Monday
Imelda called up by long distance at about 7:45 AM to tell me she is sick. I have to tell Dra. Aragon. They leave for London by Alitalia at about 2:00 PM which is about 8:00 PM here. I know she is feeling lonely now. When she asked about the two girls she had a tone of longing in her voice. And we are missing them too.
2:00 AM
Imelda just called up again to say that they have just arrived in London and are at the Claridges. And it is sunny and warm—warmer than Rome. A big surprise as she puts it for they had expected it to be a bit chilly. They are preparing to go out for dinner and a play. It is 7:00 PM in London—a seven hour differential. Bongbong sounded enthusiastic and healthy.
This morning I devoted to:
BOI [Board of Investments]—1. Steel; 2. Car manufacturing (deadline is October), and 3. Pulp and Paper
Sec. [Carlos] Romulo—His instructions on his mission to the UN [United Nations] and the appointment of Chiefs of Mission.
Congressional Committee informing me that Congress is in session.
The governors on releases of the Highway Fund.
This afternoon I spent with the Convention of District and City Engineers at the SSS [Social Security System]. My theme was that Constitutional Amendments cannot solve all the ills of the country.
12:00 PM September 8, 1970[1]
Tuesday
Met the Vice President who just arrived and asked him to visit the farms of Central Luzon tomorrow to determine damage to crops. Gave instructions that the public lands, forest concessions, mining claims, and bases that are not being worked should be reverted to the government for re-award.
Then met those who wanted to run for the Constitutional Convention including [Consuelo] Chito Madrigal Vazquez.
Received the report of the legislative mission to Moscow, Congs. [Nicanor] Yñiguez and [Carmelo] Barbero. They strongly recommend trade relations and later diplomatic relations with Russia.
Met the congressional leaders in caucus at the penthouse of the senate president where I took lunch. We discussed the gold subsidy bill, the banning of luxury imports, Nawasa [National Water and Sewerage Authority] and port works fund as well as the peace and order bill. It was a productive meeting.
Then worked on my papers and later a conference on the decentralization of powers of the President.
Imelda, according to UPI [United Press Internationa] is “overwhelmed” by the reception given her in London. She was met by Lord Westmorland [David Fane], one of Queen Elizabeth’s gentlemen-in-waiting, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth affairs as well as former Ambassador to the Philippines John Mansfield Addis. She is the guest of the British government during her stay in England.
12:10 AM September 9, 1970[2]
Wednesday
Watched the fireworks given by the Malacañang employees—alone with Irene at the verandah. We had just arrived from the birthday cultural presentation of Cagayan at the Cultural Center.
We miss Imelda and Bongbong more on these occasions that we would want to share with them.
The PNB [Philippine National Bank] employees have just given notice of a strike. Since it is the government depository, I intend to certify it immediately to the CIR [Court of Industrial Relations]. It is a little painful that they strike effective on my birthday, Sept. 11th. And I have spoiled them. They receive one of the highest scales of salaries and fringe benefits in the government. But this is symbolic of the times.
Worked out the morning on the Central Luzon flood problem. We need a floodway between the San Antonio swamps and the Candaba swamps, the latter being capable of storing all excess water. And a floodway from Calumpit straight south to Manila Bay. All the streams and rivers that are the natural drainage of these areas have been closed or obstructed by fishponds.
Am working out the guidelines for the UN [United Nations] and other missions abroad.
Candidates for delegates keep coming to get my blessings and I have to keep repeating that I will not come out openly to support candidates in this election.
