Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Lagman was a prominent Filipino propagandist known by his pen name "Plaridel." He was born in 1850 in Bulacan and studied at Colegio de San Jose and Universidad de Santo Tomas. He began his career as a propagandist in 1880, founding the newspaper Diariong Tagalog and organizing demonstrations against the Spanish friars. In 1888, he traveled to Europe and founded the newspaper La Solidaridad to advocate for Philippine reforms from abroad. As the newspaper's editor, he published numerous essays criticizing Spanish rule until his death from tuberculosis in 1896.

1. Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Lagman

2. Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Lagman(Plaridel) Known Political analyst of the Filipino colony in Spain One of the leading Ilustrado Propagandist Considered as the father of Philippine Masonry

3. Early Life (birth, education ,family) Born in Kupang, Bulacan, Bulacan on august 30, 1850 Son of Don Juan H. del Pilar and DonyaBlasa Gatmaitan He inherited his love for arts from his poet father He learned his first letters from his paternal uncle Alejo

4. Education Took a Latin course in the school of Jose Flores and then transferred to Colegio de San Jose, where he finished his Bachelor of Arts Degree Also studied at Universidad de Santo Tomas, where he obtained his law degree in 1880

5. Career as Propagandist His brother was tortured and exiled because of accusation of complicity in the 1872 mutiny which resulted in the early demise of his mother He began his career as his country’s evangelist in 1880 when he took the field to campaign against the forces that stifled freedom and progress in the Philippines In 1882, he founded the nationalistic newspaper DiariongTagalog He organized anti- friar demonstrations In 1887, he was the number one Filibustero in the Bulacan Province

6. To Europe He left the Philippine before any reprisal from the Spanish Government He wrote an inflammatory pamphlet while enroute to Europe: SagotngEspanyasaHibikng Filipinas Upon arriving in Barcelona on 1888, del Pilar discharged his instructions from Manila committee. A few days later La Solidaridad was born In 1889, he became the editor of La Solidaridad after Graciano Lopez Jaena where he published 150 essays and 66 editorials under nom de plumePlaridel, he also uses other pen names, Piping Dilatand SilingLabuyo

7. His cogent and most reasoned piece of writing, La soberaniamonacal en Filipinas (Friar supremacy in the Philippines) presented a detailed indictment of friars in the Philippines. His versatility as wrtiter- propagandist using biting biting satire, impassioned appeals, and persuasive arguments were incontrovertible .

8. Death While working for the country he often missed meals, at first because of his busy schedule but later because he had no money to buy food as the newspaper run out of funds. Fatigue, hunger and lack of clothing made him gravely ill. He died of tubercolosis on July 4, 1896

9. Sample Works He wrote an eloquent reminder of the regime: “To govern is to bring about the well- being of the governed, to guarantee the free exercise of their rights to ensure the tranquility of the home and the family. If instead of all this, it happens that the government becomes simply an institution of authority and to symbolize the eternal violation of individual rights, what adherence, what loyalty, can be hoped from he governed to their government? And is it possible to sustain in the long run, a colonial regime that operates against the well- being and tranquility of the people?”

10. 10 commandments of the friars: (by Plaridel) Thou shalt worship and love the friars Thou shalt not cheat them of their stipends Thou shalt sanctify the friars, Sundays or holidays Thou shalt pawn thyself to pay for the burial of thy father or mother Thou should not die if thou hast the money to pay for thine internment Thou shalt not covert his wife Thou shalt not accused accuse him even if thou become a liar Thou shalt not refused him your wife Thou shalt not steal with him Thou shalt not deny him his property