(This item is identical to Appendix VII with the same title found on pages 395-397 of the book entitled "The Filipino Tragedy and Other Historical Facts Every Filipino Should Know," published by the author.)
"Gentlemen: - We assembled to-day to commemorate a happy day for the Philippine people, the greatest event in our political evolution; the first anniversary of the proclamation of our independence, which took place in Kawit, on this same date in the year which has but just passed,- 1898.
"'Free and independent Philippines' was the first cry of this people, who in yearning for liberty, through love of justice, and the exercise of their own rights, made a great rush to witness in Kawit, this highly patriotic demonstration, the commencement of a new era of progress, and benefit for our adored country; and it was precisely to show to the entire world the unimpeachable facts of our most legitimate aspirations fixing the starting-point of our political march and sealing our acts with the stamp of our glorious ensign.
"The first triumph of our efforts was on May 28th of the same year; three hundred Spaniards under the command of Commander Pazos succumbed to the sharp fire of a small group of our untrained soldiers who were attacked in open field. Since that time our people have not rested nor tired; entire detachments of Spaniards have surrendered to our troops, and from day to day the people have been gaining their freedom.
"On 12th June, I898, Cavite, Bataan, Batangas, Morong, and Laguna declared themselves independent from Spanish dominion, and the opportune moment arrived for the events with which you are already acquainted; we hoisted for the first time, floating gayly and majestically in the wind this tricolor flag, the ensign of liberty, the symbol of our freedom, device of our faith ever constantly in the attainment of our unique ideal. See, here you have it! waving its clear folds which reflect in splendor the rays of the sun of liberty; behold it! Contemplate it! How beautiful, is it not? This symbolizes the virtue of our men of knowledge, the bravery of our soldiers, and the peace of the home.
"Filipinas! Dear daughter of the ardent sun of the tropics, committed by Providence to the care of illustrious Spain, be thou not ungrateful, acknowledge her, salute her, who was your mother, who nursed thee with the sap of her own culture and civilization; thou hast sought independence, thou hast emancipated thyself from her but cherish in heart the memory of more than three centuries in which thou hast lived under her uses, her language, her customs. It is true, she wished to stifle your hopes of independence, ay! in the same manner that a mother refuses, opposes, resists forever, separation from the daughter of her womb. But the joyful hour came. In the great book of the destiny of man, the Supreme Creator signaled the birth of a people, and by divine mission, thou hast achieved in His strength the sacred and inalienable right to liberty and independence. The flag that has been raised by a people worthy of the best privileges and enjoyments of liberty, and which assures our independence, we are obliged to defend at all times, even unto death; let us give courage and abnegation without limit, and even sacrifices that be necessary, and to-day, that we are provoked and brought to fight, let us go forth with our eyes fixed upon this ensign of the sun and the three stars, which signify to us our dearest ideals. Let us go forth to the fight against America, a nation powerful in elements of war and rich in resources; although we can count only upon the valor and self-denial of our soldiers and the patriotism of the Philippine people; the contest is an unequal one, but no matter. Justice and rights are on our side, for it is known the American people are opposed to annexation. Who can doubt that after we have demonstrated by positive actions our ability for self-government, or rather 'a government of the people by the people,' this same nation, which today appears to manifest a strong greed in its efforts to possess our territory by means of war, this same nation will be the one to offer us the olive branch, recognizing our independence.
"We have never hidden our hopes; we have announced before all the nations, calling the Almighty Creator and ruler of the Universe to witness that we desire nothing more than our independence, and in seeking that we do not waver one moment. We could very well accept the autonomy which America offers us -but what could we do with it if, from beginning to end, we want independence, the sum total of the aspirations of the people, according to an unhidden inevitable law marked out by the Supreme Creator? If we accept it, in order that afterward to fall by force of arms under the sway of American sovereignty-which we believe the autonomists through perfidy and knavery are attempting -we cannot accept it, we do not want to be traitors, but to show ourselves frankly and sincerely - nothing more. We persist in our idea which is the one legitimate and noble aspiration of a people who want at all costs to preserve national honor cleansed of all spot or blemish, pure as crystal, 'having a high polish, without a streak, without a flaw, without a stain,' and there will not be a single Filipino who would be an autonomist. Those who seem to be (as the people say they are), are nothing more than conventionalists who fear to lose their riches, as the war seemed to menace such loss.
"Filipinos! Let us be constant! faithful! Let us bind more strongly the cords of unity and end the conflict, crying Viva la Independencia! Viva la Union de los Filipinos! Viva el ejeicito Libertador! [Long live Independence! Long live the Union of the Philippine people! Long live the Army of Liberation!]"
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