January 1 in diaries
A new year means a new page
Diaries in focus: January, 1942
To mark the 80th anniversary of World War II in the Philippines, the Philippine Diary Project published a series of special pages, chronicling the wartime experience for the first few months of the war.
Each date contains the relevant entries as well as materials culled from different sources of information:
Battling Bastards. A Diary-Type Account of the First Days of World War II in the Philippines, by J.G. Doll (The Merriam Press, 1989), which provides the American military perspective on events. These entries are in italics. These provide a fair summary of the American point of view.
The World War II Timeline prepared by the Official Gazette; these entries are in bold. these give an indication of the Filipino point of view.
Various documents and photographs from the Quezon Family Collection.
See what came before in the 80 Years Later Series: December 1941.
Diary entry for today: Ferdinand E. Marcos
Here is the first entry in his diary, begun on January 1, 1970, two days after he’d been inaugurated for a second term —only the second president to have done so:
January 1, 1970
January 1,
19691970I start a daily written record of my second term in office as President. This will be kept in loose-leaf so that all kinds of materials may be attached to the binder. Thus the background should be a treatise on the elections of 1969. This will be composed of my critique as well as the commentaries on the technique of victory.
New Year – Left Ising’s Party for VP Agnew and the Foreign Ministers at 11:00 PM so that we could welcome New Year with the children. They were trying out the Bocaue sparklers at the garden and fountain in front of the main gate. Hope we did not break Ising’s party as VP and Mrs. Agnew followed us home and he tried a few sparklers himself before he went to bed.
Mass at 12:40 – Sleep at 1:30 AM. Woke up at 7:00; back to bed to wake up and talk to VP and Mrs. Agnew up to 9:00 AM.
Yesterday I finally transferred all of my worldly possessions to the Filipino people through the Ferdinand E. Marcos Foundation. I have been planning this for many years but I felt that the beginning of my second term was the most propitious time. This was a decision arrived at after a long deliberation and was not the result of pique, anger, despair or emotion – Nor is it due to a sense of guilt because some the funds come from the Yamashita treasure – Nor is it just a political stunt. I have no further political plans.
And it seems a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
The surprising thing is that the reaction of the people seem to be of no consequence to me. It was a noble act waiting to be done. I feel I am above all the pettiness of men and I look down on them with some contempt but with a counterbalance of understanding.
(ATTACHMENT)
STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS ON DISPOSITION OF HIS WORLDY GOODS THROUGH THE MARCOS FOUNDATION
DECEMBER 31, 1969
DECEMBER 31, 1969
DRAFT
I have today given away by general instrument of transfer all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people through a foundation to be organized known as the Marcos Foundation.
Moved by the strongest desire and the purest will to set the example of self-denial and self-sacrifice for all our people, I have today decided to give away all my worldly possessions so that they may serve the greater needs of the greater number of our people.
It is my wish that these properties will be used in advancing education, science, technology and the arts.
This act I undertake of my own free will, knowing that my need of material possessions will, having always been a simple man, my needs will always be lesser that those of many of our people, who have given me the highest honor within their gift, an honor unshared by any one of my predecessors and not likely to be shared by any one else in the future no other Filipino leader.
Since about a year ago, I have asked my closest some of very my closest confidants to study the mechanics of this decision. Today studies have been completed, and a foundation will be formed to administer these properties and all funds that may be generated therefrom.
My wife, Imelda, is in agreement with this decision. Provisions will be made for my children, so that they shall be assured of satisfactory education and be prepared to meet their lifetime duties and endeavors.
For the moment, my most sincere hope is that this humble act shall set the example and move to greater deeds of unselfishness and compassion, many of our countrymen whose position in society gives them a stronger duty to minister to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and countrymen.
PFM
Ferdinand E. Marcos’ diary is both boon and bane for anyone interested in the past. Boon because it is so massive, detailed, and in many parts, interesting; bane because it requires careful reading because it was written with an eye to posterity and to settle scores. A case in point was Marcos’ declaration he’d leave all his worldly goods to the Filipino people: two contemporary articles, Second Mandate by Pete Lacaba, and That Marcos Foundation by Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., give a flavor of contemporary opinion.
Learn more about Ferdinand E. Marcos and his diary.
See a Timeline of Martial Law which covers the entire Marcos administration.
Today in diaries:
1972: Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines.
1945: Basilio Valdes, chief of staff, Philippine Army; Wendell Fertig, guerrilla leader; Tomas Confesor, resistance leader; Leon Ma. Guerrero, Filipino diplomat in Japan; civilian detainees: Raymond Leyerly, Carl E. Rice,
1944: Juan Labrador O.P., rector of Letran; American detainees: Natalie Crouter (Baguio), Carl E. Rice (UST).
1943: Louise Fillmore Blancaflor (Iloilo); Carl E. Rice (UST); Natalie Crouter (Baguio).
1940: Gen. Fidel Segundo, assistant chief of staff of the Philippine Army.
1938: Gen. Fidel Segundo, assistant chief of staff of the Philippine Army.
1936: Francis Burton Harrison, former governor-general, adviser to Pres. Quezon.
1932: Marcial Lichauco, member, OsRox Mission
1902: Philinda Anglemyer, American schoolteacher in the Philippines.
1901: Simeon Villa, staff of Pres. Aguinaldo; Ernest Dieball, American soldier.
1900: Simeon Villa, staff of Pres. Aguinaldo; Ernest Dieball, American soldier.
1899: Alfred burton Welch, James Loughrey, John Asendorf, American soldiers; John E.T. Milsaps, Salvation Army missionary.
1897: Gregorio del Pilar.