President Ramon Magsaysay's last days - Part 1

This is taken from the Official Gazette on how it recorded the last days of President Magsaysay which were spent in Cebu:

“March 16.—PRESIDENT Magsaysay took off from Nichols Air Base at 1:30 p.m. today on his C-47 Mount Pinatubo to keep a crowded speaking schedule in Cebu City.

“With him were Reps. Ramon Durano, Pedro Lopez, Manuel Zosa, Maximino NoeL and Nicolas Escario of Cebu; Rep. William Chiongbian of Misamis Oriental; former Senator Tomas Cabili; Secretary of Education Gregorio Hernandez, Jr., Brig. Gen. Benito N. Ebuen, Air Force chief; and Lt. Leopoldo Regis, junior presidential aide.

“The President took with him ?150 worth of serum for Cornelio Faigao, president of the Cebu Press Club, who is now in the hospital for acute liver ailment. President Magsaysay received an urgent request for the serum two hours before he left Nichols.

“Mayor Sergio Osmeña, Jr., and Gov. Jose Briones led city and provincial officials and a huge crowd who welcomed the President and his party at Lahug airport upon arrival at 3:45 p.m., or two hours and 15 minutes later.

“Speaking extemporaneously from an improvised platform at the airport, President Magsaysay promised government aid to Cebu for the solution of problems which Osmeña mentioned in his welcome remarks.

“From the airport, the President proceeded to the home of former President Sergio Osmeña, Sr., and paid his respects to the “grand old man of Cebu”.

“THEN he tackled his speaking engagement. He spoke at the commencement exercises of the University of the Visayas, the Southwestern Colleges, and the University of San Carlos.

“President Magsaysay strongly condemned neutralism and ultra-nationalism in speeches he delivered at the commencement exercises of two universities and a college in Cebu this evening.

“He was the commencement speaker of the University of the Visayas at 4 p.m., the Southwestern Colleges at 6 p.m., and the University of San Carlos at 7:30 p.m.

“At the University of the Visayas, the President was conferred an honorary doctorate of laws. UV President and Mrs. Vicente Gullas placed the cap and gown on the Chief Executive. (To be continued)