COPY OF REPLY TO GENERAL TRIAS. HEADQUARTERS

April 19, 1901

it may be possible for us to form an exact judgment upon our situation and finally express the real wishes of the people, because, as you know, not only those within the towns constitute the people, but the lowest laborers are included

Miguel Malvar

My DISTINGUISHED COMRADE: Placing to one side the considerations which you lay down in your letter, which have received my special attention, I can only reply for the present that I am, as ever, nothing but a soldier of the people and that, consequently, I can decide nothing without having first consulted the will of all, for the reason that in this last war which we have all been sustaining so unequally and providentially, all without exception have contributed toward making it more endurable and less unbearable, without sparing their energies nor the slightest product of their labor. Consequently in my acts, especially in all that relates to the destiny of this our unfortunate country, I wish to seize the occasion of ascertaining the wishes of all of our brothers in this section who are still in doubt as to your surrender to the enemy and the announced misfortune to our leader and are forming conjectures and cavilling as to whether the news is true or not, because in my opinion they have so much faith and confidence in the force of cohesion which has united them so far, that in this province, in Tayabas and in the towns of the Second Zone, citizens and soldiers maintain such close relations that the reciprocal exchange of mutual considerations, has always been the criterion of their official and private acts. The Revolution in this section while from the beginning influenced by affection, respect and sympathies, had nevertheless not involved personalities, because all were devoting their services, sufferings and sacrifices to the real worship of country, especially since most of the leaders had not joined the Liberating Army until after the invasion, as before that they had been nothing but modest landholders, who had never thought of their future as connected with the powers and honors of leadership, but in labor, This is why there is such unity and harmony of action which, thank God, with the political and military organization which it has been possible to establish here, saves the good name of the Revolution which, by order and discipline, has been left unsullied.

If you could have the enemy grant freedom of transit to all, thus 'avoiding alarms and molestation, in order that they may freely communicate with us, that is to say, that the enemy should confine their actions exclusively within the radius of their detachments, perhaps about : end of July, and not later, it may be possible for us to form an exact judgment upon our situation and finally express the real wishes of the people, because, as you know, not only those within the towns constitute the people, but the lowest laborers are included, and they are the ones who act with greater honesty of intentions and are more sincere in their aspirations.

My respects, etc.

M. MALVAR.

Stamp: Miguel Malvar y Carpio.