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.

MINDANAO AND THE MOUNTAIN
PROVINCE SECTION
The Mindanao and the Mountain Province Section
of the First Independence Congress held its session at
9:30 A. M. on February 26, 1930, with the Honorable
Teopisto Guingona, former Senator from the twelfth
district, as Chairman. The first speaker was Representative Jose P. Melencio. He read the following
paper:
MINDANAO AND INDEPENDENCE
By the HON. JOSE P. MELENCIO,
Representative from Cotabato.
MR. CHAIRMAN AND DELEGATES:
These are times that thrill and inspire and move citizens
to wholesome speculations. Every day, every hour, every
heartbeat, as it were, transports us nearer to something definite
about our destiny as a people. And in the exultation born of
the thought of a cherished ideal that may likely be attained,
we are already making plans, summoning to the imagination
the vision of a state all our own.
Carried on the wings of economics, and, hence, immutable,
it seems that what has always been as elusive as a will-o'-thewisp, what in despair we almost gave up as lost to us until
eternity, may yet be within our reach in spite of present setbacks, thus affording us a real start at nationhood and an
opportunity to demonstrate the latent capabilities of our race.
If independence comes, our nationalistic history shall have
had its continuity. "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibuste-
rismo," the sparks that ignited the fires of decision; the revolu264
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