First Inaugural Address
by Manuel L. Quezon
2nd President of the Philippines
(1st President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines)
Delivered on November 15, 1935 at the Legislative Building, Manila
Copyright: United News
Fellow Countrymen:
In the exercise of your constitutional prerogative you have elected me to the
presidency of the Commonwealth. I am profoundly grateful for this new expression of your confidence, and God helping me, I shall not fail you.
The event which is now taking place in our midst transcends in importance the mere induction into office of your Chief Executive. We are bringing into being a new nation.
We are seeing the fruition of our age-old striving for liberty. We are witnessing the final stage in the fulfillment of the noblest undertaking ever attempted by any nation in its dealing with a subject people. And how well this task has been performed is attested to by the blessing which from fourteen million people goes to America in this solemn hour.
President McKinley's cherished hope has been fulfilled-the Filipinos look back with gratitude to the day when Destiny placed their land under the beneficent guidance of the people of the United States.
It is fitting that high dignitaries of the American Government should attend these
ceremonies. We are thankful to them for their presence here. The President of the
United States, His Excellency, Franklin D. Roosevelt, ever solicitous of our freedom and welfare, has sent to us, as his personal representative, the Secretary representative, the Secretary of War, Honorable George H. Dern, whose friendship for our people has proven most valuable in the past. Vice President Garner, Speaker Byrns, distinguished members of the Senate with their floor leader, Senator Robinson, and no less distinguished members of the House of Representatives have traveled ten thousand miles to witness this historic event.
I feel that their presence the whole American Nation is here today to rejoice with us in the fulfillment of America's pledge generously given that the Filipino people is to become free and independent. It is my hope that the ties of friendship and affection which bind the Philippines to America will remain unbroken and grow stronger after the severance of our political relations with her.
In behalf of the Filipino people, I express deep appreciation to Honorable Frank
Murphy, our last Governor-General, for his just and efficient administration and for the wholehearted assistance he has rendered us in the difficult task of laying the constitutional foundation of our new Government.
As we enter the threshold of independent nationhood, let us pause for a moment to pay tribute to the memory of Rizal and Bonifacio and all the heroes of our sacred cause in grateful acknowledgment of their patriotic devotion and supreme sacrifice.
Fellow countrymen: The government which we are inaugurating today is only a means to an end. It is an instrumentality placed in our hands to prepare ourselves fully for the responsibilities of complete independence. It is essential that this last step be taken with full consciousness of its significance and the great opportunities that it affords to us.
Under the Commonwealth, our life may not be one of ease and comfort, but rather of hardship and sacrifice. We shall face the problems which lie in our path, sparing neither time nor effort in solving them. We shall build a government that will be just, honest, efficient, and strong so that the foundations of the coming Republic may be firm and enduring — a government, indeed, that must satisfy not only the passing needs of the hour but also the exacting demands of the future. We do not have to tear down the existing institutions in order til give way to a statelier structure.
There will be no violent changes from the established order of things, except such as may be absolutely necessary to carry into effect the innovations contemplated by the Constitution. A new edifice shall rise, not out of the ashes of the past, but out of the standing materials of the living present. Reverence for law as the expression of the popular will is the starting point in a democracy. The maintenance of peace and public order is the joint obligation of the government and the citizens. I have an abiding faith in the good sense of the people and in their respect for law and the constituted authority. Wide spread public disorder and lawlessness may cause the downfall of constitutional government and lead to American intervention.
Even after independence, if we should prove ourselves incapable of protecting life, liberty and property of nationals and foreigners, we shall be exposed to the danger of intervention by foreign powers. No one need have any misgivings as to the attitude of the Government toward lawless individuals or subversive movements. They shall be dealt with firmly. Sufficient armed forces will be maintained at all times to quell and suppress any rebellion against the authority of this Government or the sovereignty of the United States.
There can be no progress except under the auspices of peace. Without peace and
public order it will be impossible to promote education, improve the condition of the masses, protect the poor and ignorant against exploitation, and otherwise insure the enjoyment of life, liberty and property. I appeal, therefore, to every Filipino to give the Government his loyal support so that tranquility may reign supreme in our beloved land.
Our Constitution established an independent judiciary by providing for security of
tenure and compensation of judges. But independence is not the only objective of a good judicially. Equally, if not more important, is its integrity which will depend upon the judicious selection of its members. The administration of justice cannot be expected to rise higher than the moral and intellectual standards of the men who dispense it. To bulwark the fortification of an orderly and just government, it shall be my task to appoint to the bench only men of proven honesty, character, learning and ability, so that everyone may feel when he appears before the courts of justice that he will be protected in his rights, and that no man in this country from the Chief Executive to the last citizen is above the law.
