I say the plane slammed on the biggest tree in Mt. Manunggal.
The tree broke at the point of impact but it stopped the plane, which slid tail first down the slope before veering counter-clockwise and resting on a patch, its nose pointing southwest.
March 17, 1957 was the saddest day and the plane crash was the worst tragedy for the Filipino people.
President Magsaysay was a true “public servant” in words and in deeds.
He terminated his executive secretary for helping his (Magsaysay’s) relative acquire government concessions.
To him, governance was like Caesar’s wife that is above suspicion.
Under him, the scandalous Piatco deal, the Jocjoc Bolante fertilizer scam, the fantastic overpricing of lampposts in Cebu, could never have happened.
Had Magsaysay lived longer, his concepts and practice of public administration and nation building (decentralization and local autonomy, voluntarism and governance participation, the greatest good for the greatest number, honesty, accountability and transparency) would have been inculcated in our officials and the citizenry.
His equally idealistic, conscientious and energetic colleagues like Emmanuel Pelaez, etc. would have sustained and strengthen our positive social values and the then accelerating trends of progress.
When Magsaysay died, selfishness and greed blanketed the officialdom.
It started with the “dollar quota allocation” for raw materials and equipment for the development of local industries and other imports.
It then spread with the participation or with the machination, support and for the benefit of succeeding presidents.
The Philippines is the most corrupt economy in Asia. Sad and shameful---and officials are in denial of it.
