land for settlers. We have encouraged them because their actions often expedited action by sluggish discourteous officials but I suppose we cannot tolerate attempts to intimidate courts.
Spent the morning in routine matters including congressmen and senators.
Imelda at about 11:00 PM slipped in the bathroom and hit her head on the floor. Had to practically drag her to bed with her helping along a little. She is in bed with a headache and Dr. Inday Disini has given her Papase, Beserol and Tylenol and observing her.
12:15 AM October 23, 1970[1]
October 24th Friday
Golf with Bobby [Roberto Benedicto] and Angel Limjoco up to 9:00 AM.
Imelda and I attended the necrological services of the House for Floring [Floro Crisologo].
Sec. of Justice [Vicente] Abad Santos brought a copy of the answer of Judge [Alejandro] Sebastian who had enjoined the Bhady spouses from stopping the use of their land by Cuison & Co. He explained that there was a lien of a road right of way as provided by the Public Land Act and the logging company was passing through the land before the Bhadys occupied and obtained title to it. If I had not been so informed, I would have been of the impression that the judge was unfair and unjust.
Met the political leaders who frequent the palace as the elections approach.
Spent the whole afternoon receiving governors and senators of Pangasinan, Batangas, Bicol and all of Mindanao.
Then received the surrender of Toothpick [Feliciano Luces] who had turned outlaw because policemen of Mayor Michael Sinsuat of Upi, Cotabato del Norte had killed his parents and brothers and sisters to grab his land. I ordered the suspension of the criminal cases against him.
Spoke as a guest of honor of the 8th Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce in the Phil. headed by Ralph Nubla—at Intercontinental.
9:55 PM October 24, 1970[2]
Saturday
My right ankle is bothering me again. Have taken a colbenemid and butazolidin. Started paining me this morning at golf.
Met the capitanes del barrio of Pampanga, mayors and BSDU’s [Barrio Self-Defense Units] brought by Gov. [Francisco] Nepomuceno. The most surprising are Mayor [Jesus] Santos of Mexico (the center of the Huk movement) and Mayor Candelaria of Mabalacat. The latter lost some of his policemen in a firefight with Commander George some time ago. And now he and his capitanes del barrio are asking for guns to fight the Huks. Gens. [Felizardo] Tanabe and [Cesar] Jasmin who also came told me that this time they were out and out for us against the communists. They are too involved to pull out. And the people are sick and tired of paying contributions to the Huks and being harassed.
In Tarlac, it is only Capas and Bamban that is not completely denied to the Huks. And we are fast in doing this.
I am assured by the military that by summer we will get all the Huks in both provinces. Right now they are still hiding in the sugar cane fields but these will soon be harvested. Then the Huks will have to run to the mountains for concealment. We will starve them out then flush them into the plains.
Met Cong. [Joaquin] Roces, [Ramon] Bagatsing and [Pablo] Ocampo of Manila. Cong. [Francisco] Reyes of the 1st Dist. is out of the country.
Also saw Cong. Frisco San Juan of the 2nd District of Rizal.
Imelda has just come from Cebu where she inaugurated a 3rd cement plant of the Universal Cement Factory. She met all the mayors (except [Abundio] Aldemita of Carcar), board members, governor and congressmen. Cong. [Ramon] Durano [V] has told me that of the 16 delegates for Cebu, 10 will be sympathetic to us.
We are still concerned about the quality of the delegates to the constitutional convention. Second rate and inexperienced leaders except for some whom you can count in the fingers of your hand, are going to be elected. And the leadership will be weak.
We are now studying what reforms we can adopt. Some ideas from socialism and the welfare state and from communism can be borrowed.
If we adopt the parliamentary form of government, our government will be unstable. We do not have the temperament for it. We might have a change of government every day!
A semi-parliamentary form where the cabinet members may be drawn from the House of Representatives might be acceptable.
10:55 PM October 25, 1970[3]
Sunday
Had lunch with Bishop [Eraño] Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He is greatly concerned by the candidacies of [Raul] Manglapus and CSM (Christian Socialist Movement) in the 1st District of Rizal and Father Pacifico Ortiz in the second district. The first is leading the about 250 candidates and the second the more than 50 candidates. The first district is entitled to 18 delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the second to 5 delegates.