We are living today amidst the storm and stress of one of the most tragic epochs of history. Acute unemployment and economic distress threaten the stability of
governments the world over. The very foundations of civilized society are shaken.
The common man alone can save humanity from disaster. It is our duty to prove to him that under a republican system of government he can have every opportunity to attain his happiness and that if his family. Protection to labor, especially to working women and minors, just regulation of the relations between the labor and capital in industry and agriculture, solicitous regard on the part of the government for the well being of the masses are the means to bring about needed economic and social equilibrium between the component elements of society.
A government draws the breath of life from its finances, and it must balance its
income and expenditures as any other going business concern if it expects to
survive. It is my duty, then, to see that the Government of the Commonwealth live within its means and that it stands foursquare on a well balanced budget.
The larger expenditures which the grave responsibilities ahead of us will entail,
including national defense, must be borne by taxation. So long as we are able to
meet those responsibilities from our present income we shall not impose new taxes.
But we are among the least taxed people in the world and, therefore, when necessity arises, we should be willing to accept the burden of increased taxation. Liberty and independence can be possessed only by those who are ready to pay the price in life or fortune.
To enable us more adequately to meet the new responsibilities of the
Commonwealth and to raise the living conditions of our people, we must increase the wealth of the Nation by giving greater impetus to economic development, improving our methods of agriculture, diversifying our crops, creating new industries, and fostering our domestic and foreign commerce. I trust that the forthcoming trade conference between representatives of the United States and the Philippines will result in a more just and beneficial commercial relation between the two countries.
The establishment of an economical, simple, and efficient government, the
maintenance of an independent civil service; the implantation of an adequate system of public instruction to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and vocational efficiency; the safeguarding of the health and vigor of the race; the conservation and development of our natural resources — these and other matters of equal import are touched upon at length in the platform of the Coalition and in my speech of acceptance of my nomination, and it is unnecessary for me to reiterate my views regarding them. Having been elected on the virtuallity of that platform and the policies enunciated by me in the course of the presidential campaign, I renew my pledge faithfully to carry them into execution.
Goodwill towards all nations shall be the golden rule of my administration.
The peoples of the earth are interdependent and their prosperity and happiness are inseparably linked with each other. International brotherhood and cooperation are therefore necessary. Amity and friendship, fairness and square deal in our relations with other nations and their citizens or subjects, protection in their legitimate investments and pursuits, in return for their temporary allegiance to our institutions and laws, are the assurances I make on behalf of the new Government to Americans and foreigners who may desire to live, trade and otherwise associate with us in the Philippines.
In the enormous task of fully preparing ourselves for independence we shall be beset with serious difficulties, but we will resolutely march forward. I appeal to your patriotism and summon your nobility of heart so that we may, united in the common endeavor, once more dedicate ourselves to the realization of our national destiny. I face the future with hope and fortitude, certain that God never abandons a people who ever follows His unerring and guiding Hand. May He give me light, strength, and courage evermore that I may not falter in the hour of service to my people!
Second Inaugural Address
by Manuel L. Quezon
2nd President of the Philippines
(1st President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines)
Delivered on December 30, 1941 at Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, Philippines
On November 15, 1935, I took my oath of office as first President of the Philippines under the most favorable auspices. The Philippines was at peace and the Filipino people were happy and contented. At the inaugural ceremonies held in the city of Manila, there were present high dignitaries of the Government of the United States, and a vast multitude of Filipinos deeply grateful to America and thrilled with the vision of a bright future.
Today I am assuming for the second time the duties of the Presidency under entirely different conditions. We are in the grip of war, and the seat of the government has been temporarily transferred from the city of Manila to a place in close proximity to the headquarters of our armed forces, where I am in constant touch with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. All around us enemy bombs are dropping and anti-aircraft guns are roaring. In defenseless cities and towns air raids are killing women and children and destroying century-old churches, monasteries, and schools.
Six years ago, there was every reason to believe that the Filipino people would be
able to prepare themselves for independence in peace and without hindrance. In my first inaugural address, I outlined a program intended to lay the foundations for a government that will, in the language of our Constitution, promote the general welfare and secure to the Filipino people and their posterity "the blessings of independence under a regime of justice, liberty, and democracy".
Our task of nation-building was in progress when suddenly, on December 8, 1941,
the Philippines became the victim of wanton aggression. We are resisting this
aggression with everything that we have.
