Man has no instinct to love his country. Let him hear the sweet anthem of his native land and his heart will be filled with pride and enthusiasm for her. Let him read the lives of his national heroes and his soul will be filled with raging desire to die for his country. Let him see his country's banner, floating and waving proudly in the atmosphere and his blood will swell with rapture willing to be shed in the battlefield in order that the glory of that flag will be preserved. That is patriotism in the making.
In the light of popular belief, the blood of patriotism is only found in the veins of men who stand conspicuous among the crowd and of men who put in song and poetry beautiful phrases of their country.
But fellow citizens, the true emblem of our devotion to our country is not necessarily that which can be seen from with outs. It is not our social or political positions that make us patriots, it is not our conspicuous among our fellows that speaks of our patriotism, it is not our being the head of a group that expresses what we have contributed to the nation; no, it is what we sincerely offer and willingly sacrifice that unites the epitaph of our service to our motherland. In reality, one may become the head of a nation or a ruler of an empire yet he may be one of the worst citizen of that country. Ladies and gentlemen, history bears witness of this fact.
Every true citizen believes that in every recognized line of human endeavour; there are latent possibilities for service, waiting for the willing hands to strike at the golden gates of their boundless opportunities. Look at the plow of the farmer, it is ugly and distasteful. Very few people perceive dignity on it. But listen my countrymen, that every implement that you and I abhor to touch has determined the march of nations, it has united people and built-up empires. Yes; without it, no nation, no race, no people can exist today. Beneath the sheer ugliness of crude implement is a power that keep the wheels of industry turning and its lowly possessor, humble as he is, is the backbone of the nation. And that ugly plow that only the poor farmer loves to possess is as mighty as the pens of the nobles and farmer who used that stands equal with the king and princes who sit on the throne and dwell in mansions.
At this juncture, I shall speak to you of unblemished patriotism because I believe that sincere, honest and dignified service emanate from it. Patriotism that is unblemished by greediness can solve our problems the employer and land owner who loves his fellowmen does not exploit a laborer, and the laborer who is honest does not care so much of the movement of the clock, the customer who strives to make his country economically stable values the goods of the local manufacturer and the local manufacturer who desire to supply his country's needs does not produce goods in a haphazard way. All in all, if everyone should do his part sincerely, honestly and willingly, no corruption, no injustices and no suffering shall darken our national existence.
Every one of us is qualified to enter into the field of services to our motherland. The farmer who pilots his plow properly, the blacksmith who strikes his anvil rightly, the lawyer who uses his tongue and pen honestly for the sake of justice, the doctor who treats the patients equally, every one of us from the lowly commoner to the president of this new government who loves service more than profit is a true son of the republic; and only then can we say with sincerity and without reservations in our hearts, "I love my country, the Philippines, and I love the people, the Filipino people."