He informs me that a certain organization to which a certain Manny Cruz belongs, called Bahang-hari, is organizing all the socialist groups into one group for the possibility of rebellion because they expect to win only 10% of the delegates and the chances are that the people would be ripe for violence.
Which is exactly my estimate of the result of the elections after the conferences with the leaders. The inhibition of political parties, as well as all kinds of organizations to work as a group has placed a premium on support by the established political organizations which without any open campaigning can get the votes for the candidates.
Worked on the financial plans and the loans we can obtain from abroad. There are now several offers.
7:30 PM October 26, 1970[4]
Monday
I write this as I wait for Mr. Amor, President of the Council of Industrial Workers, at the San Miguel Bldg., before whom I am going to speak tonight.
We are now pushing all the plans to obtain loans from the different countries including the socialist countries. There is a tempest in a teapot because of the visit of Executive Sec. Alejandro Melchor to India and now Moscow. I sent him to India to find out in what areas our two countries may be able to cooperate. We would like to borrow their experience on rural electrification and policy on the two superpowers, the US and Russia. He cannot make any commitments. He can only observe, report and recommend.
Ambassador [Henry] Byroade is disturbed by the report that CFI [Court of First Instance] Judge [Ceferino] Gaddi has promulgated a decision ordering the arrest of Col. [Averill] Holman, Clark Air Force Base Commander calling the U.S. Federal judicial process a sham and calling the Americans names. If already promulgated, the problem would be how to enforce the decision. We cannot take Clark Air Force Base by force. Even if we wanted to we cannot. Its planes would decimate our armed forces in a matter of hours. And I question the justness of the decision since Col. Holman has not been proved to have been instrumental in the escape of the American soldier Williams from Philippine jurisdiction which started all this.
I anticipate that the nationalists’ agitators and radicals will pick on this. There will be cries of imperialism and fascism as usual.
But the issue still is: Is it just to hold a man responsible for another man’s crime?
Ambassador Byroade asked to talk to me privately during the tea for Ambassador Jaime Zobel de Ayala after the ceremonies of his oath-taking (in Tagalog or more accurately Filipino). The ceremonies were unusually formal and ritualistic. He was escorted from his home by a motorcycle squad and the Malacañang ceremonial car, met and given an escort of honor by the Presidential Guard Battalion in their resplendent blue formals, brought up to the Palace door to the tune of the trumpets, received at the ceremonial hall where about 200 guests waited to witness his assumption of office, toasted by me as the man in whom I reposed the highest trust and confidence as Ambassador to the Court of St. James and whom I trust will accomplish his mission with excellence; he toasted back and delivered a short thank you speech.
This is the first time we have gone through this [sic] ceremonies of the assumption of office by an ambassador.
Max Soliven[5] suffered a heart attack last Friday, October 23rd. He is in the Intensive Care Dept. of the Makati Medical Center. [Geronimo] Rony Velasco told me about this today. And I have asked ______.
Franz Pick[6]—He has as usual (he has never said anything good of any country in his journal and has a reputation for sensationalism and exaggeration to attract attention) attacked me personally and wrote with derision about our balance of payments problem blaming it on us specially me. I have completely ignored him.
11:25 PM
Changed my speech into an extemporaneous one as Jesus Cabarrus of Marinduque had delivered a critique of the economic program saying there is no integrated program of economic development—before I spoke.
I will have the speech transcribed and appended next to this page.
Talked to Ex-Sec. Felixberto Serrano who is running for delegate to the convention. He is one of the more experienced and articulate and prospective winners. And even now we should be planning for the leadership of the convention.
11:55 PM October 27, 1970[7]
Tuesday
Have just finished a letter to Bongbong. He has got a bad knee from tackling another boy in rugby. I suggested he take Varidase which I sent him some time ago—with the advise [sic] of the doctor of course.
Played golf in the morning, then conferred with Sec. Cesar Virata, Gov. Greg[orio] Licaros, Roman Cruz Jr., [Roberto] Bobby Benedicto, PNB [Philippine National Bank] Acting Pres. [Eusebio] Villatuya and [Panfilo] Domingo of the Foreign Debt of the PNB whom I am sending to London to set up office to do nothing but look into offers of loans which are coming in.
I am sending Ben del Rosario to the Middle East to do the same.