Our soldiers, American and Filipino, under the leadership of General Douglas
MacArthur, one of the greatest soldiers of our time, are fighting on all fronts with
gallantry and heroism that will go down in history. In the face of frequent air raids which are causing so much death, suffering, and destruction, our civilian population are maintaining their morale. Despite the enemy's temporary superiority in the air and on land and sea, we have been able to check the rapid advance of the invading armies. America and the Philippines may well be proud of the heroic struggle that our forces are putting up against the invader.
At the present time we have but one task — to fight with America for America and the Philippines. To this task we shall devote all our resources in men and materials.
Ours is a great cause. We are fighting for human liberty and justice, for those principles of individual freedom which we all cherish and without which life would not be worth living. Indeed, we are fighting for our own independence. It is to maintain this independence, these liberties and these freedoms, to banish fear and want among all peoples, and to establish a reign of justice for all the world, that we are sacrificing our lives and all that we possess. The war may be long drawn and hard-fought, but with the determination of freedom-loving peoples everywhere to stamp out the rule of violence and terrorism from the face of the earth, I am absolutely convinced that final and complete victory will be ours.
Soon after the outbreak of the war, I received a message from President Roosevelt expressing admiration for the gallantry of our soldiers and the courageous stand of our civilian population. Yesterday, the President of the United States issued a proclamation which, I am sure, will hearten our fighting men and thrill the soul of every American and Filipino in this land.
This is the proclamation:
"News of your gallant struggle against the japanese aggressors has elicited
the profound admiration of every American. As President of the United
States, I know that I speak for all our people on this solemn occasion. The
resources of the United States, of the British Empire, of the Netherlands East
Indies, and the Chinese Republic have been dedicated by their people to the
utter and complete defeat of the Japanese War Lords. In this struggle of the
Pacific the loyal Americans of the Philippine Islands are called upon to play a
crucial role. They have played, and they are playing tonight, their part with the
greatest gallantry, As President, I wish to express to them my feeling of
sincere admiration for the fight they are now making. The people of the United
States will never forget what the people of the Philippine Islands are doing
these days and will do in the days to come.
I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence independence established and protected. The entire resources in men and materials of the United States stand behind that pledge. It is not for me or for the people of this country to tell you where your duty lies. We are engaged in a great and common cause. I count on every Philippine man, woman, and child to do his duty. We will do ours. I give you this message from the Navy:
"The Navy Department tonight announces the Japanese Government is
circulating rumors for the obvious purpose of persuading the United States to
disclose the location and intentions of the American Pacific Fleets. It is
obvious that these rumors are intended for, and directed at, the Philippine
Islands. The Philippines may rest assured that while the United States Navy
will not be tricked into disclosing vital information, the fleet is not idle. The
United States Navy is following an intensive and well planned campaign
against Japanese forces which will result in positive assistance to the defense
of the Philippine Islands."
My heart, and I know the hearts of all Americans and Filipinos in this
country, are filled with gratitude for the reassuring words of the President of
the United States. My answer, our answer, to him is that every man,
woman, and child in the Philippines will do his duty. No matter what
sufferings and sacrifices this war may impose upon us we shall stand by
America with undaunted spirit, for we know that upon the outcome of this
war depend the' happiness, liberty, and security not only of this generation
but of the generations yet unborn.
Mr. High Commissioner, may I ask you to convey to the President of the
United States our profound gratitude for the noble sentiments expressed in
his proclamation. The Filipino people are particularly grateful for his abiding
interest in our welfare and for his pledge to assure and protect our freedom
and independence.
General MacArthur, there are no words in my language that can express to
you the deep gratitude of the Filipino people and my own for your devotion
to our cause, the defense of our country, and the safety of our population. [
trust that the time will come when we may express this sentiment to you in
a more appropriate manner.
To all Americans in the Philippines, soldiers and civilians alike, I want to
say that our common ordeal has fused our hearts in a single purpose and
an everlasting affection.
My fellow countrymen, this is the most momentous period of our history. As
we face the grim realities of war, let us rededicate ourselves to the great
principles of freedom and democracy for which our forefathers fought and
died. The present war is being fought for these same principles. It demands
from us courage, determination, and unity of action, In taking my oath of
office, I make the pledge for myself, my government, and my people, to
stand by America and fight with her until victory is won.
