The nation marks today the 154th birth anniversary of the patriot Marcelo H. del Pilar, one of the leaders of the 19th century reform movement that eventually led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against Spain. Del Pilar is also acknowledged as the Father of Philippine Journalism because of his stewardship of the organ La Solidaridad which advocated reforms and even separation from the Spanish colonial regime.
Del Pilar, who is also known by his nom de plume “Plaridel,” was one of the first “overseas Filipino journalists” who gained recognition all over the world. Plaridel inspired many Filipinos who are now in or have held positions of responsibility in newsroom in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Seattle and other foreign capitals.
Four of them – Cheryl Diaz-Meyer, Byron Acohido, Alex Tizon and the late statesman Carlos P. Romulo – have even won the Pulitzer Prize, which many consider the highest journalism award in the world.
But Plaridel’s greatest legacy is the development of free expression in the Philippines even before the country adopted the supposedly democratic institutions of American political society. It cannot be denied that corruption in media is still rife. But there are still print and broadcast journalists who, like Plaridel, knowingly risk life and limb to denounce wrongdoing, promote good government and help develop a nation.
The real benefits of a free press are that citizens are given sufficient information that will allow them to make intelligent decisions and the proper for a where they can express their sentiments to leaders who claim to represent them. But much still needs to be done to ensure genuine, lasting and meaningful freedom of expression in the Philippines.
For one, the Revised Penal Code still holds defamation as a criminal offense when it is only a civil offense in countries like the United States. We support congressional initiatives to decriminalize libel. We support such moves not because we eschew public accountability and want to be “above the law.” We support such moves because a press existing under the threat of retribution is not a free press.
We also support calls to make the press more accountable to the public whose interests we profess to serve. We believe that making the press more accountable is the safest way to ensure freedom of expression. But the accountability system that will be adopted must be free of government interference because our national experience has shown that laws curtailing civil liberties can easily be twisted to favor personal and vested interests.
Del Pilar was forced to flee to Spain because he had feared officials retribution if he stayed. In the 108 years since his death and 106 years since the birth of the Republic, we hope the Filipino people have grown old enough to appreciate and value the freedom for which Plaridel fought and died.