Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

142 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

could be solemnly proclaimed and recognized, and so that the
newly born State from the very beginning, would be known,
not as a real dictatorship more or less liberal, but as a democratic republic like many other independent countries. The
approval of such a document would have been premature,-
and this was a subject of discussion,-but one thing was
certain and undeniable: this document penned by Filipino intellectuals, under the circumstances, represented the degree of
culture that the Filipinos reached in political education; and
it contained, in essence, the code of principles and moral norms
by which they wanted their government to be ruled. The
Philippine government firmly and ably smoothed the turbulent
waves of an epoch of war and international uncertainties. It
provided funds for the republic by means of national loans
and war contributions, created a scientific budget, organized
national militias and the Red Cross, founded a literary university and reorganized public instruction, while a great part of
its resources was diverted into the inevitable preocupations of
war.
In this state of our revolution, there are many Filipinos who
are worthy of special mention. In the first place there is the
name of the leader, the brave Emilio Aguinaldo, who was
recognized in those days both here and abroad. There is
Apolinario Mabini, too, who figured as the civil organizer par
excellence, and the most able and most obstinate lawyer of the
revolutionary cause. A Spanish newspaperman called him the
"Sublime Paralytic" and many historians and writers considered
him as the brains of the revolution. Felipe G. Calderon, a
cultured man who initiated in this country the study of the
political sciences, was the author of the Malolos Constitution.
Pedro Alejandro Paterno carried with him the old and honored
tradition in the Spanish government because of his success in
the negotiation of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. He was considered
a veteran and experienced politician, and for this reason he was
elected president of the Congress. Antonio Luna, the uncompromising, the unconquerable, represented valor and military
sternness and uprightness. He was the pride and glory of the
Filipino army.