Looks like the House version of the sugar act in the US will be adopted by the conference committee. This piece of good news was conveyed to me by Ambassador [Ramon] Nolan by long distance telephone at 8:00 AM.
I have ordered that he now work on the World Sugar Quota problem. We now have 60,000 tons quota but the world price is less than the domestic price (Phil) so that this year we sell at a loss. But the long range plan to have 200,000 tons of the world quota so that we have a quota to absorb surplus has to be implemented.
He will bring in some French buyers or brokers to Manila on the World quota matter.
But Delegate Carlos Ledesma is for keeping a reserve of 100,000 tons of sugar to furnish the American market in case of need.
We are now on board the Ang Pangulo with Ambassador James Ingram of Australia and Se Ryum Kim of Korea and their wives. Ambassador [Toshio] Urabe and his wife will join us Saturday by plane from Manila at Iligan as he has to stay in Manila for their National Day tomorrow, Friday. We have the Tantocos also with us. I intend to inspect their pulp and paper plant.
I have called a command conference in Iligan next Saturday morning of all the PC [Philippine Constabulary] Provincial Commanders and their Intelligence and CIS [Criminal Investigation Service] officers, the Zone Commander, the IV Brigade Commander and their staff as well as the civic group to assess the peace and order situation specially in Lanao del Norte.
A rumor circulated in today’s press that Chairman Mao [Zedong] was dead. But Sec. [Francisco] Tatad reports that “reports from Peking negative; Japanese parliamentary delegation fresh from Peking says in Tokyo rumors about Mao’s health impossible to believe. UPI [United Press International] says same rumors found only abroad but not anywhere in China.”
12:30 PM September 24, 1971[1]
Friday
Spent the whole day on board. We are now between Negros and Cebu. At about 1:00 PM we should reach the southern end of Cebu and Negros and be at the Mindanao Sea to be at Iligan (IISMI [Iligan Integrated Steel Mills Inc.] pier) at 7:30 AM.
Dictated the outline for the second book, Strategy for Development. Then an hour ago I continued dictation on it. This morning I dictated a part of the chapter on CounterSubversions.
Read the paper by Dr. Goh Keng Swee Minster of Defense of Singapore and a commentary on it by Mr. Denis Warner, an Australian writer presented at the ThirtyThird Annual Summer School of the Australian Institute of Political Science, held at Canberra in January, 1967.
And the Casebook on Insurgency and Revolutionary Warfare (23 Summary Accounts).
11:00 PM September 25, 1971[2]
Ozamis City Saturday
A very eventful day. Historic and hectic.
We have been able to get Gov. [Arsenio] Quibranza and Vice Gov. [Malamit] Umpa to withdraw in favor of General [Wilfredo] Encarnacion who will now enter the political field. This agreement was signed before me at about 5:00 PM at the helideck of TP 777.
At 3:00 PM I signed the lifting of the suspension of the Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus (Proclamation No. 889-C) on board TP 777 at the lounge.
We settled the Lanao del Sur conflict. Gov. Linang Mandangan runs for governor and Vice Gov. Marohombsar withdraws. But Sen. Mamintal Tamano’s group will prepare the line up for the new Maranaw province cut out of Lanao del Sur.
I ordered the entire 26th Bn. [Battalion] Combat Team at Zamboanga to be sent to Lanao del Norte.
We have met the evacuees in Ozamis City, distributed medicine and I released P50,000 for food, Pl50,000 for the Ozamis Airport and P100,000 for destroyed houses and work animals of evacuees.
Wild and tumultuous reception which has impressed the foreign guests.
11:00 PM September 26, 1971[3]
Sunday
Slept last night at 11:30 PM. Woke up at 5:30 AM. Could not sleep after that.
Docked at 7:00 AM to the reception of the Governor ([Cording] Diel), Mayor Serina, Cong. [Pedro] Roa and Sen. [Emmanuel] Pelaez with a crowd. Left by car for Del Monte at 7:30 AM. Arrived at 8:15 AM with crowds enthusiastically running to see us and waving welcome.
Played golf (Amb. [Toshio] Urabe and I against the best two balls of Tony Valorin, Tony Jaranilla and Maning Pelaez). Fair game with one 40 ft. putt at No. 9 and at No. 1 the next hole a 14 footer. But missed several short putts.
