Samahang Plaridel (Association of Philippine Journalists, Inc.), the association of veteran journalists, marks today (August 30, 2012) the 162nd birth anniversary of Marcelo H. del Pilar with a simple wreath laying ceremony at the Filipino patriot’s monument on Plaza Plaridel in Ermita, Manila.
Samahang Plaridel Chairman Neal H. Cruz, President Rolando G. Estabillo, Federico “Dick” Pascual, lead other association directors and members in paying tribute to the leading propagandist for reforms towards the end of the 300-year-old Spanish regime in the Philippines.
Samahang Plaridel was established in October 2003 with the aim of upholding freedom of the press and the dignity of the journalism profession, as well as promoting camaraderie, cooperation and understanding among journalists, particularly those who have been practitioners for 20 years or more.
Popularly known as Plaridel, Marcelo H. del Pilar was born on August 30, 1850 in Cupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan to Julian del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaytan. He was considered the leading propagandist for reforms in the Philippines.
Del Pilar’s reputation as a propagandist was already established before an order for his arrest forced him to flee the country in 1880. Gifted with the common touch, he found ready audiences in the cockpits, the plazas, and the corner tiendas of his native Bulacan. Unlike Rizal who wrote his novels in Spanish, a fact which cut him off from most Filipinos who did not know the language, del Pilar wrote his propaganda pamphlets in simple Tagalog – lucid, direct and forceful. His parodies of the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostle’s Creed, the Ten Commandments and the catechism published in pamphlets which simulated the format and size of the novenas were highly effective propaganda.
Marcelo H. del Pilar started school in the College of Mr. Jose Flores . He transferred to the College of San Jose in Manila . He finished law in 1880. Multi-talented Plaridel played the violin, the piano and the flute. He was good in fencing. He used to sing in serenades and played beautiful pieces on the violin during Flores de Mayo.
He later married his cousin Marciana del Pilar in 1878. They had seven children.
Plaridel established the Diariong Tagalog in 1882 to publish observations and criticisms on how the Spanish government in the Philippines was run.
Pedro Serrano Laktaw helped him in publishing “Dasalan at Tuksuhan” and the “Pasyong Dapat Ipa-alab ng Puso ng Taong Bayan”.
In Spain , he and Graciano Lopez-Jaena published the “La Solidaridad” which was the organ which contained their desires in improving the Philippine Government. He succeeded Lopez-Jaena as editor of the La Solidaridad.
He died a poor man on July 4, 1896 in Barcelona , Spain.