I am resolved, whatever the consequences to myself, faithfully to fulfill this pledge. I humbly invoke the help of Almighty God that I may have the wisdom andfortitude to carry out this solemn obligation.
by Manuel L. Quezon
2nd President of the Philippines
(1st President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines)
Delivered on November 15, 1935 at the Legislative Building, Manila
Copyright: United News
Fellow Countrymen:
In the exercise of your constitutional prerogative you have elected me to the
presidency of the Commonwealth. I am profoundly grateful for this new expression of your confidence, and God helping me, I shall not fail you.
The event which is now taking place in our midst transcends in importance the mere induction into office of your Chief Executive. We are bringing into being a new nation.
We are seeing the fruition of our age-old striving for liberty. We are witnessing the final stage in the fulfillment of the noblest undertaking ever attempted by any nation in its dealing with a subject people. And how well this task has been performed is attested to by the blessing which from fourteen million people goes to America in this solemn hour.
President McKinley's cherished hope has been fulfilled-the Filipinos look back with gratitude to the day when Destiny placed their land under the beneficent guidance of the people of the United States.
It is fitting that high dignitaries of the American Government should attend these
ceremonies. We are thankful to them for their presence here. The President of the
United States, His Excellency, Franklin D. Roosevelt, ever solicitous of our freedom and welfare, has sent to us, as his personal representative, the Secretary representative, the Secretary of War, Honorable George H. Dern, whose friendship for our people has proven most valuable in the past. Vice President Garner, Speaker Byrns, distinguished members of the Senate with their floor leader, Senator Robinson, and no less distinguished members of the House of Representatives have traveled ten thousand miles to witness this historic event.
I feel that their presence the whole American Nation is here today to rejoice with us in the fulfillment of America's pledge generously given that the Filipino people is to become free and independent. It is my hope that the ties of friendship and affection which bind the Philippines to America will remain unbroken and grow stronger after the severance of our political relations with her.
In behalf of the Filipino people, I express deep appreciation to Honorable Frank
Murphy, our last Governor-General, for his just and efficient administration and for the wholehearted assistance he has rendered us in the difficult task of laying the constitutional foundation of our new Government.
As we enter the threshold of independent nationhood, let us pause for a moment to pay tribute to the memory of Rizal and Bonifacio and all the heroes of our sacred cause in grateful acknowledgment of their patriotic devotion and supreme sacrifice.
Fellow countrymen: The government which we are inaugurating today is only a means to an end. It is an instrumentality placed in our hands to prepare ourselves fully for the responsibilities of complete independence. It is essential that this last step be taken with full consciousness of its significance and the great opportunities that it affords to us.
Under the Commonwealth, our life may not be one of ease and comfort, but rather of hardship and sacrifice. We shall face the problems which lie in our path, sparing neither time nor effort in solving them. We shall build a government that will be just, honest, efficient, and strong so that the foundations of the coming Republic may be firm and enduring — a government, indeed, that must satisfy not only the passing needs of the hour but also the exacting demands of the future. We do not have to tear down the existing institutions in order til give way to a statelier structure.
There will be no violent changes from the established order of things, except such as may be absolutely necessary to carry into effect the innovations contemplated by the Constitution. A new edifice shall rise, not out of the ashes of the past, but out of the standing materials of the living present. Reverence for law as the expression of the popular will is the starting point in a democracy. The maintenance of peace and public order is the joint obligation of the government and the citizens. I have an abiding faith in the good sense of the people and in their respect for law and the constituted authority. Wide spread public disorder and lawlessness may cause the downfall of constitutional government and lead to American intervention.
Even after independence, if we should prove ourselves incapable of protecting life, liberty and property of nationals and foreigners, we shall be exposed to the danger of intervention by foreign powers. No one need have any misgivings as to the attitude of the Government toward lawless individuals or subversive movements. They shall be dealt with firmly. Sufficient armed forces will be maintained at all times to quell and suppress any rebellion against the authority of this Government or the sovereignty of the United States.
There can be no progress except under the auspices of peace. Without peace and
public order it will be impossible to promote education, improve the condition of the masses, protect the poor and ignorant against exploitation, and otherwise insure the enjoyment of life, liberty and property. I appeal, therefore, to every Filipino to give the Government his loyal support so that tranquility may reign supreme in our beloved land.
Our Constitution established an independent judiciary by providing for security of
tenure and compensation of judges. But independence is not the only objective of a good judicially. Equally, if not more important, is its integrity which will depend upon the judicious selection of its members. The administration of justice cannot be expected to rise higher than the moral and intellectual standards of the men who dispense it. To bulwark the fortification of an orderly and just government, it shall be my task to appoint to the bench only men of proven honesty, character, learning and ability, so that everyone may feel when he appears before the courts of justice that he will be protected in his rights, and that no man in this country from the Chief Executive to the last citizen is above the law.
