Journalists want Plaridel Day declared as National Press Freedom Day

BULAKAN, Bulacan, Philippines – Followers of Marcelo H. del Pilar, along with the National Press Club (NPC), urged the government to declare the birth anniversary of the Bulakenyo hero, Aug. 30, as National Press Freedom Day.

Media practitioners from different parts of the country, along with campus journalists and civic groups, participated in the first Media Camp organized by the NPC to honor Del Pilar as the “Great Propagandist.”

The ceremony was held at the Gregorio del Pilar Memorial Elementary School here yesterday.

Alex Balagtas, curator of Museo ni Marcelo H. del Pilar and head of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines Bulacan-Zambales chapter, and the NPC led by Joel Egco, said the gathering aims to promote the birthday of Marcelo H. del Pilar as National Press Freedom Day in honor of his contributions to the country’s independence as a journalist-revolutionary.

The birth date of Del Pilar, also known by his pen name Plaridel, is being observed annually in his hometown of Bulakan. The media camp conducted by KAMPI, which started yesterday, culminates today.

Balagtas said Egco has promised that the media camp will be held annually at the shrine of Del Pilar.

“Our hero and press freedom icon was revered for his heroism. Since his death, Gat Plaridel’s role in sowing the seeds of press freedom that we enjoy now has been relegated to the sidelines. It is high time that his day be given full national attention and importance by joining the clamor for the declaration of his birthday as National Press Freedom Day,” the groups said in a statement.

The call for the celebration of the National Press Freedom Day came in the wake of the spate of murders of journalists across the nation this month.

Teodoro Escanilla, 59, a radio anchor for station dzMS, chairman of Anakpawis and spokesman of the human rights group Karapatan in Sorsogon, was gunned down in his home in Barangay Tagdon, Barcelona, Sorsogon last Aug. 19.

Gregorio Ybanez, 65,  a writer for the local newspaper Bagting sa Katilingban and a member of the board of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, was shot dead by unknown assassins on Aug. 18.

Cosme Diez Maestrado, a broadcaster and anchor of dxOC, an affiliate of dzXl Radio Mindanao Network, was gunned down by unidentified gunmen last Thursday in downtown Ozamiz City.

Last Friday, a café owned by Anthony Taberna of ABS-CBN was attacked by unidentified gunmen.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III cited the incidents which, he said, have remained unresolved.               – With Marvin Sy