Bulacan marks Marcelo H. del Pilar Day today

MALOLOS CITY ,Philippines  – It’s a special non-working holiday in Bulacan today as the province celebrates the 161st birth anniversary of Marcelo H. del Pilar, the acknowledged father of Philippine journalism.

Alex Balagtas, curator of the Gat Marcelo H. del Pilar National Shrine at Barangay San Nicolas in Bulakan town said Del Pilar started his propaganda campaign with the publication of Diaryong Tagalog in 1882, then later continued it with the La Solidaridad published in Spain between 1889 and 1895.

In between his publication of the Diaryong Tagalog and departure for Spain, Del Pilar became the harshest critic of the friars in Bulacan, that earned him the ire of officials.

He was convinced by friends and relatives to leave for Spain to avoid persecution.

Balagtas said that Del Pilar would have not left the country over a century ago if justice was exercised fairly.

In a statement released yesterday by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bulacan chapter, they said the advancement in telecommunications technology has altered the way journalists work today but standards like accuracy, balance and fairness, along with the culture of impunity and less access to information, which were also observed during the time of Del Pilar, have remained.

Records showed that over 145 journalists in the country were killed since 1986, including seven who were slain since July last year.

Philippine Press Institute executive director Ariel Sebellino said heightened public awareness and involvement are keys to a more pro-active fight against impunity.

“It does not only takes a community of journalists to fight impunity, but a vigilant community,” he said.