Lunch at the clubhouse. Tender T-bone steak. Left 12:30 for Laguindingan 50 kms. from Cagayan de Oro on the way to Iligan to inagurate Moresco [Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative] a rural electrification project.
Will service 120,000 people in ten towns at a cost of P11,372,120.00 of which $1,400,000 was borrowed from the USAID [United States Agency for International Development] and P3,400,000 from the old NEA [National Electrification Administration] through the Special Development Fund administered by DBP [Development Bank of the Philippines].
But Amb. [James] Ingram of Australia says he was impressed by the speech. I told the people I was thanking them for their support in the 1965 and 1969 elections not with my tongue or with words but with deeds and action. And I congratulated the people for organizing the cooperative but said that they would have to put the electricity to work.
I said that after the dream of electricity had been fulfilled [sic], we must now fulfill [sic] another dream of mine, the dream of self-employed workers in cottages. So I am sending, I told them the cottage industry workers to teach you what to do in your own homes.
“We, your leaders can think and plan for you. That is why you elected us—specially me because we can think for everyone. But you must execute the plans we have.
“We must help ourselves. If nobody will give us employment, we will give ourselves employment,” I concluded.
I gave an example of the first house I lighted of Mrs. Pacita Baluan who asked for an electric sewing machine and an electric stove instead of a radio or stereo.
I write this at about
11:15 AM Sept. 28th as we are
passing through Sun Juanico Straits
on board the 777—We are near the
narrow neck at Sta. Rita.
Sen. Emmanuel Pelaez seems to be reconciled to the role of supporting cast. When I overwhelmed him in the Nacionalista convention of 1964, he sulked and fumed, refused to run as my Vice President and supported the Liberals. He ran as congressman then (1965). I took him back into the Nacionalista Party as a senatorial candidate, he seemed chastened and quite willing to cooperate. Although Sen. Jose Roy reports that he always aligns himself with my critics in the senate. This may be due to the antagonism between the two leadership in the senate. Sen. Roy who is now President Pro Tempore wants to become President of the senate. Sen. Pelaez is a natural rival.
This may be the reason too for Sen. Roy as Acting President of the Party declaring Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro and Guigoog as free zones notwithstanding or because of the fact that Sen. Pelaez has his candidates who are apparently better than the others. For the province there is Gov. Cording Diel, for Guigoog, Mayor Rodriguez and for Cagayan de Oro Atty. Ruben Canoy.
Congressman Oloy [Pedro] Roa has ran for mayor of Cagayan de Oro, has pitted Vice Gov. Borromeo against Gov. Diel and Councilor Lugod against Mayor Rodriguez.
Sen. Pelaez says this plan is aimed at him. And when I spoke at the Moresco inaguration and said that I hope he would occupy a position higher than senator, Imelda pointedly whispered loud enough for him to hear, “If he behaves,” and he raised his hands in mock surrender and said, “Surrender na ako,” smiling his ingratiating smile.
But Oloy Roa claims that when he and Maning Pelaez were still in good terms, Pelaez used to tell him that now was the time to fight the administration as it was getting weak.
11:55 AM Sept. 28th September 27, 1971[4]
Still on board the 777 Monday
but now at Caramay Point
where we have stopped
to let the pilot off.
The boat where my diary was had to leave for Tacloban from Ulot where we had anchored at 8:00 AM when the waves were rather large in the evening at about 8:00 PM.
Since there was a storm about to hit Eastern Luzon, we decided to postpone our return home to Tuesday morning instead of Monday afternoon.
The waves were high and I could not ski although we all went swimming at 4:30 PM when the water was still warm although the sky was overcast. Then at 5:30 PM Imelda and I walked along the shore and the rocks to the stream where Imelda’s father has his mausoleum. Ambassador [Toshio] Urabe followed. So did Benny and [Glecy?] Tantoco. It was a lovely walk. We were delighted.
In the morning after visiting the Romualdez mausoleum at Tolosa, we went to Tacloban City, then went to the Alang-Alang RP-Japan Rice experimental farm which has a million dollars worth of equipment donated by Japan. (as well as four technicians)
Very impressive and we had a grand time in the bus with Kokoy [Benjamin] Romualdez driving.