We are living today amidst the storm and stress of one of the most tragic epochs of history. Acute unemployment and economic distress threaten the stability of
governments the world over. The very foundations of civilized society are shaken.
The common man alone can save humanity from disaster. It is our duty to prove to him that under a republican system of government he can have every opportunity to attain his happiness and that if his family. Protection to labor, especially to working women and minors, just regulation of the relations between the labor and capital in industry and agriculture, solicitous regard on the part of the government for the well being of the masses are the means to bring about needed economic and social equilibrium between the component elements of society.
A government draws the breath of life from its finances, and it must balance its
income and expenditures as any other going business concern if it expects to
survive. It is my duty, then, to see that the Government of the Commonwealth live within its means and that it stands foursquare on a well balanced budget.
The larger expenditures which the grave responsibilities ahead of us will entail,
including national defense, must be borne by taxation. So long as we are able to
meet those responsibilities from our present income we shall not impose new taxes.
But we are among the least taxed people in the world and, therefore, when necessity arises, we should be willing to accept the burden of increased taxation. Liberty and independence can be possessed only by those who are ready to pay the price in life or fortune.
To enable us more adequately to meet the new responsibilities of the
Commonwealth and to raise the living conditions of our people, we must increase the wealth of the Nation by giving greater impetus to economic development, improving our methods of agriculture, diversifying our crops, creating new industries, and fostering our domestic and foreign commerce. I trust that the forthcoming trade conference between representatives of the United States and the Philippines will result in a more just and beneficial commercial relation between the two countries.
The establishment of an economical, simple, and efficient government, the
maintenance of an independent civil service; the implantation of an adequate system of public instruction to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and vocational efficiency; the safeguarding of the health and vigor of the race; the conservation and development of our natural resources — these and other matters of equal import are touched upon at length in the platform of the Coalition and in my speech of acceptance of my nomination, and it is unnecessary for me to reiterate my views regarding them. Having been elected on the virtuallity of that platform and the policies enunciated by me in the course of the presidential campaign, I renew my pledge faithfully to carry them into execution.
Goodwill towards all nations shall be the golden rule of my administration.
The peoples of the earth are interdependent and their prosperity and happiness are inseparably linked with each other. International brotherhood and cooperation are therefore necessary. Amity and friendship, fairness and square deal in our relations with other nations and their citizens or subjects, protection in their legitimate investments and pursuits, in return for their temporary allegiance to our institutions and laws, are the assurances I make on behalf of the new Government to Americans and foreigners who may desire to live, trade and otherwise associate with us in the Philippines.
In the enormous task of fully preparing ourselves for independence we shall be beset with serious difficulties, but we will resolutely march forward. I appeal to your patriotism and summon your nobility of heart so that we may, united in the common endeavor, once more dedicate ourselves to the realization of our national destiny. I face the future with hope and fortitude, certain that God never abandons a people who ever follows His unerring and guiding Hand. May He give me light, strength, and courage evermore that I may not falter in the hour of service to my people!
Second Inaugural Address
by Manuel L. Quezon
2nd President of the Philippines
(1st President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines)
Delivered on December 30, 1941 at Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, Philippines
On November 15, 1935, I took my oath of office as first President of the Philippines under the most favorable auspices. The Philippines was at peace and the Filipino people were happy and contented. At the inaugural ceremonies held in the city of Manila, there were present high dignitaries of the Government of the United States, and a vast multitude of Filipinos deeply grateful to America and thrilled with the vision of a bright future.
Today I am assuming for the second time the duties of the Presidency under entirely different conditions. We are in the grip of war, and the seat of the government has been temporarily transferred from the city of Manila to a place in close proximity to the headquarters of our armed forces, where I am in constant touch with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. All around us enemy bombs are dropping and anti-aircraft guns are roaring. In defenseless cities and towns air raids are killing women and children and destroying century-old churches, monasteries, and schools.
Six years ago, there was every reason to believe that the Filipino people would be
able to prepare themselves for independence in peace and without hindrance. In my first inaugural address, I outlined a program intended to lay the foundations for a government that will, in the language of our Constitution, promote the general welfare and secure to the Filipino people and their posterity "the blessings of independence under a regime of justice, liberty, and democracy".
Our task of nation-building was in progress when suddenly, on December 8, 1941,
the Philippines became the victim of wanton aggression. We are resisting this
aggression with everything that we have.
