Life of marcelo del pilar

Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitan: (August 30, 1850—July 4, 1896) was a celebrated figure in the Philippine Revolution and a leading propagandist for reforms in the Philippines. He passed the bar examination in 1880 and began practicing law in Manila.

Before his death in Barcelona, on July 4, 1896, due to hunger and enormous privation, Del Pilar rejected the assimilationist stand and began planning an armed revolt. “Plaridel’s writings in Tagalog were forceful. Initially serving as a contributor and later as its editor-in-chief, del Pilar transformed “La Solidaridad” into a powerful platform for advocating Philippine reforms.

Under del Pilar’s leadership, “La Solidaridad” covered a wide range of topics, including:

• Political analysis and commentary
• Exposés of colonial abuses
• Discussions on social and economic reforms
• Literary works highlighting Filipino culture and identity

The newspaper’s impact can be measured by its circulation and influence:

Writing Style and Influence

Marcelo H.

del Pilar’s writing in “La Solidaridad” was characterized by its clarity, persuasiveness, and often biting satire. He wrote “Dasalan at Tuksuhan” and also made a parody of “Our Father”, where the “father” was the friar who in a way, abused the Filipinos back then.

Plaridel is the chosen “patron saint” of today’s journalists, as his life and works prized freedom of thought and opinion most highly, loving independence above any material gain.[who?] He died of tuberculosis in abject poverty in Barcelona, Spain, 1896.

del Pilar was born in Kupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan, on August 30 1850. Del Pilar, along with other prominent figures such as José Rizal and Graciano López Jaena, became key leaders of this movement.

The objectives of the Propaganda Movement included:

Del Pilar’s role in the movement was characterized by his strategic approach to advocacy.

His emphasis on education, legal reform, and the importance of a free press echoes in contemporary discussions about Philippine society and governance. Soon tuberculosis weakened him. He was a student at the Colegio de San José and later he attended the University of Santo Tomas, where he pursued a course in law and finished in 1880.

Work and Legacy

Del Pilar founded the newspaper Diariong Tagalog two years after finishing University, in 1882.

Using his pen name, Plaridel, he wrote satires against the Spanish friars, notably "Dasalan at Tuksuhan" and "Kaiingat Kayo."

In Spain, he took the place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as Editor of the La Solidaridad, the mouthpiece of the propagandists working for reforms for the Filipinos.

We will examine his literary contributions, political activism, and the profound influence he had on shaping the Philippine national identity during a pivotal period in the country’s history.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Marcelo H. del Pilar was born into a family of notable standing in Bulacan.

He affirmed this conviction, with fervour, saying: “Insurrection is the last remedy, especially when the people have acquired the belief that peaceful means to secure the remedies for evils prove futile.” These words, and the ideology therein inspired Andrés Bonifacio’s Katipunan, a secret revolutionary organisation.
Del Pilar’s militant and progressive outlook was inspired by the classic Enlightenment tradition of The French Philosophes and the scientific empiricism of the European bourgeoisie.

He contacted liberal Spaniards who would side with the Filipino cause, in an attempt to promote the objectives of the paper, and under his editorial guidance, the newspaper expanded to include: removal of friar and the secularisation of the parishes; active Filipino participation in the affairs of the government; freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly; wider social and political freedoms; equality before the law; assimilation; and representation in the Spanish Courts, or Parliament.
The money to support the paper was soon exhausted, thus increasing Del Pilar’s difficulties, and there still were no signs of any immediate response from the Spanish ruling class.

Despite these hardships, he remained committed to his cause, seeing his personal sacrifices as necessary for the greater good of his country.

La Solidaridad: The Voice of Reform

Upon arriving in Spain, del Pilar quickly immersed himself in the Filipino community and the ongoing propaganda efforts. Unlike some of his contemporaries who advocated for complete independence, del Pilar initially focused on achieving reforms within the Spanish colonial system.

As we continue to grapple with issues of national identity, social justice, and governance in the 21st century, the life and legacy of Marcelo H. del Pilar offer both inspiration and valuable lessons for the challenges that lie ahead.

His enduring influence serves as a testament to the power of ideas and the written word in shaping the destiny of nations.

He promoted the objectives of the paper by contacting liberal Spaniards who would side with the Filipino cause. His legal expertise, combined with his deep understanding of the societal issues plaguing the Philippines, made him a formidable advocate for reform.

Del Pilar’s legal career provided him with firsthand experience of the injustices and abuses perpetrated by the Spanish colonial government and the Catholic Church.

The principles he fought for – equality, justice, and the right to self-governance – remain relevant in contemporary Philippine society and continue to inspire new generations of Filipinos.

As we reflect on the life of Marcelo H. del Pilar, we are reminded of the power of the written word in shaping public opinion and driving social change.