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.

14 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

the ties that bind us with America, we can be sure that in
the immediate future America will grant us that which we all
demand-the liberty of our country.
After the address of the Honorable Antonio de las
Alas, "Independence Hymn" which was especially
composed by Dr. Francisco Santiago, was sung by students of the Philippine Women's College.
On behalf of the Filipino women, Mrs. Rosa Sevilla
de Alvero, Directress of the Instituto de Mujeres,
spoke as follows:
ADDRESS OF MRS. ROSA L. SEVILLA DE ALVERO
ON BEHALF OF THE FILIPINO WOMEN
M/R. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS, AND
COUNTRYMEN:
I salute you in the name of the Filipino woman whom I
have the honor to represent in this congress. I send you in
her name a message of love and sympathy, and in her name
I thank you for the justice you have done to our sex by setting
aside one of the sessions of this Congress exclusively for her,
so that she, as an integral part of our country, could express
her views on a question so important to her as well as to her
country, the question of the independence of our dear Philippines.
Designated by the organization committee to represent the
Filipino woman among the speakers of the first Independence
Congress, I appear before you with the soul full of enthusiasm
to tell you that the Filipino woman is ready to do her share
of the work of bringing about our much coveted freedom; that
the Filipino woman of yesterday, as well as the Filipino woman
of today and of tomorrow, has not deserted, nor will she ever
desert, the place allotted to her in the great work of emancipation of our country, as beloved as she is unfortunate.
Proofs of her patriotism are furnished us by the indefatigable
Tandang Sora, the great mother of the "Katipunan"; by General Agueda Kahabagan Ruisefior and other innumerable women