An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

44 History of the International Rice Research Institutetentatively worked out and presented to Harrar and Hill in New York inOctober. After I returned to the Philippines in early December, I set aboutmaking arrangements to invite President Macapagal to participate in theprogram.As Trustee Garcia was chairman of the National Science DevelopmentBoard and thus had cabinet status, I approached him first, asking for hisassistance in getting the President’s acceptance. Garcia said he would be gladto do this and asked that I prepare a letter of invitation which Garcia wouldpersonally deliver to the President. He suggested also that Cardinal Santos beasked to give the invocation. I prepared both letters of invitation and deliveredthem to Garcia on 29 December 1961.On 4 January 1962, I checked with Garcia and found that Cardinal Santoshad to attend an event in Baguio on 7 February but that Father FranciscoAraneta, rector of Ateneo University, could give the invocation. Garcia said hehad sent the invitation to President Macapagal through his executive secretary,Amelito Mutuc. Moreover, he had talked to Vice President EmmanuelPelaez, who would be willing to speak if the President could not. The same day,I talked with the assistant executive secretary, Rodrigo Perez, who told me hehad spoken to the President on the subject and that the latter had respondedthat he didn’t want to make any commitments for early February because ofthe many important matters coming up in Congress at that time. I asked Perezwhether he had given the President a full description of the IRRI event and itsimportance to the Philippines. As his reply was somewhat indefinite, I decidedto keep trying.On 8 January, I saw Garcia again, learned that no word had been receivedfrom President Macapagal, and agreed to wait until 12 January before takingother steps. On that date, Garcia, not having heard from the President, urgedme to discontinue my efforts and instead to accept Vice President Pelaez as thededication speaker.A few weeks earlier, it had been announced that President Macapagal hadappointed Benjamin Gozon as secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources.I decided to seek his help in reaching the President. This I did on 12 January,and Secretary Gozon said he would call me with the results of his intercessionnot later than 15 January. On that day, although no word had come fromSecretary Gozon, I happened to mention to Architect Luz that plans werecoming along fine for the dedication ceremonies except for my inability to getPresident Macapagal’s acceptance to appear on the program. Luz smiled at myignorance of Philippine politics and explained that Garcia at the time was outof favor with the President and would soon be replaced. According to Luz, theperson closest to the President was Senator Estanislao Fernandez, who he saidcould walk in to see President Macapagal “even when he was shaving.”Furthermore, Fernandez was from Laguna Province, where IRRI was located.Luz added that he and Fernandez were good friends and that he wouldarrange a conference between the senator and me. So saying, he picked up thetelephone, got in touch with the senator, and made an appointment for 3 p.m.the same day in Luz’ office. At that meeting, Senator Fernandez said he would