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.

238 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

6. The mention which the report of the special WoodForbes Mission made of the influence which the Japanese had
exercised in northern Luzon during the period of Spanish
conquest.
These general and isolated facts are neither imaginary nor
invented. They are real and have occurred and altogether
seem to hang a shadow over our future and show the course
which the law of gravity is following insensibly in this part
of the world. Wrell, then, the impression which I wish to
impress in the mind of my listeners is that our preparation
and the readiness which we need to create in the mind of the
public should not be limited only to normal times, of pacific
and tranquil living together, but should be extended to the
possible and probable contingencies of our uncertain destiny.
How and in what way? Simply to take from now on the
precautions, which the countries of practical instinct and
warned by the sages, should take in finding in an insurance
policy the protection which we all need for the coming of
unexpected accidents in human life. And this policy, in the
concept of international relations specialty when it treats of
small countries, as ours is, beside the great ones, is the cultivation of friendly relations, the effort of getting better
acquainted with each other as a guide in the future.
I shall tell you frankly that the clearer idea of relations
of neighborhood I have condensed in the magnificent advice
that an old man with good common sense and experience gave
to his son, twenty-one years old. "Try", said the father,
"to have good relations with those around you and those near
your home. If you cannot gain'the friendship of even your
neighbors, you are unfit to live in the world. Do not allow
others to interpret their purposes and then be communicated
to you. Make an effort to understand them talking to them
directly. If they are your possible enemies, you will know
how to defend yourself better. Under any circumstance if
their house burns, yours too will; and when you are afflicted
by a common misfortune, you would need mutual help."
I wish to present before you another consideration before
ending this conference.