[1] Official Gazette for September 8, 1970: P resident Marcos was kept busy by state business and callers during most of the morning in Malacañang, as well as outside when later he drove out to attend a caucus of leaders called by Senate President’ Gil J. Puyat, president of the Nacionalista Party. Leading the callers at Malacañang in the morning was Vice President Fernando Lopez, who has just returned from a conference on Asian productivity in Japan. Vice President Lopez was accompanied by members of the Philippine delegation to the conference. A chairman, he submitted his report on the meeting to the President. Accompanying Lopez were Director-General Placido Mapa , Jr. of the Presidential Economic Staff and Jose T. Pardo. During the call, the President asked Vice President Lopez to make a survey of the toll the floods took in Central Luzon and determine how the government could speedily help those who suffered heavy losses. Also just back from abroad were Reps. Carmelo Barbero and Nicanor Yñiguez , who called on the President to report on their trip. The two representatives visited Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia where they looked into the business climate and the possibility of trade ties with the Philippines. Except for the meeting of NP leaders, the President spent the rest of his working day close to his desk, studying reports and acting on other official business. Among other actions, the President: 1. Directed Secretary of Health Amadeo H. Cruz to set aside that portion of the Tala Estate needed for a hospital and housing site for H ome Sites . The President further directed the health secretary to turn over to the National Housing Corporation and the People’s Home Site and Housing Corporation the remaining area of the estate for development as a low-cost housing area. 2. Instructed Secretary of Social Welfare Gregorio Feliciano to prepare a legislative proposal which would require business entities employing 1,000 or more workers to include in their work force handicapped individuals who possess special skills. 3. Directed Gen. Gaudencio Tobias (ret.), NHC chairman, and PHHC General Manager Sebastian Santiago to integrate in their development of the Tala area the combined requests for housing of the blind and the handicapped.
[2] Official Gazette for September 9, 1970: P resident Marcos was engaged by conferences, callers and the usual paper work, but found time to make a quick visit at mid-morning to Santa Ana, in Manila, to look over the working model for the proposed Central Luzon flood control project. Accompanied by Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., the President was an interested listener as Director of Public Works Alejandro Deleña explained the project to him. Back in Malacañang at about 11 a.m., the President started receiving visitors. Among the first to call on him was Argentine Ambassador Marco Aurelio Lino Benitez, who called to say goodbye, preparatory to his departure for his home office after completing his tour of duty here. The first envoy of his country assigned to Manila the ambassador came with his daughter. He gave the President a book, “Martin Fierro,” as a memento. Another envoy, Ambassador B. Deva Rao of India, also called to consult the President on matters of mutual interest to the Philippines and India. Later in the day, the President conferred with leaders of the Bicol region. In the group were Reps. Amando Cope, Carlos Imperial and Roberto Sabido of Albay; Fernando Pajarillo of Camarines Norte, Felix Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, and Rafael Aquino ofSorsogon ; Governors Jose Estevez of Albay, Nicolas Pardo of Camarines Norte, Armando Cladera of Camarines Sur, and Vicente Alberto of Catanduanes ; and City Mayors Jose Villanueva of Iriga and Gregorio Imperial of Legaspi. In the afternoon, the President had a get-together with members of the Class of 1933, U.P. High School, who were his classmates. Headed by Mrs. Erlinda Rigor, the group presented the President with century old literary and historical books. Dr. Jose Añonuevo , the President’s former history professor, made the presentation. Later, the President was among those who enjoyed the program of Ibanag folk dances, songs and other cultural presentations indigenous to the region. The troupe brought the show to the Palace, as its offering in connection with the President’s birthday. The Chief Executive also received some 109 graduating cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, who called at Malacañang to pay their respects in connection with his birthday. He told the group to have pride in the “glorious past and uphold the fine traditions” of the country. During the day, the President announced the amicable settlement of the ten-year boundary dispute between the Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP) and the Consuelo V. Calo Lumber Industries in Mindanao. Counsel of both parties signed an agreement during a meeting today at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources conference room. The accord ended the claims of the CVC and PICOP on a 14,000-hectare forest area in Agusan del Sur. The agreement called for recognition by CVC of the boundary lines established by Presidential warranties, and was arrived at to “uphold the commitments made by the government of the Philippines arising from the Presidential warranties” in favor of PICOP and its fully-owned affiliate, the Bislig Bay Lumber Company, Inc.