18 December, 1856
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Graciano Lopez Jaena, one of the pillars of the Reform Movement during the Spanish occupation, was born in Jaro, Iloilo.
Historians regard Lopez Jaena, Marcelo del Pilar and Dr. Jose Rizal as the triumvirate of Filipino propagandists. He was one of the founders and editors of La Solidaridad in 1888, which served as the mouthpiece of the Filipinos in Spain. As editor, Lopez Jaena did not receive any salary. His only compensation was free lodging, meals, clothing and a little pocket money for trivial expenses.
He also wrote in many publications in Europe, where his name became famous as the “Fighting Filipino Journalist” abroad. His obsession to free his country sapped his physical strength, until he died of tuberculosis on January 20, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain. This was followed by the death of Marcelo H. del Pilar on July 4 of the same year, and of Dr. Rizal by firing squad on December 30, thus ending the great triumvirate of Filipino propagandists.
(Ref: Philippine News Agency; Photo from news.abs-cbn.com/global-filipino/03/11/13/graciano-lopez-jaenas-remains-still-barcelona)
