Word: malacanan
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Come One, Come All. At Malacanan Palace, the presidential residence, Magsaysay ordered the gates thrown open to all comers. Invitations for an official lunch had been issued to 50; the palace staff had prudently prepared for 200 guests; 5,000 showed up. In an atmosphere reminiscent of Andrew Jackson's inaugural at Washington in 1829, unbidden guests pressed ten deep around Magsaysay's table, watched every mouthful as it disappeared into the presidential mouth. A half dozen strangers sat down at the First Lady's table. Still others surged around a heaped buffet which in five minutes...
...nursed their babies on satin-covered furniture in the drawing rooms. Still racked with fever, the President stood by shaking hand after hand until aides whisked him off to the presidential yacht in Manila Harbor for a breath of air. Police estimated that 50,000 people had come to Malacanan Palace during the two days. Said one newsman: "The Communist leader Taruc used to brag that if the people would follow him, he would bring them to Malacanan. It looks as though Magsaysay has done it first...
Magsaysay got to work by 5 a.m., and told his Cabinet he expected them to work 20 hours a day when necessary. He announced that Malacanan would henceforth be known as the "official residence," not the palace; he would be called Mister, not Excellency; and he and all top officials would immediately publish a full statement of their assets. (His own: $13,179.) He set up a "Complaints and Action Commission." He dictated an executive order that complaint telegrams may be sent for 10 centavos, or free should that be too much for a poor man to pay. He wanted...
Sweeping Charges. A month ago Bell made his report to the President. Rumors that it contained sweeping charges of corruption and mismanagement against the Quirino administration soon leaked to Manila. Last week the press office of the Malacanan Palace, President Quirino's White House, issued a mimeographed statement. It suggested that the Bell report be made public, "to end unbridled speculation." The statement then went on to an angry attack upon the U.S. It said...