The IR-24 seems to have some blight which can be cured with the pesticide they have.
But the IR-20 seems to be more resistant to disease and pests than the IR-22 and IR-24.
The IR-20 can yield in that experimental farm 170 cavans of rice per hectare per harvest three times a year. Even at the average of 130 cavans a hectare, this would mean 390 cavans in one year as against the old average harvest of 30 cavans a hectare a year.
Projects like this are stimulating.
The road from Tolosa to Palo is being cemented. In the meantime the road which was asphalt has been scraped and graded and was muddy and slippery when it rained.
We had lunch at 3:00 PM an interview by the local media at 3:40-4:20 PM and were swimming at 4:30 PM.
Jack Noughty of the Hearst Publications came all the way to Cagayan de Oro and Ulot to interview me. We had the interview from 9:30 to 11:30 PM. after dinner. It was more on Asian politics than anything.
Actually written September 28, 1971[5]
as we enter the breakwater Tuesday
of Manila Bay on Sept. 29, 1971
10:45 AM after I have recorded
on sound and film
a report on the trip.
I find the trip most relaxing. This morning Sept. 29, 1971 my blood pressure was 114 over 76. But it could have been affected by my loose bowel movement which has stopped.
And as always one gains a new perspective and gets more inagurative and resourceful on a trip away from Manila.
So I have been able to solve many problems which have been nagging me.
And I have been able to read some books including the three books of Pres. Park Chung Hee of Korea which although not too elegantly written (the style is the common hyperbolic rhetoric of political speeches) does present the problems of the country, a criticism of American consumer-goods aid and their failure to support a long term program of economic development, as well as of course of the corruption, lack of foresight and wisdom or talent of the previous administrations.
From the distance of the trip, I can see that most of my troubles stem from the media—most specially The Manila Times, The Manila Chronicle, and ABS-CBN.
So I am decided to continue with the project to put up a metropolitan newspaper. I intend the review the reasons for the government not putting up a Television station. It is unbelievable that the government cannot disseminate its side of every controversy.
And I must now inquire about the Constitutional Convention.
[1] Official Gazette for September 24, 1971: P resident Marcos in a memorandum asked Budget Commissioner Faustino SyChangco “to strive at all time to emphasize” the release of funds for infrastructure and other development projects rather than for operating expenditures. The President further said that efforts should always be exerted to maintain a balanced budget, adding that if the general revenue is not adequate to provide essential operations of the government, arrangements should be made to borrow from non-inflationary sources. The President’s memo to Commissioner Sy-Changco was only one of the directives issued by the Chief Executive in the course of his desk work on board the RPS Ang Pangulo while en route to Iligan City. Among other actions, the President appointed Ramon C. Aquino as member of the Presidential Investigating Committee created under Administrative Order No. 50 of April 18, 1967.The committee, headed by Dr. Gaudencio Garcia, was empowered to investigate cases a ssigned to it by the President.
[2] Official Gazette for September 25, 1971: P resident Marcos issued Proclamation No. 889-C lifting the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao and Sulu, with the exception of the two Lanao provinces and Cotabato. Covered by the proclamation were the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Sulu; and the cities of Surigao, Davao, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Ozamis, Oroquieta, Tangub, Dapitan, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Basilan and Pagadian. The President issued the proclamation on the advi c e of military and civilian officials that requirements of public safety and national security could be met by the normal exercise of governmental powers. The Chief Executive conferred with the military and civilian officials on board the RPS Ang Pangulo shortly after arriving in Iligan City at 8 a.m. During the four-hour conference, Iligan and Lanao del Norte civic and school officials recommended the withdrawal of Gov. Arsenio Quibranza and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa from the gubernatorial race in favor of a common candidate. Although both agreed in principle, Quibranza asked for time to consult his leaders. After his meeting with the military and civilian authorities the President ordered: 1) The transfer of the entire 26th Battalion Combat Team from Zamboanga to Lanao del Norte, to be under Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion; 2) That raids be conducted in installations and establishments in the province for firearms; 3) The army to go after armed men, whether Christians or Muslims. Reports indicated four armed bands roam in unpatrolled areas; 4) The Rice and Corn Administration to reroute to Iligan and Lanao del Norte the rice intended for other areas; 5) The Department of Social Welfare to sent food and medicine to evacuation centers; 6) The Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Department of Public Works and Communications to finish Ozamis airport as an emergency undertaking, even as he directed the Budget Commission to release immediately ₱100,000 for said airport. Among those present at the conference were Acting Secretary of National Defense Efren I. Plana, Gen. Manuel T. Yan, AFP chief of staff; Brig. Gen. Eduardo M. Garcia, PC chief; Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion; Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Fourth PC Zone commander; Col. Jimmy Bangcola, Lanao del Norte PC provincial commander; Col. Cirilo Bueno, Task Force Pagari commander; and all provincial commanders of Mindanao and Sulu. At 4 p.m., the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, sailed for Ozamis City to look into the plight of the evacuees from Lanao del Norte.
