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.

WOMEN'S SECTION

289

formative stage of their lives. The home is the best place to
inculcate patriotism. Pictures and stories of great men could
be shown and taught respectively to the children as clearly as
we possibly can. Even pictures of beautiful scenes in the locality-now that this is possible thru the works of some of our
artists-can well adorn the home in order to make the children
appreciate the beauty of their own country.
You travel thru Japan and you cannot fail to notice the
painted small cards containing pictures of familiar scenes in
that country. Yet how different in this country? We had
still to pass laws forbidding the display of our (nude) mountain brothers and only recently did we encourage the printing
of local scenes such as those popularized in Japan long ago.
Lately, too, our public schools was the center of attack by one
of our legislators who claims that they are turning out eaglets.
No matter how this accusation may approach the truth we
have no reason to fear if in our homes we do not rear these
eaglets. No school can turn out eaglets out of creatures reared
otherwise in their patriotic homes by patriotic mothers.
3. My third point is to teach and practice economy, especially in home management.-We are told of the immense expense, national and individual of an independent country.
The best way to prepare for this responsibility is to practise
economy right away. Now and then we hear remarks that
we are extravagant. In my observation I find some truths in
these remarks. We women who control the purse and the
budget of the family should practise economy in our daily life.
Mr. Confessor thinks that we are having a high cost of living
because we are forced to buy high priced American goods.
This may be true and if we accustom ourselves with American
standards, that monopoly will continue, and we shall have
more difficulty in meeting our expenses when we become independent. Other things being equal, we should patronize
our local industries.
5. Lastly, let us continue to give our moral support to any
movement working for our ultimate emancipation.