I have had to set up this machinery as the offers of loans are coming to me directly. And this has become a big nuisance. At the same time we do need the loans but at terms that are acceptable.
Then worked out with Ambassador [Henry] Byroade, Mr. Alan Ford, Secs. [Vicente] Abad Santos, [Juan] Ponce Enrile and Manuel Collantes, the complications arising out of the order of arrest of Col. Holman, Clark Air Force Commander, by Judge Gaddi for contempt for not appearing to explain how one of the accused, Williams, in an attempted rape case succeeded in fleeing Philippine jurisdiction when he was supposed to be confined to quarters in Clark Air Base. Messy and thorny legal question because the court does not have jurisdiction over the Commander of Clark Air Base in the performance of a State Act.
I am sure the radicals will make much of it—the impotence of the Philippine government; they will claim we refuse to stand up to the big Americans!
Finished the conferences with the provincial leaders.
8:50 PM October 28, 1970[8]
Wednesday
Met Gerry Montemayor whom I called to the palace. Then got them, Sec. Vicente Abad Santos, to meet him in Pangarap where Abad Santos was waiting.
I have asked the two groups to meet at the palace on Friday at 9:30 AM where they can exchange views freely.
This afternoon there was a spirited exchange between the two. Gerry Montemayor, of course, was exercised by the arrest of his companions not only once but twice. Abad Santos heatedly declared that the law has to be upheld specially after the demonstrators broke into his office, destroying the lock in one door, desecrating the flag inside and taking over his chair and table.
“Boorishness” is what the secretary said caused the incident. Gerry claims that the law is intended to protect the men in society and therefore should be so used and the secretary is using it against the men who are in that society. And Abad Santos fell back on the old principle that the law has to be defended and protected for it is the best and ultimate defense of the weak and the poor.
Gerry then referred to the FFF [Federation of Free Farmers] petition for the investigation, suspension and/or removal of Sec. Abad Santos which I attach wherein they expressed their appreciation for my patience and magnanimity when I received them in Malacañan although they raised their voice, although they hurt me with their words. They implied that Sec. Santos should have done the same but instead he first walked out of their conference and later refused to meet them but instead had them arrested and criminally charged in court.
I judge that my presence is necessary so that something may come out of their meeting other than recriminations.
And I have called the farmer [Romualdo] Bhady whose farm and the right of way through it by the logger, Cuison, caused the controversy. So we can settle it during the meeting next Friday. It would have to be an extra-legal settlement as the case is pending in court and Bhady’s lawyer, Atty. [Camilo] Sabio, is in court for contempt because he made contumacious remarks at the judge and admitted he had ordered the Bhadys to barricade the road notwithstanding the order of the court.
I plan to get all the charges against the demonstrators dropped.
We should start the column in the vernaculars soon—a constructive presentation of what the government is doing.
9:20 PM October 29, 1970[9]
Thursday
PAL [Philippine Air Lines] may have another strike as they have fired [Felix] Gaston, the President of the pilots association and are screening the employees for their refusal to return to work immediately. Called up [Rafael] Ygoa and he says that they will take back all the employees but not Gaston as he refused to fly his first flight to Hawaii.
I have asked DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines] and Central Bank to study the natural gas project for electricity in Isabela. The Stanvac report estimates the natural gas deposit of Isabela at 2.8 billion and can last 30 years but confidential reports indicate in may be 50 billion. The Isabela Gas and Power is setting up a [sic] electric complex of $9 million for five towns, several factories and logging and processing factories.
We have had to tell the political leaders that we are not spending any funds in these elections. They cannot get used to the idea. But we must try it and push through the election reforms.
Fortune teller Shra Shi Singh insisted in coming in to see me at the palace to tell me of his forecast of peace and prosperity of the country and greatness and health for me up to at least 85 years old[10]. I hope the media does not pick that up and blow it up into a story that I am consulting astrologers and horoscopists before I make decisions for government[11].
[Newbold] Noyes, the editor of the Washington Star, called on me for an interview yesterday. He seemed to have misgivings about our future.
The management and administration of the private universities are planning to close their institutions if the demonstrations continue.
