January 8 in diaries
Diary in focus:
Dante Vizmanos (1928-2008), former Captain in the Philippine Navy; in which he served until he resigned out of opposition to the dictatorship, 1951-72. Arrested by the government, May 25, 1974, held without charges until his release in August, 1976. His diary is primarily a political document, a manifesto of militant opposition and observation. His entry for January 8, 1973:
Following up retirement papers. After having made a number of difficult decisions in life, I consider my decision to retire from the service as no problem at all. Matter of fact this has been one of the easiest decisions I’ve made in my iife. Why? The answer is simple – incompatibility! I just couldn’t imagine myself playing an active role supporting a dictatorial government that exists, not by the will of the people, but through sheer force, terrorism, intimidation, coercion and duplicity.
The AFP has betrayed the Filipino people. There are those who bask in t,he glory of FM’s New Society at the moment. But history and future generations of Filipinos will render the proper verdict on these men whom I consider as the new class of traitors in our country’s history.
I took my oath of commission to defend the Constitution, not the unlawful and unconstitutional acts of a man in power at the moment. To continue in the service means complying with orders and instructions of a dictatorship that has buried democracy in our country deeper in its grave.
See, for context, A Timeline of Martial Law.
Today in history:
Ferdinand E. Marcos: 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.
1945: Gen. Basilio Valdes and Tomas Confesor in Tacloban; Carl Rice, Raymond Leyerly Anne Louise Goldthorpe in UST; Warren Wilson in Bilibid; Leon Ma. Guerrero in Tokyo; Wendell Fertig in Mindanao;
1942: For January 8 in diaries, documents, timelines and photos see January 1942: WW2PH 80 Years After
Gen. Fidel Segundo: 1938 and 1940
1936: Francis Burton Harrison.
1932: Marcial Lichauco with the OsRox Mission.
1901: Ernest Dieball in Catanduanes.
1899: Alfred Welch in Paco, John Asendorf elsewhere in Manila, John Milsaps in Tondo.