Our soldiers, American and Filipino, under the leadership of General Douglas
MacArthur, one of the greatest soldiers of our time, are fighting on all fronts with
gallantry and heroism that will go down in history. In the face of frequent air raids which are causing so much death, suffering, and destruction, our civilian population are maintaining their morale. Despite the enemy's temporary superiority in the air and on land and sea, we have been able to check the rapid advance of the invading armies. America and the Philippines may well be proud of the heroic struggle that our forces are putting up against the invader.
At the present time we have but one task — to fight with America for America and the Philippines. To this task we shall devote all our resources in men and materials.
Ours is a great cause. We are fighting for human liberty and justice, for those principles of individual freedom which we all cherish and without which life would not be worth living. Indeed, we are fighting for our own independence. It is to maintain this independence, these liberties and these freedoms, to banish fear and want among all peoples, and to establish a reign of justice for all the world, that we are sacrificing our lives and all that we possess. The war may be long drawn and hard-fought, but with the determination of freedom-loving peoples everywhere to stamp out the rule of violence and terrorism from the face of the earth, I am absolutely convinced that final and complete victory will be ours.
Soon after the outbreak of the war, I received a message from President Roosevelt expressing admiration for the gallantry of our soldiers and the courageous stand of our civilian population. Yesterday, the President of the United States issued a proclamation which, I am sure, will hearten our fighting men and thrill the soul of every American and Filipino in this land.
This is the proclamation:
"News of your gallant struggle against the japanese aggressors has elicited
the profound admiration of every American. As President of the United
States, I know that I speak for all our people on this solemn occasion. The
resources of the United States, of the British Empire, of the Netherlands East
Indies, and the Chinese Republic have been dedicated by their people to the
utter and complete defeat of the Japanese War Lords. In this struggle of the
Pacific the loyal Americans of the Philippine Islands are called upon to play a
crucial role. They have played, and they are playing tonight, their part with the
greatest gallantry, As President, I wish to express to them my feeling of
sincere admiration for the fight they are now making. The people of the United
States will never forget what the people of the Philippine Islands are doing
these days and will do in the days to come.
I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence independence established and protected. The entire resources in men and materials of the United States stand behind that pledge. It is not for me or for the people of this country to tell you where your duty lies. We are engaged in a great and common cause. I count on every Philippine man, woman, and child to do his duty. We will do ours. I give you this message from the Navy:
"The Navy Department tonight announces the Japanese Government is
circulating rumors for the obvious purpose of persuading the United States to
disclose the location and intentions of the American Pacific Fleets. It is
obvious that these rumors are intended for, and directed at, the Philippine
Islands. The Philippines may rest assured that while the United States Navy
will not be tricked into disclosing vital information, the fleet is not idle. The
United States Navy is following an intensive and well planned campaign
against Japanese forces which will result in positive assistance to the defense
of the Philippine Islands."
My heart, and I know the hearts of all Americans and Filipinos in this
country, are filled with gratitude for the reassuring words of the President of
the United States. My answer, our answer, to him is that every man,
woman, and child in the Philippines will do his duty. No matter what
sufferings and sacrifices this war may impose upon us we shall stand by
America with undaunted spirit, for we know that upon the outcome of this
war depend the' happiness, liberty, and security not only of this generation
but of the generations yet unborn.
Mr. High Commissioner, may I ask you to convey to the President of the
United States our profound gratitude for the noble sentiments expressed in
his proclamation. The Filipino people are particularly grateful for his abiding
interest in our welfare and for his pledge to assure and protect our freedom
and independence.
General MacArthur, there are no words in my language that can express to
you the deep gratitude of the Filipino people and my own for your devotion
to our cause, the defense of our country, and the safety of our population. [
trust that the time will come when we may express this sentiment to you in
a more appropriate manner.
To all Americans in the Philippines, soldiers and civilians alike, I want to
say that our common ordeal has fused our hearts in a single purpose and
an everlasting affection.
My fellow countrymen, this is the most momentous period of our history. As
we face the grim realities of war, let us rededicate ourselves to the great
principles of freedom and democracy for which our forefathers fought and
died. The present war is being fought for these same principles. It demands
from us courage, determination, and unity of action, In taking my oath of
office, I make the pledge for myself, my government, and my people, to
stand by America and fight with her until victory is won.
I am resolved, whatever the consequences to myself, faithfully to fulfill this pledge. I humbly invoke the help of Almighty God that I may have the wisdom andfortitude to carry out this solemn obligation.
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