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Representatives:
I congratulate you upon having concluded your constitutional labors.
From this date, the Philippines will have a National Code, to the just and
wise precepts of which we each and everyone of us owe blind obedience,
and whose liberal and democratic guaranties also extend to all.
Hereafter, the Philippines will have a fundamental law which will unite
our people with the other nations by the strongest of solidarities, that is
the solidarity of justice, of law and right, eternal truths which were the
basis of human dignity.
I congratulate myself on seeing our constant efforts crowned, efforts which
I continued from the time I entered the field with my brave countrymen of
Cavite, as did our brothers in other sections with no arms, but bolos, to
secure our liberty and independence.
And, finally, I congratulate our beloved people who from this date will
cease to be anonymous and will be able with legitimate pride to proclaim
to the Universe the long desired name of PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.
We are no longer insurgents, we are no longer revolutionists, that is
to say armed men desirous of destroying and annihilating the enemy. We are
from now on, Republicans, that is to say, men of law, able to fraternize
with all other nations, with mutual respect and affection. There is nothing
lacking, therefore, in order for us to be recognized and admitted as a free
and independent nation.
Ah, Representatives! How much pain and bitterness do those passed days
of the Spanish slavery bring to our minds and how much hope and joy do the
present moments of Philippine liberty awaken in us.
Great is this day, glorious is this date; and this moment when our
beloved people rise to the apotheosis of independence will be eternally memorable.
The 23rd of January will be for the Philippines hereafter a national feast
day, as is the Fourth of July for the American nation. And thus, in the
same manner as God helped weak America in the last century. when she fought
against powerful Albion [England], to regain her liberty and independence. He will
also help us today in the identical undertaking, because the ways of Divine
justice are immutably the same in rectitude and wisdom.
A thousand thanks, Representatives, for your parliamentary labor, which
ennobles us and established in a public and authentic manner that we are
a civilized nation and also a brave one, worthy therefore, of being freely
admitted into the concert of nations.
You have justly deserved the gratitude of the country and of the
Government, in that you showed the entire world by your wisdom, sound sense
and prudence, that in this remote and heretofore unknown portion of the
world, the principles of European and American civilization are known,
and more than known, have for a long time been earnestly desired and very
well felt; that there is a degree of intelligence and hearts here perfectly
in accord with those of the most civilized nations; and that notwithstanding
the calumnious voice of our eternal detractors, there is here finally,
a national spirit, which unites and brings together all Filipino hearts
into a single idea and a single aspiration TO LIVE INDEPENDENT OF ANY
FOREIGN YOKE IN THE DEMOCRATIC SHADOW OF THE PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
For this reason, on seeing consecrated in our constitutional labor
the eternal principles of authority, of liberty, or order and of
justice, which all civilized nations profess, as the most perfect guaranty
of their actual solidarity, I feel strength, pride and am sincerely impelled,
from the bottom of my heart, to cry
Viva the Philippine Republic!
Viva the Constitution!
Viva their illustrious authors, the representatives of the first Filipino
Congress!
I have concluded.
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