The FFF [Federation of Free Farmers] announced today that they are demonstrating Saturday before the palace. They are as usual making it appear that I am calling the conference (confrontation) with Vic Abad Santos because of their demonstration. Which is not true as I decided on the confrontation before their announcement of a demonstration.
Comelec [Commission on Elections] Chairman [Jaime] Ferrer has just announced that after his tour of the provinces, he believes 200 independents will win and about 150 politically supported candidates will be elected, 50 of them relatives of politicians in power. He is way off because 80% of the candidates are supported by politicians. But probably it is best that he made the announcement.
Met with Gens. [Eduardo] Garcia and [Manuel] Yan—the first on the Cotabato situation, with the mayors of Pigcawayan, Tacurong and Midsayap who all testify that the groups of Udtong Matalam, the Sinsuats and Abdullah Sangki are parading their men with firearms and the Christians are also beginning to prepare for violence. The secession movement, they claim, is serious and Udtog Matalam is serious.
I have ordered them disarmed—no matter what party they belong to. This will be the policy throughout the country.
Sen. [Alejandro] Almendras is making noises of government corruption in spare parts in the Bureau of Highway and CAA [Civil Aeronautics Administration]. The SSS [Social Security System] sent him a routinary notice of foreclosure on his P5.6 million loan that has now become P6.5 million because of delinquencies on amortization and interest. Then he called me up from Davao City on the typhoon damage to Davao del Sur specially Malita, Sta. Maria and towns south. Matter of fact—as if he had done nothing.
Mrs. Adelina Rodriguez[12] was here in the morning and in the afternoon seeking advi[c]e on the elections. I just greeted her. Imelda attended to her.
I have just received the NEC [National Economic Council] recommendation on the 15th year reparations schedule.
12:10 PM October 30, 1970[13]
Friday
Played golf in Wack Wack for the first time in months.
Imelda passed for me and we passed by our old house in Ortega. Could not open the safe where the guns and ammo are.
Conferred with Sec. Vicente Abad Santos and the protagonists in the case that gave rise to the demonstrators, the Bhadys and [Roman] Cuison the logger. I got Cuison to withdraw his petition for injunction so that the Bhady couple and their lawyer, Atty. [Camilo] Sabio, can be released from jail.
Received the report of the head of Research and Development in the Armed Forces, Col. Baula, on firearms—specially on the caliber .221.
Then worked on the 15th year schedule with Dr. [Gerardo] Sicat, Com. Greg[orio] Abad and Minister [Eulogio] Balao. As usual the projects that do not help the economy too much were recommended. And the car manufacturing, ship-building, raw products processing, electrification, etc. forgotten. I have to rectify this.
4:55 PM October 31, 1970[14]
Saturday
I write this after the confrontation conference with the Free Farmers Federation, the Lakasdiwa and Khi Rho demonstrators.
Judge [Alejandro] Sebastian has lifted the arrest and injunction against the farmer-couple (the Bhadys) and their lawyer, Atty. [Camilo] Sabio, on the petition of the logger [Roman] Cuison.
They refused the offer to withdraw their cases.
PCCSJR (Presidential Coordinating Committee on Social justice and Reforms) strengthened.
P50,000 released for its operations.
Disarming of security men of loggers facing charges.
Bicutan.
We said goodbye to Dir. Gen. Placido Mapa in a luncheon. Imelda could not attend.
I have appointed Dr. Apolinario Orosa as Dir. Gen. of PES [Presidential Economic Staff] in his place and [Ruben] Ancheta of Laoag as Deputy.
Sent some funds (P50,000) to Pres. Carlos P. Garcia on his birthday next Wednesday (Nov. 4th) as he says he is in dire need.
Went to Paranaque to get the girls who were there the whole day. The atmosphere beside the sea is so invigorating and different. But Imelda who was in a very depressed mood in the past several days only came alive when she showed me the corner of the garden where she had covered up the island, leveled and prepared for a tea or merienda nook. Cozy and refreshing area for gathering of friends.
