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[ VOL. II, August 27, 1934 ]
JOURNAL No. 23
APERTURA DE LA SESIÓN
Se abre la sesion a las 4:25 p.m., bajo la presidencia del Hon. Claro M. Recto.
EL PRESIDENTE: Léase la lista de los Delegados.
EL SECRETARIO, lee la lista de los Delegados.
EL PRESIDENTE: Hay quorum. Léase el Acta.
EL SECRETARIO leyendo el acta de la sesion anterior, del 25 de agosto de 1934, la cual es aprobada.
PROPOSICIONES SOBRE CONSTITUCION
Proyecto de precepto constituciona! sobre nacionaliza-cion de la industria para uso o consume interior, sometido por el Delegado Martinez, (M.) (P.P.C. No. 557).
Proposed constitutional precept providing that any person or individual who has been found guilty of robbery of any kind shall be given a sentence of life imprisonment, submitted by Delegate Chioco (P.P.C. No. 558).
Proposed constitutional precept prohibiting the enactment of laws imposing a tax on marriage, submitted by Delegate De Guzman, (J.) (P.P.C. No. 559).
Proposed constitutional precept regarding customs laws for the protection of frontier commerce and local markets, submitted by Delegate De Guzman (J.) (P.P.C. No. 560).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage of all men and women, submitted by Delegate Aruego (P.P.C. No. 561).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for an absolute free public elementary education, submitted by Delegate Leonardo (P.P.C. No. 562).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for subsidy by the government to Filipino capitalists engaged in the enterprise for the nationalization of our natural resources, commerce and industries, submitted by Delegate Jumauan (P.P.C. No. 563).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the strict prohibition of the importation of foreign labor, submitted by Delegate Jumauan (P.P.C. No. 564).
Proposed constitutional precept .providing for Presidential succession under the Commonwealth Government, submitted by Delegate Flores (P.P.C. No. 565).
Proposed constitutional precept granting lawyers immunity (1) from arrest while in attendance at, and in going to, court sessions, and (2) from suit for any statement made in court, except for contempt, submitted by Delegate Pelayo (P.P.C, No. 566).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for immunity from arrest of physicians and surgeons when rendering and in going to render medical assistance to patients and sick persons, submitted by Delegate Pelayo (P.P.C. No. 567).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional aboliendo la policiainsular, sometido por los Delegados Arteche y Zialcita (P.P.C. No.568). Proposed constitutional, precept providing for the useand teaching of local dialects in primary schools and the teaching of one principal Philippine dialect in the intermediate schools, submitted by Delegate Nepomuceno (R.) (P.P.C. No. 569).
Proposed constitutional precept regarding Mountain Province, submitted by Delegate Lorenzana (P.P.C. No. 570).
Proposed constitutional precept providing that only Filipino or American citizens can acquire a right or interest in public lands and other natural resources, submitted by Delegate Ventura (P.P.C. No. 571).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the manner of amending the Constitution, submitted by Delegate Ventura (P.P.C. No. 572)
Proyecto de precepto constitucional obligando a todo varón o mujer de edad competente a prestar servicios personales al Estado en tiempo de guerra, sometido por el Delegado Divinagracia (P.P.C. No. 573).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional disponiendo que el Banco del Estado se ponga al alcance de los pequeños agricultores y comerciantes, sometido por el Delegado Divina gracia (P.P.C. No. 574),
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the retention of the Council of State in the Constitution, submitted by Delegate Ventura (P.P.C. No. 576).
Proposed constitutional precept considering public school teachers as public officials removable from service only in the manner established by law, submitted by Delegate Ribo (P.P.C. No. 576).
Proposed constitutional precept providing that only male persons shall vote during the. transition period and reserving to the Philippine Legislature the authority to grant woman's suffrage when the Philippines shall be independent, submitted by Delegate Ribo (P.P.C. No. 577). Proyecto de precepto constitucional sobre los requisitos para la promulgacion de una ley, sometido por el Delegado Diaz (P.P.C. No. 578).
Proposed constitutional precept regarding impeachment, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 579).
