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 PLENARY SESSION

21

2nd-That assurances should be given to all foreign capitalists and merchants that all Filipinos, as soon as we get our
independence, will do their utmost to maintain our friendship
and best relations possible with them so long as they show
themselves worthy of our confidence;
3rd-That an intensive campaign for independence for our
country be initiated and launched simultaneously in Manila
and all provinces in the Archipelago, especially in the schools,
the work to be carried on in the plazas and extended to the
remotest barrios where there may exist some persons who are
ignorant of the-blessings which the emancipation of our people
will bring; and if possible, to carry on an independence campaign in the United States by the most prominent men and
women of the country, such campaign to be extended to the
Latin American republics and to the principal capitals of
Europe, as well as of China and Japan, to create an opinion
favorable to the legitimate aspirations-of our people.
Gentlemen of the Congress, few are the occasions offered
in the life of a people such as those we have before us now
when Americans affiliated with different organizations, idealists as well as materialists, are unanimously working in favor
of the independence of our country.
Gentlemen of the Congress, listen well to what I will say
and mark my words well-if we wish to obtain the liberty
of our people, unite and then proceed with determination. It
is now or never. I thank you.
The next speaker was the Honorable Juan Sumulong, minority floor leader in the Philippine Senate,
who spoke as follows:
ADDRESS OF THE HON. JUAN SUMULONG,
MINORITY FLOOR LEADER IN THE SENATE
MR. PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS:
Our request for independence would be better heard in
America if it comes directly from the Filipino people themselves. One of the most important services which this Congress would lend the. country would be that of having supplied