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.

EDUCATIONAL SECTION

181

The middle ground in these cases is synonymous to scepticism.
Oh, always the uncertainty, the mortifying doubt which invites desperation!
But our leaders have not deceived us; they told us sincerely
of the real situation of our national proceedings; in order that
the events, whatever they be, would not get us unprepared.
Let us, therefore, be prepared for any event. Let each of
us be in his proper place. Let all legitimate patrimonies and
the peculiar attribute of our national firmness, be carefully conserved and bravely safeguarded against the avalanche of exaggerated and annihilating exoticism.
One of these patrimonies and attributes is our language:
the mind, the thought of our country, as Rizal said; the mirror
of our social physiognomy and of our moral image; as Selga
Salvemoslo also said: Let us put it in practicable and stable
conditions-in order that on the first opportunity it may firmly
occupy its legitimate seat over the life that'is always brief and
unstable of our usurping element; so that we may be able to
say some day, mimicking the Great Teacher of humanity:
"Over you, my Language, I shall build my Nationality; that
the door of Imperialism may never prevail over it."
The next speaker was President Rafael Palma, of
the University of the Philippines. He read the following paper:
THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN AN INDEPENDENT PHILIPPINES
By the HON. RAFAEL PALMA,
President, University of the Philippines
Under the porticoes of the cathedrals and the projected
shades of the monasteries of the Middle Age issued forth the
first universities not made up by institutions with their boards
and trustees, and rectors, their fixed courses of study, their
regulations for professors and students, but by learned renowned