Official Gazette for October 29, 1971: President Marcos had a crowded morning schedule, topped by conferences with officials on certain projects of the government, and with political leaders on the November 8 elections. The President started the day with a meeting with SSS Administrator Gilberto Teodoro and GSIS Chairman-General Manager Roman Cruz, Jr. on the government’s housing projects. This was followed by private conferences with Senator Jose J. Roy, acting Nacionalista Party president, and Sen. Arturo Tolentino; and later with NP senatorial candidates Ernesto Maceda, Blas F. Ople, Alejandro Almendras, Tito Primicias and Leonila Garcia.
Also received by the President were Reps. Fermin Caram of Iloilo Constantino Navarro of Surigao del Norte, Lamberto Macias and Jose Pro. Teves of Negros Oriental, who discussed local problems with him.
The President finished receiving callers at past 2 p.m. After a belated lunch, the President took a brief rest and then attended to paper work the rest of the afternoon.
He directed Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr. to issue a proclamation declaring November 1 a special public holiday, and a memorandum order creating a committee to take charge of the reception, as well as the funeral arrangements and interment of the late Col. Jesus Villamor hero of World War II. The President declared November 1 a special public holiday to give the people full opportunity to observe All Saints’ Day with the proper religious spirit.In his order creating the committee to handle funeral arrangements and interment of Col. Villamor, the President noted that the hero “demonstrated the highest tradition of Filipino valor and patriotism when he single-handedly opposed the Japanese “zeros” at the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941.”
The President said it is fitting that a proper reception be given his remains and funeral arrangements be accorded Col. Villamor, “in grateful recognition of his indomitable courage and willingness to offer his life that all of us may live in peace and freedom.” The President named Brig. Gen. Jesus Z. Singson, PAF commanding general, as chairman of the committee, with CAA Director Epifanio Raymundo as vice chairman, and the following as members: Col. Agustin Marking; a representative of the US Armed Forces; Judge Florencio Villamor, representing the hero’s family; and Col. Miguel Villamor of the AFP.
In the evening, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, tendered a dinner at the Maharlika Hall in honor of the visiting directors and trustees of the First National City Bank of New York, during which he conferred the Golden Heart Presidential Award on FNCB chairman Walter B, Wriston. Wriston was cited for his outstanding services to the country through the “determined application of the progressive policies which have made the institution he heads not only an international company but a real and productive part of the development of nations.”
Present at the conferment ceremony, held at the Maharlika Hall, were FNCB officials, heads of government financing institutions, representatives of the Bankers Association of the Philippines and the Senate and House committees on banking.
Dinner for the Chairman of the First National City Bank, Walter Wriston and the President, William Spencer after I decorated the former with the Award of the Golden Heart.
Then I filmed a ten-minute speech for the Pangasinan rally tomorrow to be shown by audio-visual. This will be a technique I will use more often.
The Lopezes have come out openly for the Liberals and are allegedly spending millions in this campaign. Knowing their parsimony, I do not believe it.
I attended to politicians asking for funds all morning and afternoon up to 4:00Imelda has come down with a cold.