<a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/962/today-in-philippine-history-february-27-1858-pedro-paterno-was-born-in-sta-cruz-manila" class="news_link">Pedro A. Paterno</a>, the man whom the revolutionists had so satirically admonished for his leaning towards Spanish sovereignty less than 4 months before, was elected President of Congress. He was chosen to guide the political destinies of this budding democracy and preside over their republican legislative body. 


<a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2823/today-in-philippine-history-september-27-1853-benito-legarda-vice-president-of-the-malolos-congress-was-born-in-binondo-manila" class="news_link">Benito Legarda</a> was chosen to be Vice-President and Pablo Ocampo and Gregorio Araneta were secretaries.


Two days later, on September 17th, Pedro Paterno made an inspiring address, in which he said: 



Filipinos, today begins a new era; we are beholding the political resurrection of our people. Amidst the glooms of yesterday; amidst the graves of our heroes and martyrs; amidst the ruins of the past, there arises and stands the refulgent genius of liberty, embracing all the islands and uniting the Filipinos with bonds of holy brotherhood. 


Liberty is the real purpose of our existence on earth, the foundation of life and progress. 


Our past, the era of cruelty, of deceit, of slavery, has ended. We shall renew the history of the Philippines ... Filipinos, proceed! Let our steps be unflinching and ever forward; let them be steps of justice, of love, of harmony, and of charity; let us win the sympathy of the whole world with generous and humanitarian deeds; and let us write, in the presence of the Lord, of the Supreme Being, the oath of our independence.


Election of the Malolos Congress delegates was held between June 23 and September 10 following the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1177/today-in-philippine-history-june-12-1898-aguinaldo-formally-proclaimed-the-philippine-independence-in-kawit-cavite" class="news_link">declaration of independence from Spain</a> on June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite, and the transformation of the dictatorial government to a revolutionary government on June 23. 



One of the first acts of the Malolos congress was the ratification on September 29, of the "June 12 Declaration of independence".

September 15, 1898: the Malolos Congress convened in Barasoain Church in Malolos