[1] Official Gazette , Oc tober 23, 1970: The President started the day by working at his study, then at 10 a.m. left Malacañang for Congress where he joined the solons at the necrological services for the late Rep. Floro S. Crisologo of Ilocos Sur. Accompanying him was the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos. Back in Malacañang an hour later, the President received separately Rep. Amando Cope and Secretary of General Services Constancio E. Castañeda . In the afternoon, the President read a message which was filmed by a team from the International Planned Parenthood Federation, in connection with the worldwide drive for family planning. He then received a group of congressmen, governors and city mayors from Pangasinan, Mindanao and Sulu, who took up local problems with him. In the evening, he left Malacañang once more to attend as guest of honor the opening ceremonies of the 8th biennial convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce, held at the Intercontinental Hotel. Earlier, the Chief Executive appointed Oscar Santiago as acting member of the Board of Regents of the Central Luzon State University. The President likewise designated Dr. Estefania Aldaba Lim and Jose Co nrado Benitez as members of the National Manpower and Youth Council. The President also ordered the deportation of a Chinese national, Dee Chee Ping alias Dee Pue Chuan alias Hua Chan, whose continued presence in the country is considered a menace to the peace and safety of the community. Dee has been convicted by the Court of First Instance of Manila for kidnapping with murder. He was s entenced to death but this was modified by the Supreme Court to reclusion perpetua . During the day, the President sent the following cablegram to UN Secretary-General U Thant on the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations: “ON THE OCCASION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE FILIPINO PEOPLE JOIN ME IN CONVENING TO YOUR EXCELLENCY SINCERE BEST WISHES AND CONGRATULATIONS STOP AS FIRM BELIEVERS IN THE IDEALS BEHIND THE CREATION OF THIS INTERNATIONAL BODY CMA WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE COMING YEARS SHALL WITNESS STRENGTHENING OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THAT IT SHALL BECOME THE DRIVING FORCE IN OUR SEARCH FOR WORLD PEACE CMA ECONOMIC STABILITY AND THE DIGNITY AND T HE EQUALITY OF THE HUMAN RACE.”
[2] Official Gazette, Oc tober 24, 1970: The President was mostly free to attend to his paper work and other urgent state business, with his schedule of visitors virtually blank. In the morning, he received a group of Manila congressmen, including Reps. Joaquin Roces , Pablo Ocampo and Ramon Bagatsing of Manila, and Frisco San Juan of Rizal, and inducted into office the new chief of the Office of the Economic Coordination, Eduardo J. Rodriguez. In the afternoon, the President continued to work at his desk. At about 3 p.m., a group of officials from Pampanga, led by Gov. Francisco Nepomuceno, including barrio officials and members of Barrio Self-Defense Units, converged at Malacañang to present a plaque of appreciation to the President for the many benefits accruing to the province from development projects and for the upgraded peace and order in the region. Among those present were Mayors Jose Mendiola of Floridablanca , Victoriano Panlilio of Porac , Salvador Dimson of Lubao , Eulogio Venson of Arayat , Daniel Lacson of Magalang , Norberto Blanco of Bacolor , Emiliano Candelaria of Mabalacat , Juan Deang of Sta. Ana, Jesus Santos of Mexico and Lamberto Punsalan of San Simon. The President worked at his desk through evening, in the course of which he directed all heads of offices in the government to adopt proper measures to ensure and facilitate the prevention of petty graft and other forms of malfeasance, and to deal firmly with any employee in their departments, agencies or bureaus found guilty of irregularities. The President issued the order in a memorandum to all department heads, heads of offices and government corporations, in view of persistent reports of dishonesty and other forms of irregularity in the public service. In his memorandum, the Chief Executive pointed out that one of the firs t programs of government of the administration was that aimed at effecting a profound and thorough change in the public service through a vigorous campaign against graft and corruption. In line with this fundamental policy, the government has since then consistently adopted and carried out measures aimed at ferreting out cases of venality which, the President said, resulted in the filing of various administrative cases, and the prosecution, suspension and dismissal of nu merous officials and employees.
[3] Official Gazette, Oc tober 25, 1970: The President had an unusually busy weekened , attending to papers requiring immediate action and conferring with government officials on matters concerning their respective departments. The pressure of desk work compelled the President to ask Chairman Leonides S. Virata of the Development Bank of the Philippines to represent him at the inauguration of the Cebu Stock Exchange in Cebu City, and to read for him the speech prepared for the occasion. In the speech, the President sounded both a warning and an appeal to the nation to put an end to conventional politics, as characterized by the maintenance of so-called private armies. The task of reformation must begin now, the President told the guests at the inauguration .