[3] Official Gazette for September 26, 1971: P resident Marcos officiated at the inauguration of the Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative (MORESCO) at Lagindingan, Cagayan de Oro, which he described as an important milestone in the country’s history. He said the MORESCO is one of the administration’s pilot projects in the cooperative movement which has gained momentum throughout the country. Among those present at the inaugural rites were Senator Emmanuel Pelaez, some members of the diplomatic corps and their ladies, Rep. Pedro N. Roa, General Manager Ramon Ravanzo of the National Power Corporation, National Electrification Administrator Pedro Dumol, and Henry Baker and Philip Parker of the US-AID. In another meeting on the situation in Lanao del Norte with the political, civic and religious leaders of the province, held on board the RPS Ang Pangulo , the President succeeded in persuading Gov. Arsenio Quibranza and Vice Gov. Malamit Umpa to withdraw from the gubernatorial race to pave the way for the restoration of peace and order in that province. The parties concerned signed an agreement which also made Brig. Gen. Wilfredo Encarnacion the common candidate upon the suggestion of the civic groups. Sen Emmanuel Pelaez, LP Mayor Camilo Cabili and other political and religious leaders of the province were present. Later, the President and the First Lady visited some 23,000 people from Lanao del Norte who had evacuated to Ozamis City, to bring relief and urge them to return to their homes. At the gathering at the parochial hall, the President announced, among others, that: 1) He had assigned the 26th BCT to Lanao del Norte with enough troops for every town and with orders to go after the armed bands. 2) CIS teams are conducting raids to ferret out arms from suspects. 3) He had released ₱150,000 for the repair of Ozamis airport to make it operational. 4) He would release ₱100,000 from the calamity fund to help rehabilitate burned homes of evacuees.The President also distributed ₱50,000 through the Department of Social Welfare and Red Cross for the purchase of the needs of evacuees and 100 boxes of medical kits. The party returned to the yacht past 9 p.m. after which it wei ghed anchor for Cagayan de Oro.
[4] Official Gazette for September 27, 1971: P resident Marcos and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, disembarked at Tacloban City at 8 a.m. for an overnight stopover in Ulot, Tolosa en route back to Manila. While in Leyte, the President: 1) Surveyed the agricultural and fisheries development project in the province, including the RP-Japan Rice Experimental Farm in Alang-Alang. 2) Looked into the coconut research project and the medical research on schistosomiasis Japonica at the United Nations Research Center in Palo. 3) Looked into the progress of the work on the Pan-Philippine Highway, particularly the bridge to span the San Juanico Strait. In the course of his work on official papers at the resthouse in Ulot, the President issued an order- for the immediate stopping of disbursement of public works fund, in consonance with the 45-day ban under the Electoral Code.The President issued the directive through the secretaries of finance and of public works to all treasurers, disbursing officers, engineers and other officials responsible for expenditures of public works fund. To insure strict compliance, the President also ordered the officials concerned to submit balance sheets of spent and unspent publi c works funds released to them.
[5] Official Gazette for September 28, 1971: P resident Marcos and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, left the resthouse in Ulot, Tolosa at 9 a.m. for Tacloban where they reboarded the RPS Ang Pangulo for the resumption of their trip to Manila. The President took advantage of his sailing time to dispose of piles of urgent state papers in his cabin. In an interview aboard the ship with the Voice of the Philippines, the President announced his intention to meet with the Cabinet on the various development projects, including the workingmen’s housing program, the industrial development of areas around Manila, and reports on the peace and order situation in Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.