Proposed constitutional precept requiring compulsory military service by every able-bodied male citizen, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 580).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the establishment and maintenance of a strong and independent civil service, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 581).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the aim and purpose of education in the Commonwealth and in the Philippine Republic, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 582).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional prohibiendo el arresto sin un mandamiento judicial, sometido por el Delegado Encarnacion {P.P.C. No. 583).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional estableciendo ciertas garantias para la proteccion de los acusados, sometidopor el Delegado Encarnación (P.P.C. No. 584).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional prohibiendo la confiscacion o embargo de cualquiera propiedad, a menos que se haya dictado previamente un fallo judicial de caracter final, sometido por el Delegado Encarnacion (P.P.C. No. 585).
Proyecto de precepto constitucional disponiendo que todo acusado sea puesto en libertad bajo fianza, sometido por el Delegado Encarnacion (P.P.C. No. 586).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the improvement and protection of labor, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 587).
Proposed constitutional precept regarding distribution and use of land, disposition of the increment value of landed property, and expropriation, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 588).
Proposed constitutional precept declaring all riches of the soil and all natural resources of power of economic value within the limits of the national territory as belonging to the nation, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 589).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the creation of a National Economic Council, submitted by Delegate Bueno (P.P.C. No. 590).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the equality before the law to both sexes, submitted by Delegate Maramara (P.P.C. No. 591).
Proposed constitutional precept providing for the creation of a Commissioner of Backward People, submitted by Delegate Cabarroguis (P.P.C. No. 592).
Proposed constitutional precept regarding the appointment of teachers and civil service employees as election inspectors, submitted by Delegate Maramara (P.P.C. No. 593).
III. P E T I C I Ó N
Escrito sometido por el Dr. R. A. Reyes Jose pidiendo se dicte una disposición declarando ciudadanos filipinos a los hijos de cualquier chino legalmente casado con una filipina y residente en el pais. (Pet. No. 30.)
IV. FELICITACIÓN
Resolution of the Municipal Council of Dueñas, Iloilo, congratulating the Members of the Constitutional Convention
EL PRESIDENTE: La Mesa anuncia el nombramiento de los siguientes:
¿Hay alguna objectión a estos nombramientos? (Silencio.)
Sres. Roxas, Sres. Orense, Morales, Araneta, Cuenco, Lim, Reyes (J), Benitez, Singson Encarnacion, Cuaderno, Clarin, Marabut, Quirino (E.), Nepomuceno (V.) Palma, Montinola, Briones, Guevara, Romualdez, Labrador, Hontiveros, Osias, Laurel, Ozamis, Reyes (G.), Romero, Francisco, Alejandrino, Guzmán (Alejandro), Zurbito Nepomuceno (R.), Montilla, Perfecto, Zialcita, Villanueva, Adduru, Buendia, Locsin, Altavás, Binag, Kapunan, Ranjo, Braganza, Sison, Arellano, Leonardo, Delgado, Abella, Aruego, Cea, Gutierrez David, Bañaga, Ysip, Lapka, Rafols, Montaño, Paredes, Montesa, Zavalla, Hernaez, Villarama, Lizares, Salazar (A.) , Ortiz (L.), Sanchez, Fernadez, Sandoval, Vinzons, Lopez, Lizardo, Navarro, Crespillo, Arteche, Lorenzo, Flores, Gumban, Sanvictores Quirino (E.), Diaz, Baltao, Conejero, Sobrepeña Cruz (C.), Perez (S.),
La Mesa no oye ninguna. Aprobados.
ORDEN ESPECIAL
SR. SOTTO (F.): Sr. Presidente, el Comité de Reglamentos solicita una orden especial de la Asamblea para que se fije un dia para la discussión de la parte del proyecto de Reglamento que aún no esta aprobada. Si la Convencion no elige otra fecha mas aceptable para la misma, el Comité propone que se fije la discusion del proyecto de Reglamento para el proximo lunes, 3 de septiembre de 1934.
MR. CRUZ (C.): I move to amend the motion by setting the report of the Committee on Rules for discussion tomorrow.
SR. LAPAK: Sr. Presidente, el Comité no tiene preferencia por ninguna fecha, y preferimos dejar eso a la discreción de la Asamblea.
EL PRESIDENTE: ¿Qué dice el Delegado Por Rizal, Sr. Cruz (C.)?
MR. CRUZ (C.) Sr; Presidente, acepto la enmienda a la enmienda.
