HOME AWAY FROM HOME - (Part 6)

By Rene Calalang
Scarborough-Canada
March 12, 2016



The Shrine, whose brief history is described from the quote below, which I took from the Internet, is located in the exact site of the house of the del Pilar clan.

And I quote:

“Heading into the 21st century, a historical marker was placed on the site in 1939 by the Philippine Historical Committee, the precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. A shrine to commemorate Plaridel was first conceived in 1955 by the Samahang Bulacan under the leadership of poet Jose Corazon de Jesus. Later the next year, on August 30, 1956 during the celebration of his birthday, a ground-breaking for the said shrine was held. The event was headed by former President Ramon Magsaysay and was blessed by Rev. Fr. Vicente Marasigan, S.J. grandson of the Del Pilar. In 1957, Speaker Jose Laurel donated a sum of Php. 49, 000 for the construction of the shrine. The development of the site as a shrine (including a bronze statue purportedly to be done by National Artists Guillermo Tolentino) was not completed, however. In August 30, 1982, a ten-foot tall statue of Del Pilar was erected at the center of the birth site. The monument was done by renowned Maloleno sculptor Apolinario P. Bulaong using cement mixed with crushed bronze. Afterwards, the 4,027 square meter birth site was donated to the Bulacan Provincial Government by the family of Plaridel’s youngest daughter, Anita Del Pilar-Marasigan through Atty. Benita Marasigan-Santos. On August 30, 1983, the site was turned over to the National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) and was from that point on, known as the Marcelo H. Del Pilar Historical Landmark.”

Some improvements were added to the shrine by the descendants of Marcelo H. del Pilar. Attorney Marasigan Santos had a mausoleum built behind the monument where the remains of the family members were re interred, among them Marcelo H del Pilar’s wife.

The second floor serves as a library, whose collection of books includes many, donated by the MALOLOS GROUP OF ONTARIO, CANADA, in which yours truly is a proud member.

BUT WHO is Marcelo H. del Pilar, you may ask? Many of us probably have a very little knowledge of one of our national heroes, especially those who grew up here in Canada, or any place abroad.

Marcelo del Pilar, known by his pen name of Plaridel, genetically belong to a nationalist clan, as two of his relatives were also heroes of the revolution, namely: General Gregorio del Pilar, the Youngest General of the Revolution and the Hero of Tirad Pass; and General Pio del Pilar.

He was a lawyer by profession, but it was a Propagandist (during the later part of Spanish occupation) exposing the abuses of the Friars through his newspaper DIARYONG TAGALOG, he would be known for.

Having drawn the ire of the Friars, he was ordered arrested, but before they could do so, he was able to escape to Spain, where in Barcelona; he joined The Reform Movement, whose members include National Heroes like Jose Rizal and Graciano Lopez Jaena. His arrival led to the founding of La Solidaridad, which would become the group’s mouthpiece. At the beginning, Graciano Lopez Jaena was its editor, but after a few issues, Marcelo H del Pilar replaced him.

As its editor, he worked very hard and made many sacrifices to make the publication successful and effective. Many times, he would miss his meals and he would suffer from hunger and fatigue. Later, as the group ran out of money and with his health affected by hunger, fatigue and lack of proper clothing; he would catch tuberculosis, which would result in his death on July 4, 1896.

On December 3, 1920, his remains were brought back to the Philippines and laid to rest at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion in the Manila North Cemetery.

After almost sixty years of being interred at the Manila North Cemetery the heroes’ remains were transferred to the site of his birth and were laid to rest under his monument for his final resting place.

In the whole country, Marcelo H del Pilar is a revered hero, but it is in the Province of Bulacan, and rightfully so, where his heroism is most recognized. Aside from his shrine, many other monuments were built and many other significant changes to existing infrastructure were done to honor him.

For example, the high school where I graduated, formerly known as the Bulacan High School was renamed Marcelo H del Pilar High School. In the small park in front of the Provincial Capitol, a monument honoring him was built. The town adjacent and northeast of Malolos City, formerly known as the Town of Quingwa, was renamed Plaridel, his pen name.

These were only a few, as there are still many others in the whole country.

Heroism comes in many different ways and forms, some in military battles and others by the power of the pen and written words. Marcelo H. del Pilar, like Dr. Jose Rizal, believing that the pen is mightier than the sword, used the POWER OF THE PEN.