We can imagine that we've come to our nation's capital to buy back what we have pawned at the dawn of our republic’s creation. When the reigns of this country was passed from the hands of our oppressors to our forefathers, when the founders of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every Filipino was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all Filipinos would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that the pawn shop of this collection of islands has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of deprivation are concerned. Instead of returning to us the Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness that the colonizers took from us, the same Life, Liberty, and Happiness that our forefathers had fought and died for, the Philippine government has held back our rightful possessions and given us Sickness, Captivity, and Unhappiness.
But we refuse to believe that the flagon of justice is empty. We refuse to believe that we hold no key that is able to open the padlock that inhibits us Filipinos from diving into the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to get hold of this key, a key that will give us upon insertion the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to the Luneta Grand Stand to remind the Philippines of the fierce urgency of the Present. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cowardice or to take the tranquilizing drug of complacency. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of corruption to the sunlit path of righteousness. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of poverty onto the solid rock of prosperity. Now is the time to make the treasure chests of the Philippines a reality and a possession for all our children.
It would be grave for the nation’s leaders to overlook the fire of this moment. This sweltering summer of the Filipino's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is a downpour of rainfall of freedom and opportunity. Two-thousand-and-ten is not an end, but a beginning. And those who think that the Filipino just needed to calm down and return to oblivion will have a rude awakening if the government disregards us. And there will be no peace in the Philippines until the Filipino is granted his citizenship rights. The typhoon words of revolt will continue to shake the mountains of our nation until the bright day of rightful prosperity emerges.
But there one important thing that I must say to you, my people, who stand at the gates that lead into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rights, we must not be guilty of bitterness and hatred. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom through violence. We must forever conduct our struggle as dignified souls who cannot tolerate the savage ways of men. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
We cannot walk alone.
We must march ahead as brothers.
We cannot turn back.
I know that some of you have come here out of great sufferings and horrible conditions. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come as wounded people, who have been demoralized by the leaders of this country. You have been the pioneers of a future brighter than anything we have seen. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Know that God is on our side in our fight for justice, freedom, and righteousness. Go back to Cebu, go back to Bohol, go back to Davao, go back to La Union, go back to Rizal, go back to the slums and squatter areas of Metro Manila, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.