MR. ESCAREAL: Mr. President, I would like to ask the Gentleman a question. I think there is necessity, for translating this into English as has been agreed before and if it is going to be done it will take time not only in the translation but also in . . . . .
EL PRESIDENTE: ¿Que dice el Delegado por Rizal?
MR. CRUZ (C.): I de not think it is absolutely necessary, because almost every one can understand Spanish.
MR. ESCAREAL: I think we understand a little but for the benefit of Members who do not understand well the Spanish language . . . . .
SR. ORENSE: Sr. Presidente, acaba de repartirse este proyecto de Reglamento casi en este momento en que lo he encontrado en mi asiento. Francamente, por lo que a mi toca personalmente, no se nada de su contenido. Mañana por la tarde tengo entendido que esta señalada la discusión de la resolucion del Delegado por La Union, Sr. Osias. Se tratará, pues, en dicha session de un asunto demasiado serio e importante que, supongo, consumirá no solamente toda la tarde de mañana sino parte del miercoles, y quizás, lleguemos hasta el jueves. Por tanto, no habra tiempo para discutir este proyecto de Reglamento. Y por esta razon, acepto y propongo que se acepte la proposición del Chairman del Comité de Reglamentos, fijando la discusión de este proyecto para el lunes, 3 de septiembre de 1934.
EL PRESIDENTE: La cuestión en orden es la enmienda del Delegado por Camarines Norte, Sr. Lapak, a la enmienda del Delegado por Rizal, Sr. Cruz (C.). Los que están en favor de la enmienda a la enmienda, en el sentido de que se fije la discusión del proyecto de Reglamento para el miércoles próximo, 5 de septiembre de 1934, digan Si. (Una minoria: Si.) Los que estan en contra, digan No. (Una mayoria: No.) Rechazada.
SR. ORENSE: Sr. Presidente, pido que se someta a votación ahora la proposicion original del Comité.
SR. RAFOLS: Sr. Presidente, para una enmienda. Propongo que se distribuyan primeramente copias del proyecto en inglés.
EL PRESIDENTE: Está acordado ya eso.
Se va a someter ahora a votación la proposicion original del Comité de Reglamentos de que se señale la discusión del proyecto para el lunes proximo, 3 de septiembre de 1934. Los que estan en favor de la moción, digan Si. (Una mayoría: Si.) Los que están en contra, digan No. (Una minoria: No.) Aprobada. Se señala para el lunes, 3 de septiembre de 1934, la discusion del proyecto de Reglamento.
MR. BOCAR: I understand from the calendar that the resolution of Delegate Osias will be brought to the floor for discussion tomorrow. I would like to inquire from the Chair what rules will govern the discussion tomorrow.
EL PRESIDENTE: La regla general. Todavia no tenemos un reglamento.
SPEECH OF MR. CLORIBEL ON WOMAN SUFFRAGE
MR. CLORIBEL: Mr. President.
EL PRESIDENTE: Señor Delegado.
MR. CLORIBEL: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: My subject is, "Woman Suffrage." I have selected this subject to counteract a movement, as reported by the press, that some influential members of the Convention are campaigning to frustrate the effectivity of Act 4112, known as the Woman's Suffrage Law, by inserting in our future constitution a provision depriving women of suffrage.
(El Presidente deja el estrado ocupando su lugar el Vicepresidente.)
Mr. President, I take the floor before this august Body, not because I possess attractive eloquence, farfetched erudition, or new theories for the metamorphosis of our government and our social and economic relations. I rise in behalf of women—the mothers, sisters, orphans and unprotected widows who have an interest to awaken from apathy fully one-half of the moral and intellectual resources of the country, fully one-half of its productive interest—an interest which contains in the germ the physical power and vital force of the whole nation.
I need not enumerate here all the facts about the countless women who have participated creditably in the government from the days of our Saviour until this time. Victoria ruled England and the adoration of the English heart today for its queen found expression in that beautiful song, "God Save the Queen." Queen Elizabeth gave England her prestige and the proud pre-eminence which she holds today among the nations of the earth. Isabela I of Spain is the patron saint of America and were it not for her generosity our mother country today would be a wilderness. She rose in queenly majesty and pledged her jewels to undertake the great voyage of Christopher Columbus that led to the discovery and exploration of the New World.
