Hundreds of Bulakenyos gathered at the farming village of Sitio Kupang in Bgy. San Nicolas in Bulakan town on Tuesday, Aug.30 to commemorate the 172nd birth anniversary of Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the “Great Propagandist” of the Philippine Revolt against Spanish colonial rule.
The Provincial Government of Bulacan, headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro and Bulacan First District Rep. Danilo Domingo joined officials from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in the commemoration marked by wreath-laying, prayers led by Rev. Fr. Javier M. Joaquin, and messages extolling Del Pilar's bravery and virtues from Fernando, Rep. Domingo, and Mayor Vergel Meneses of the municipality of Bulakan.
Rep. Domingo urged the modern Plaridel in today's generation to be fair and responsible journalists. Del Pilar is acknowledged as the “patron saint” of Filipino journalists.
Bulakenyos annually remember on August 30 the heroism, patriotism, and sacrifices of Del Pilar who left a life of luxury as a lawyer and chose to live as a freedom fighter through his pen during the Philippine revolution against Spain.
In 1882, Del Pilar established the Diariong Tagalog and wrote various anti-clerical pamphlets such as Dasalan at Tocsohan and Cai-igat Cayo. He joined Jose Rizal and other Filipino expatriates in Europe and initiated the Reform Movement against Spanish colonial rule.
Del Pilar was born in Bulakan, Bulacan. He was suspended at the Universidad de Santo Tomás and imprisoned in 1869 after he quarreled with a parish priest over exorbitant baptismal fees.
In the 1880s, he expanded his anti-friar movement from Malolos to Manila.He went to Spain in 1888 after an order of banishment was issued against him. Twelve months after his arrival in Barcelona, he succeeded López Jaena as editor of the La Solidaridad