[4] Official Gazette, Oc tober 26, 1970: The President had a full schedule of visitors and conferences, capped by the oath-taking of the new Philippine ambassador to the Court of St. James, London. An outline of the President’s activities follows: 1) A courtesy call of Andre Kostenaletz , accompanied by Mrs. Chole Romulo, Luis Araneta and Protacio Sta. Cruz. 2) A conference attended by former Supreme Court Justice Conrado V. Sanchez, Rep. Teodulo Natividad, Prisons Director Alejo Santos, Assistant Director Pedro Solis, Court of Appeals Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Assistant Fiscal Marcos Valentin and Attys. Felipe Kalalo and Manuel Yngson . They conferred at length on a series of anti-crime measures which, from the President’s point of view, deserves top priority from the national government.The President forthwith directed the preparation of necessary administrative orders to enable immediate implementation of those measures, not requiring congressional action. 3) An official call of Secretary Manda Elizalde of Panamin , to discuss activities of the organization. 4) A call by Reps. Rafael Legaspi of Aklan, Jose Leido , Jr. of Mindoro Oriental, Andres Cosalan of Benguet, Tito Dupaya of Cagayan, Benjamin Perez of Nueva Vizcaya, Angel Concepcion of Nueva Ecija and Senator Leonardo Perez to discuss specific problems: and by Govs . Jose Legaspi of Aklan, Salvacion Iñiguez of Southern Leyte, Anacleto Alcala of Quezon, Benjamin Palispis of Benguet and Vicente Magsaysay of Zambales, to discuss local problems. 5) The induction of Ambassador Jaime Zobel de Ayala as Philippine envoy to the Court of St. James in London. Later, the President directed Budget Commissioner Faustino Sy- Changco to release an additional ₱600,000 from the calamity fund to the Department of Social Welfare to augment its relief operations. At the same time, the Chief Executive authorized the DSW to make local purchases, notably in Cebu, of relief goods for distribution to areas in Mindanao stricken by typhoon “ Titang .” The President’s directive was issued on recommendation of Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, who reported on the conditions m the stricken areas, following a meeting of representatives of various government agencies engaged in relief work. The President also set aside four parcels of public land with a total area of 2,934 hectares where squatters and slum dwellers in the Greater Manila Area could be permanently resettled. Except for the 92-hectare site which is located in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, the rest of the reservation is located in the municipality of Montalban , Rizal. In the evening the President was guest speaker at the dinner tendered for him by the Philippine Council of Industrial Editors at the A. Soriano Executive House in Makati, Rizal. In his speech, the President underscored the basic, thing in development whic h, he said, is the ability of a people to relate themselves to the requirements of development, and acquire a personal sense of responsibility for supporting and accelerating that development. The President also discussed the options taken by the administration in the development of the country’s economy. The President declared that if Philippine society is to work, it must have that shared spirit, arising from working together, toward the attainment of goals which, in turn, will benefit everyone.
[5] Maximo V. Soliven (1929-2006) had a long career in journalism and was connected with the Manila Times, Chronicle, Evening News, Philippines Daily Inquirer. At the time of his death, of a heart attack in Tokyo, Japan on November 24, 2006, he was Publisher and Editorial page columnist of the Philippine Star.
[6] Dr. Franz Pick, international currency analyst who advocated gold as world currency and authored “The Triumph of Gold” (1987) was head of the Pick Publishing Company that put out: Pick’s Currency Report and Pick’s Currency Yearbook
[7] Official Gazette, Oc tober 27, 1970: The President had a series of conferences, plus a full schedule of callers. In between, he worked on state papers. One of his earliest meetings was with Senator Jose J. Roy, and Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos. An important conference was that which discussed new moves to combat crime, attended by Cavite Gov. Delfin Montano, POLCOM Chairman Crispino de Castro, Secretary Enrile, NBI Director Jolly Bugarin , and others. Proposals made by Gov. Montano were referred by the President for study to Secretary Enrile and the POLCOM chief. Later the President conferred with Rep. Ramon Bagatsing and Dean Feliciano Jover Ledesma of the San Beda College on private matters. The President also received in the afternoon the staff of the Philippine Pavilion at Expo ’70, led by Commissioner Victor Lim and Deputy Commissioner Jesus Tanchanco . Also present was the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos. The President commended the staff for a job well done. Others received by the President were Reps. Rafael B. Legaspi of Aklan, Rogaciano Mercado of Bulacan, Angel Conception of Nueva Ecija, Eduardo Gullas of Cebu, Antonio Diaz of Zambales, Felipe Almazan of Kalinga- Apayao , Gov. Amado Almazan of Kalinga- Apayao and Mayor Salvador Dimson of Lubao , Pampanga. Later, the Chief Executive affixed his signature to two air agreements earlier negotiated by the Philippine government with the governments of Belgium and Japan, and which went into effect after the exchange of diplomatic notes. The agreements were transmitted to the President by the Civil Aeronautics Administration through Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes for the former’s signature. The new air agreements were negotiated in line with the government’s open skies policy, enunciated by the President last year, which was designed to encourage tou rist travel to the Philippines.