Maria Theresa of Austria, who took the reigns of government while her kingdom was divided and disturbed, found herself equal to the emergency by restoring order out of chaos, and prosperity to her kingdom. Christine of Sweden brought that kingdom to the zenith of its power. Eugenie, empress of the French, in the last disastrous revolution assumed the regency of the Empire in defiance of her ministers. Florence Nightingale brought order and efficiency into the hospital of the Crimeans; and Clara Barton, with her clear head and generous heart, lifted the starving women of Strasbourg. These are a few of the thousand and. one women who cannot all be enumerated here.
The instances I have cited lead to the conclusion that womankind as far back as more than 500 years ago has had its share in almost all movements towards progress. Women, if they constitute half of humanity, should have the same right as men to participate in the enjoyment of happiness, and must naturally appear in the role of human achievements. From the earliest days, whether we begin with the Biblical account of the coming of Eve or with the evolutionary theory of our having developed from a lower state of animal life, woman has asserted herself in shaping the course of our destiny. Thus, even in the realm of politics women have gradually but surely, at times inspite of man's determined opposition, acquired equal rights with men in the choice of public officials and in some cases to the extent of shouldering equal responsibilities in the management of public affairs.
The problem of woman suffrage, which started in 1791 in England, has forced the most conservative statesmen to give their assent, sweeping militantly the Anglo-Saxon countries first and afterwards almost all countries of the known continents. Receiving the heavy momentum of worldwide progress which found eruptive, manifestations in vigorous industrialism, politico-social upheavals and the great economic and cultural readjustments of our modern age, this movement has enfranchised millions of women in many countries during the last two decades.
Her fight for the ballot is a romantic and heroic adventure not without the unpleasant, most trying sacrifices that inevitably accompany a great reformistic enterprise that must necessarily destroy the heavy fortifications of conservatism, and assail the walls of man's prejudices. After the bold public demand in England for woman's enfranchisement, the movement took a militant turn until it echoed and reechoed in the hearts of Englishwomen the appeal of the ages—the appeal for justice to the silent and anonymous heroines who have given history a Cromwell, a Shakespeare, a Nelson, and the noble son who drafted the charter of human liberties. That was in England.
In the United States, on the other side of the Atlantic, women, far from being inactive and contented with the tiresome, wearying and boresome routine work within the four walls of their homes, were also demanding their rights to be recognized as part of the "brave and free" people of America. Enlisted by the aggressive but constructive leadership of Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, Susan Anthony and others, the American "sisters of British suffragettes continually besieged Washington until the XIXth amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted in 1919.
The importance of women was shown dramatically when Wilson, declaring war with Germany in April, 1917. appealed to the nation in these ringing words: "We shall fight for the things we have always carried in our hearts—for democracy." The leaders of the suffrage movement responded to the appeal and paraded with standards bearing the inscription, "We shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts. Democracy should be at home."
Even in chaotic Bolshevism-ridden Russia, the women awakened to the Quickening pulse of twentieth century progress, and with the leadership of public-spirited persons of their sex the robust opposition had to give way. The example of Russian women whose activities had an immediate influence upon the minds of the women of nearby countries was soon emulated and women were enfranchised in Poland, Hungary, Chechoslovakia, Austria and Spain.
We have a class of women in the Philippines who own property and manage business; farmers and professionals who pay their taxes to the government amounting to thousands of pesos; we have another class of women who, although owning no property and paying no taxes to the Government, are or have been educated in public schools. These women can vote intelligently and perhaps more intelligently than many men who now enjoy the franchise.
Our women are now writing a large proportion of our books and editing newspapers. They are admitted to law schools, medical schools, and many other high institutions of learning. Many of them are already practising their professions as lawyers or doctors. We have many women leaders whose talents, training, and capabilities are of extreme importance and absolute necessity to our government. If a woman lawyer is entrusted and allowed by law to handle a first-degree murder case, or a woman doctor entrusted with the fate of a patient, why is it that she cannot cast her vote to decide who is to run the affairs of our government, a work which has been done even by an illiterate?
