I write this at 12:20 AM just as I entered my bedroom where my two daughters were lying in wait for me to wish me a happy birthday. Imee has written me an affectionate touching letter in the smallest hand I have seen in many a year and some books including The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, The Prophet by one of the friends of a teacher of Bongbong, Kahlil Gibran. Irene gave a painting of the flood in reds and browns and a dedication “Dear Daddy, I couldn’t give you anything but this cheap jacket and a painting. But anyway HAPPY BIRTHDAY—Irene”
11:00 PM
Imelda called up after I left for the Coordinating Center at Fort Aguinaldo so I called back when I returned. She wanted to wish me a happy birthday. It was about three o’clock in the morning in London and 10:00 AM here. We talked to her at 9:10 PM Manila time. They were taking lunch with the London Symphony Orchestra. She told me that they played more everytime she stood off. And she had to stand up from the dining table to go to the phone booth when I called.
OG September 11, 1970: President Marcos celebrated his 53rd birth anniversary quietly in Malacañang with relatives, close friends and colleagues in the government.
Early in the morning, the President received an overseas call from the First Lady, Mrs. Imelda R. Marcos, and Bongbong, who are both in London. The First Lady conveyed her greetings to the President on his birthday and inquired into the health of the President and daughters Imee and Irene.
Later in the morning, the President, together with daughters Imee and Irene, his mother Mrs. Josefa Edralin Marcos, and his sisters Elizabeth and Fortuna, heard mass at the Malacañang Reception Hall. The Mass was officiated by Rev. James Donelan, S. J. He was assisted by Rev. Juan Bautista, chaplain of the Presidential Guard Battalion. After the Mass, the President gave a luncheon for his guests.
In an interview with the radio-press, the President said, “On my birthday I usually do an assessment of the past year, of what has happened to me and what I have done, where I have committed mistakes and how I can rectify them, and what I plan for the following year. “The past year has been an eventful one, both for myself and for our country. I am quite happy with the way things have turned out. I look to the future with confidence that we will continue to survive the’ trials before us and to pave the way for our advance as a nation.”
Among those present at the luncheon given by the President were: Vice President Fernando Lopez, Senators Jose J. Roy and Helena Z. Benitez, Secretaries Juan Ponce Enrile of National Defense, Blas F. Ople of Labor, Ernesto Maceda of Commerce and Industry, Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes, PANAMIN Secretary Manuel Elizalde, Jr., Reps. Jose D. Aspiras, Roque Ablan and Pablo Roman, and Mayors Luis Lardizabal of Baguio City and Hilarion Ramiro of Ozamis City.
Before having lunch with his guests, the Presidents conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit on the late Oscar M. Alcaraz, a young explorer scout who drowned while saving the life of a drowning comrade. Alcaraz died last August 30, National Heroes Day, at the La Mesa Dam reservoir. Giving the posthumous award to the honoree’s mother, Mrs. Regina M. Alcaraz, at a simple ceremony in Malacañang, the President extolled the young hero saying that the young Alcaraz “died as a true Filipino who should not only have physical courage but compassion and concern for others.”
Decorated the Boy Scout who died in the flood of Sept. 2, 1970 at La Mesa Dam saving his scoutmaster, with the Presidential Medal of Merit for heroism.
Mass at 11:15 AM. Father Donelan who said mass and gave a sermon on Prometheus and Christ. Prometheus, one of the gods of Greek mythology took pity upon man huddled in caves against the cold and stroke fire from Mt. Olympus guarded by Jupiter who did not wish to give fire to man because man would acquire the power of the gods. Thus fire that could warm man and cook his food, melt the metals from the earth and thus make steel arrow heads, printing presses or guns, was brought to the world. But Jupiter in anger punished Prometheus for stealing the fire. And Prometheus was bound and staked spread eagle facing the sun on top of a mountain in one of the most remote corners of the earth. And he was left to be rent and devoured by the vultures.
Another god came to this earth and brought another kind of fire—spiritual fire unlike the physical fire of Prometheus. And this other God was Jesus Christ. He did not steal the fire he brought for his Father had given it to him for man. But the petty gods that man had become were envious and like Prometheus punished him. They taunted him, spat on him and spread eagled him on a cross on top of another lonely mountain we know as Calvary. Like Prometheus he died for his service to man. But the fire he brought still burns in our hearts.
A President must be both Prometheus, to bring the physical of comfort and progress and a Christ to bring spiritual fire in our hearts. Every man must be Christ. But a president more so. And so we have come to pray for strength, courage and wisdom as well as love for him that he may bring fire into our world.
And we can say, “He brought forth fire into the world and the fire still burns within us.”
Lunch for about 150 people. VP [Fernando] and Mrs. [Mariquit] Lopez and Pres. Pro Tempore Jose Roy were there, Ambassador [Modesto] and Mrs. [Filipinas] Farolan, our ambassador in Indonesia was also here. He is working on the Indonesian forest concession for Filipinos.
Then suffered an abdominal upset. So I took a nap up to 4:00 PM. Met the Malacañang media men and Carding Silverio who brought me my six new suits from Bullock-Jones of San Francisco.
Then went to the Coordinating Center to assess the damage caused by the storm. Right now there is no wind nor rain in Manila but the typhoon (Pitang) has hit Casiguran, San Fernando and Vigan. I am glad I did not go to Ilocos Norte today.
Had Japanese dinner at 8:45 PM with only my two daughters. It was sent from Japan by Gen. Eulogio Balao. Included sashimi, sukiyaki, salmon fresh, fresh fish complete with sake’ (Chiyoda). I am afraid I overate and I am now feeling heavy. There was also pigs knuckles with sauerkraut.
I have just finished a conference with Sec. Cesar Virata, Ex. Sec. Alex [Alejandro] Melchor [Jr.] and Director of PES [Presidential Economic Staff] Placido Mapa [Jr.] on the problem areas the two, Virata and Mapa, are leaving behind, mostly financial.