[8] Official Gazette, Oc tober 28, 1970: The President concentrated mostly on his desk work, although he had a fairly well filled schedule of visitors and one press interview. For most of the morning, the President worked on state papers then toward noon began receiving callers. Later, he sat down for an interview, for radio and TV with Ed Tipton of DZHP. The President also received among others Reps. Tito Dupaya , Rodolfo Albano, David Puzon , Emilio Espinosa, Jr., James Chiongbian , Emerito Calderon, Eduardo Cojuangco, Artemio Loyola, Herminio Teves , and Celestino Sybio Jr.; Senators Rene Espina and Mamintal Tamano ; and Govs . Julian F. Pacificador , Jaime K. Gomez, Cornelio Villareal, Jr. and Elizabeth Keon. T hrough the afternoon and evening, the President worked at his desk. Earlier, the President directed the Rice and Corn Administration to insure the stability of cereal supply in all typhoon ravaged areas in Mindanao, and to maintain the standard level of prices in the said areas. At the same time, he directed the Philippine Navy to assign one of its ships to service the towns on the eastern coast of Davao del Sur, particularly in the distribution of relief supplies. The President also ordered that any government personnel found using smuggled goods, such as blue seal cigarettes, be investigated and punished. The President’s order was a reiteration of Memorandum Circular No. 386, which was issued under his authority last August 22, 1970 by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. In that circular, the Chief Executive warned government officials and employees that he would impose severe penalties, including dismissal from office, on those violating regulations agains t the use of smuggled products.
[9] Official Gazette, Oct ober 29, 1970: The President received many callers and held conferences with a number of officials on various matters. Ramon Gaviola, chairman of the Social Security System, was among the first to see the President, to submit his report on the recently concluded 17th General Assembly of the International Social Security Association in Cologne , Germany, as Philippine representative. Gaviola had presided over the assembly after being elected vice president of the world organization. He was also reelected member of the 18-man governing body representing Asia and Oceania. In the morning, the President conferred with three mayors from Cotabato who reported on the peace and order situation in their localities. The mayors were Esteban Doruelo of Pigkawayan , Nicolas Dequiña of Midsayap and Jose Escribano of Tacurong . Then the President received G.S.R.B. Kobbekaduwa , minister of agriculture and land of Ceylon, who called to pay his respects, following his recent arrival in Manila for a few days visit. The President also conferred with Julian Yballe , assistant director of the Bureau of Private Schools, whom he designated acting director of that bureau to fill the post vacated by Narciso Albarracin who was named undersecretary of education. Early in the afternoon, the President was interviewed by Poui S. Neilsen , foreign editor of the Denmark newspaper Intelligensia , and correspondent of that country’s state-owned radio-TV network. Other callers included Reps. Ali Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Eduardo Cojuangco of Tarlac, Alfredo Lamen of Mt. Province, Felipe Abrigo of Eastern Samar and Fermin Caram , Jr. of Iloilo; Governors Victor Masa of Eastern Samar and Nicolas Pardo of Camarines Norte, and Mayor Florencio Bernabe of Parañaque , Rizal. The President instructed the Department of Social Welfare and People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation to jointly look into the possibility of allocating a site for a workshop and an’ office center of the General Assembly of the Blind, Inc. The society’s request was conveyed to the President through Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes, before whom the new officers of the GABI headed by Celso Jamora took their oath of office. The President also ordered an immediate study of the economic uses bakawan , a local forest product with an eye to solving the dispute over the product between local entrepreneurs and log exporters. A committee, headed by Chairman Johnny M. Araneta of the National Export Coordinating Center, will conduct the studies and report their findings to the President. In the course of the day, the President issued an executive order establishing a Presidential Award in Education to be granted to citizens who have made significant and distinctive contributions to education in this country. Creation of the presidential award was proposed by the national committee in charge of the observance of the International Education Year and subsequently recommended for approval by Secretary of Education Onofre D. Corpuz . Presentation of the award will be one of the highlights of the observance in the Philippines of the International Education Year this year, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to focus attention of member countries on the important role of education in the development of human resources, deemed essential to the attainment of the goals of the Second UN Development Decade. In issuing the executive order establishing the award, President Marcos underscored the universal recognition of the value of education in promoting a country’s enlightenment and progress, as well as world peace and understanding.
