Devotion to duty

Title

Devotion to duty

Language

English

Source

I (10&11) October-November 1949

Year

1949

Subject

Political autonomy

Liberty

Luna, Antonio, 1866-1899

Castillo, Conchita

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

The article is about the letter of Antonio Luna to Conchita Castillo on June 2, 1899. He stated how much he wanted to return to Manila and fight for the liberty of the Filipino people. He also said in his letter that the success of our independence can be attained by having the courage to fight for it and being consistent in our actions.

Fulltext

of climate are the western part of Cagayan (Luzon), Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern portion of the Mountain Province, southern Quezon, the Bondoc Peninsula, Masbate, Romblon, northeast Panay, eastern Negros, central and southern Cebu, part of northern Mindanao, and most of eastern Palawan. These lo~alities are only partly sheltered from the northern and trade rains and open to the southwest monsoon or at least to frequent cyclonic storms. Fourth type.-No dry season and no ve1y pronounced maximum rain period. The regions affected by this type are the Batanes Province, northeastern Luzon, western Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, Albay, eastern Mindoro, Marlnduque, western Leyte, northern Cebu, northern Negros, and most of central, eastern and southern Mindanao. Remarks: Strictly speaking, by a dry month in the Philippines should be understood a month with less than 1.97 inch of rain; yet sometimes a month with even more .than 3.94 inches of rain is considered a dry month, especially if it comes after three or more very dry months. FIRST TYPE: Laoag, Vigan, Baguio City, Dagupan City, Manila Cit,· and Iloilo City. SECOND TYPE: Daet, Legaspi City, Atimonan, Tacloban and Surigao. THIRD TYPE: Aparri, Tugu8garao, Capiz, Cebu City and Zamboanga City. FOURTH TYPE: Basco, Calbayog and Tagbilaran. ---000--MANUEL L. QUEZON-A man is only entitled to love so long as he lives with honor. SERGIO OSMENA-1 urge you to forget petty political differences, to bury the h;itreds and animosities engendered by the struggle, to obey the rule of law, justices and reason, and to remember that we all belong to one c~mmon country, our be!overl Pl'lilippmes. Page 532 DEV0110N TO DUTY "Bautista, June 2, 1899 "Miss Conchita Castillo, "Manila. "My distinguished lady aml friend: "It might be a surprise for you that I am writing to you, and that you might think that I do not have _time for anything; it is not so. For friends who feel like myself, I always have a spare moment, esr_iecially if that moment serves to drive away cares and dizziness. Is not that charity and patriotism? I believe it is. "I would have wanted to return to Manila walk along its streets and sidewalks '(somewhat dirty, indeed), but would not that be treachery to my convictions, to my duty, to my oath and to my government? It is be~te_r to be here with our poverty and limited resources, exposing ourselves every day, perhaps every hour. It is so _pleasant to work for the country! It is so noble and honorable to suffer for the sake of the country! . . . In truth, my friend, if 1 were in Manila living commodiously ancl if I think of my brothers who are fighting and exposing the most precious that they have, wh!ch_ is life believe me, I would not remam mdifferent in the face of such pools of seething blood - Filipino blood my own blood, shed not for a joke but for Liberty, for the welfare of all. !~at spilt blood demands anoth~r ~acnf1ce, and that sacrifice is not md1fference or fear. For my country, to endure is not to suffer; it is to comply with duty, and compliance with duty is an immense satisfaction. "Now, my friend, that cry should be complied with, which filled the air and said: · HURRAH FOR INDEPENDENCE! HURRAH FOR A FREE PHILIPPINES! BETTER TO DIE THAN TO LIVE UNDER ANOTHER'S DOMIN A TION ! ... those promises made over the Bible that: I SvVEAR TO DEFEND TILL DEATH THE INDEPENDENCE OF MY COUNTRY ... How easy it is to swear . s\vear till rleath, when the thought THE LOCAL GOVER:-.i~IE:'.'IT REVIEW GLORIOUS PAST OF MALAYANS by BENITO SOLIVEN PAN-MALAYAN is a term that immediately grips the mind and fires the imagination. It is thought-provoking, and it conjures up a vision in which a great drama unfolds itself from the distant past, at times glorious with heroic and epic grandeur, at other times of going from place to pla.ce-the work of a tourist-begins to produce discouragements and dismays! "Oh, believe me that if we do not succeed in becoming independent, it is because we do not des.erve i.t: because there is no energy in our men, nor patriotic virtue in our women. Hence I need your cooperation, for women can do much. "Tell to our fellowmen that Independence cannot be obtained from roses with comfort and without risk. Independence is attained after a period of fighting, of sufferings, sacrifices, afflictions and · the surge of blood. If our fellowmen there do not have the courage to go to the battlefield to fight, they should at least have the virtue to be silent, inasmuch as in living in Manila they want to say that they recognize American sovereignty, because he who is not with us is against us, and are consequently, traitors. "I do not demand compliance with oaths, cries and the unfurling of national colours in times of peace where everything was quiet and the table was ready. I would only want a bit of consistency, somewhat reasonable, that demonstrates that we are neither children nor cowards. "Good-bye, Conchita! We find more pleasure here than there and we know how to be consistent with our ideals. "Know that your servant is attentive to you, A. LUNA" (The foreuoinn lette1· is a reprint from the English ve1"Sion by Julio Villamor of Col. Juan h/la.mo1·'s book: "GENERAL D. ANTONIO LUNA Y NOVICIO," pp. 6466.) ---oOo--OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1949 radiant with the romance and exquisite beauty of tropical seas and skies, with the sweet cadence and rhythm of Oriental music, song and dance; and again solemn and spiritual with mystic sublimity of philosophy and religion. You have asked me to speak on Malayan history and culture. It is a subject far beyond my very limited powers and meager preparation. Volumes of fascinating narrative and literature could hardly do it honor and justice; for it would be more than a mere historical and ethnological treatise, it would be the vindication of a much misunderstood people, a race that has prominently contributed to lay the foundation of modern civilization and progress. And yet I have accepted the task willingly, and even enthusiasticallv because I am convinced that any unbiased discussion of history, however brief, will show that the Malayan race, to which we have the privilege to belong, is not inferior to any other race, absolutely to no other race, either in potentialities and capacity or in culture and achievements. I lay no claim to any special erudition on the subject. But I am animated by honest conviction, and the fond hope that some of you with greater talents and more facilities than I have at my disposal, would take up the quest and undertake the defense of the Malay against the charge, at times outspokenly made, and always insinuated, that we are a shiftless race, incapable of sustained effort and constructive progress. The tragedy of it is that such an unjust and unfounded prejudice has gained credence even among our own people, many of whom have developed a· kind of inferiority complex, a state of mind which has caused us incalculable harm and has considerably retarded our progress, like leaden '!l,Weights shackled to our feet. No people that does not have a firm belief in its power and capabilities can achieve a great destiny. It is of the *A reprint from Filipiniana Page 533

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