The virtues of our women, inherited from our grandmothers and preserved in spite of the onward march of our progress; their capabilities which have been developed thru modern education; their progressiveness in thought and in action; their culture and their tendency to be economically independent, not to mention their high principles of justice and right-—all these point to a course for us to take and. that is: Give, them the right to vote and be voted upon. Some of our women may have gone astray, creating a social problem in our country. Many of them are imprisoned in white-slave traffic. These circumstances illustrate more the necessity of allowing women to exercise the right of suffrage to share with men the responsibilities of solving vital problems confronting society today.
For our country to make sex a qualification to vote, thus resulting in the disenfranchisement of one-half of the people, is to pass a bill of attainder or ex post facto law. By it the blessings of liberty are forever withheld from women and their female posterity. To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed. To.them the government is not a democracy. It is not a republic. It is an odious aristocracy, a hateful oligarchy of sex, the most hateful aristocracy ever established on the face of the globe; an oligarchy of men who trample upon women. An oligarchy of learning that makes the wise a ruler over the ignorant may be tolerable, but an oligarchy of sex which makes a father sovereign over his wife, or a son an oligarch over his mother, is the most despicable state of affairs that a Christian, like the Filipino, could tolerate.
Allow me to mention the attitude of the Boholanos, a large proportion of whom I have the honor to represent, toward this question. Neither the June 5th general elections nor the election for delegates on July 10 touched an issue on this matter. However, I am conscious that most women, especially those in schools as teachers or as students, know that women in the Philippines are already granted the franchise by 1935. There has never been any society or organization established in Bohol for the purpose of defeating the aims and purposes of the woman suffrage law.
On the contrary, I know of many women in my District who actively campaigned for and against me during the July 10th election, leading me to conclude that our women are pro-woman suffrage. It is, therefore, not only ridiculous but also a reckless assumption for anybody to demonstrate that Bohol is opposed to woman suffrage. I advocate the enfranchisement of women, inspired solely by the dictates of my own conviction as Delegate from the First District of Bohol that men were created to accompany women, not to subjugate or enslave them. They were created as the equal, not the inferior, of the other sex. One is always necessary for the success and happiness of the other, and before the laws of God and men they have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities.
Our future constitution, in order to be just and lasting, must define and safeguard the rights, liberties and prerogatives of the women as well. It cannot be just, it cannot be lasting, if it tries to define the rights and privileges of one-half of our people and be against those of the other half. The confidence of our people in our ability to draft a constitution is given to us with the sincere belief that the constitutional convention will formulate a fundamental, law for the coming nation that will assure equal protection to all the people, a law that will safeguard the inalienable rights and liberties of all the people regardless of class, religion and sex.
Mr. President, whatever be our judgment on this question of justice for and equality of women, I hope we will bear in mind that we have behind us people who keep the fire burning while we fight for our country's cause—the women, our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and all the members of the gentle sex who will be affected by our decision. They may be amply protected now but disregarded tomorrow. Remember that life is short and time is fleeting, but principles endure forever. We hold in our hands a power and an opportunity today to render ourselves immortal—an opportunity that comes but once in a lifetime. Shall this appeal be in vain?
The suffrage law was passed to take effect the coming year. The history of its passage is still fresh in our memory. The woman suffrage law was passed after our legislative body composed of practically the most able statesmen of our country was convinced that our women are entitled to it. It is a law that should be written in gold in the pages of our history as a gift to the countless heroes who died in the night of our struggles for liberty. The Filipinos who were responsible for its passage are rendered immortal and shall become the idols of our race. Any attempt to frustrate itseffectivity or any attempt to insert in our future constitution a provision depriving women of suffrage is a treason to the ideals of the Filipino and of our struggles for the emancipation of our people. It is a backward step from progress. The nature of our work is constructive rather than destructive. Let us not unmake what has already been made. Act 4112 should remain intact and inviolate in our statute books. Let not the tentacles of malice, false accusation and cowardice frustrate the effectivity of woman suffrage. Let not the germs of politics be injected into it.
For the sake of our women, for the happiness, equality and harmony in our homes, for the blessings to our nation and for the success and general welfare of our country let us not deprive the women of their most cherished dream, the right of suffrage. Thank you.
EL VICEPRESIDENTE: Si no hay ninguna objeción, la Mesa levantará la sesion hasta mañana, a las 4:00 de la tarde. (Silencio.) La Mesa no oye ninguna.
Se levanta la sesion.
Eran las 5:22 p.m.