[10] Marcos died in 1989 at 72, disgraced, sick and in exile in Hawaii.
[11] It was common knowledge that the Marcoses hedged their bets : consulting fortune tellers, believing in numerology (all important decisions or events had to be in a date divisible by seven), feng shui (in design elements made during the renovation of Malacañang and the Presidential Seal), or that Marcos had an anting-anting, referenced in his diary. T he most famous of the Palace seers was a certain “Ronald Joaquin Marcos” the so-called “Bionic Boy” who could read minds, write on paper without touching a pen to it or calling overseas with a Toy Phone. The “Bionic Boy” is not an urban legend, the editor met him twice or thrice in Pampanga and is witness to his psychic feats.
[12] Adelina Rodriguez was the first woman elected to office as the Mayor of Quezon City, serving from 1976 to 1986.
[13] Official Gazette, Oc tober 30, 1970: The President had only one break from his desk work, to which he devoted most of his working day, when he met with the litigants in the land dispute which students and other activities had made a cause for staging demonstrations at the Department of Justice premises, The President met in Malacañang at about noontime the farmer couple who had opposed the use of their land as a right-of-way for the trucks of a logger in Davao del Norte. During the preliminary meeting, the President tentatively inquired into the facts of the case, then set another meeting tomorrow where all parties concerned, including government authorities involved were asked to be present. At the conference were officials of the Department of Justice headed by Secretary Vicente Abad Santos; Roman Cuison , a logging operator; Romualdo Bhadi , his wife and their counsel; Acting Executive Secretary Roberto V, Reyes, Director of Forestry Jose Viado and Col Luis Ridad , Davao PC Provincial commander. Receiving no callers, the President worked on official papers for the rest of the day, during which he signed a proclamation declaring Monday, November 9, a special public holiday to enable personnel of government offices and private firms to go home to their respective provinces and exercise their right of suffrage on November 10. The nation will go to the polls on November 10 to elect the delegates to the Constitutional Conventi on scheduled in June next year.
[14] Official Gazette, Oc tober 31, 1970: The President concentrated on his desk work, during which he named Brig. Gen. Florencio Medina (ret.) head of the Philippine delegation attending the organizational meeting of the Association of Ministers of Science of Asia, which will be held in Manila from November 16 to 20, this year; and signed the appointment of Apolinario Orosa as director-general of the Presidential Economic Staff; of Placido Mapa , Jr. as director of World Bank representing the Philippines and Ruben Ancheta as PES deputy director-general for programming. Both PES officials were inducted by the President at ceremonies held at the Malacañang Reception Hall. Named members of the delegation were Chairman Juan Salcedo, Jr. of the National Research Council of the Philippines, President Salvador P. Lopez of the University of the Philippines, Chairman Gerardo Sicat of the National Economic Council, and Ambassador Rafaelita H. Soriano, assistant secretary of the United Nations Affairs and International Conferences of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Chief Executive vested upon the delegation the full powers and authority to speak for the government at the meeting and to negotiate, include and sign any act or agreement with, the official delegates of e other countries participating in the conference. In the afternoon, the President met with the leaders of the Free Farmers Federation on the same complaints raised by small farmers and settlers on the resolution of land disputes. He took steps to facilitate the early settlement of these disputes. The President remained at his desk through the evening- working on government p apers and other state concerns.