DATU GUMBAY PIANG

Vice Governor-General J. R. Hayden's letter to Gumbay Piang

Manila, P. I.

December 27, 1934

Dear Mr. Piang:

I am much gratified by your promotion to the position of supervising teacher and am confident that in that

position, you will be able to be of great service in the development of your people. You may be interested to know that

there was something about your promotion that required the approval of the Governor-General as an exception to one of

his memorandum orders that when I presented your case to His Excellency in the Cabinet, interest in your career and

satisfaction in your work was expressed by several members of that body. I hope that you may continue to justify the

confidence reposed in you and to merit further promotion by continued hard work and devotion to duty. The great name

of your father and the respect in which he was held not only by Americans but also by all others familiar with conditions in

Cotabato, give you an opportunity which is also a very great obligation.

As you suggest, I did inquire about you while I was in Cotabato and was sorry not to see you. I hope that

we may meet upon tha occasion of my next visit.

I have read with interest your letter to your people with reference to school attendance and education. Your

arguments are sound, and if the datus and their followers can understand their situation as you do, there will be a steady

increase in Moro school attendance and in the proportion of educated Moros. Education does, indeed, offer to the Moros

their best chance of obtaining and maintaining a position of self-respect in the Philippines, whether under the approaching

Commonwealth or under an independent republic.

I congratulate you upon the birth of your son. *Who knows what developments he may see in these Islands?*

Very sincerely yours,

J. R. HAYDEN

TO:

Mr. Gumbay Piang

Cotabato, P. I.