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.

First Independence Congress

FIRST PLENARY SESSION
February 22, 1930
The first plenary session of the First Independence
Congress was called to order by the Executive Secretary on Saturday, February 22, 1930' at 9:00 A. M.
at the Manila Grand Opera House. One thousand
five hundred sixty-one delegates were enrolled,
All the seats in the auditorium were occupied and
many members had to stand. The public invaded
the upper gallery. On the platform were seated the
members of the Organization Committee, composed
of private citizens who had issued the manifesto convening the Congress.
After the invocation by the Reverend Osmundo
Lim, President of Uni6n de Clerigos Filipinos, Dean
Maximo M. Kalaw, Executive Secretary, arose and
addressed the members as follows:
ADDRESS OF DEAN MAXIMO M. KALAW ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE ON
ORGANIZATION
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS:
In the name of the group of citizens which has taken the
initiative of calling you all here, I extend to you our heartiest
welcome. Our plan has been to bring together in one vast
assembly the most representative elements of the Philippine
population to discuss the questions that affect our country's
freedom. The idea was started by private citizens; but when
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