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 Graciano
Lopez Jaena was a native of Jaro, Ilollo. He was born on
December 18, 1856 to parents Placido Lopez and Maria
Jacoba Jaena.
Having a very religious mother, Graciano was persuaded
by her that priesthood would be the best for him. She
enrolled her son at the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer
in Jaro. While studying, he worked as secretary to his
uncle, Claudio Lopez, who was then the Vice Consul of
Portugal in lloilo. Despite her mother's wishes,
Graciano chose to pursue a degree in Medicine.
He was denied entry at the University of Santo Tomas
because he did not have a Bachelor of Arts degree, a
course, which was not offered from his previous school.
Nevertheless, he was taught as an apprentice at the San
Juan de Dios Hospital. When he returned to Jaro,
Graciano practiced his knowledge in medicine to the
remote parts of their province.
His frequent visits to the poor and ordinary people in
the remote areas made him realize how bad their living
conditions are under the Spanish rule. He was 18 when he
garnered much strength to write Fray Botod. The
satirical novel tells story of fat, lazy and immoral
priests, who speaks nothing but saintly verses but could
not see their own wrongdoings.
This infuriated the Spanish clergy. Graciano was forced
to leave for Spain to avoid threats to his life.
While in Spain, he became the best literary and
oratorical spokesman for the restoration of freedom to
all the Filipinos. He continued his studies in medicine
at the University of Valencia but again failed to finish
it. His focus was shifted to journalism. He joined the
Propaganda Movement. He was one of the original members
who founded La Solidaridad on 1888. |
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Graciano used the pen name Diego Laura to hide his true
identity. On October 12, 1891, he published the weekly
newspaper El Latigo National, which became the
mouthpiece of the La Solidaridad.
Graciano decided to return to the Philippines. He
solicited funds needed to sustain their crusade for
freedom. The Spanish authorities felt threatened with
Graciano's exposes. Even the Bishop of Spain sent a
message to Graciano, offering him a high-paying job if
he ceased writing against them. He rejected the offer.
Graciano possessed an awesome oratorical talent. He
bravely spoke in every social gathering about the evils
of the Spanish rule in his country.
Graciano died on January 20, 1896 in Barcelona.
According to some historians, of the renowned
triumvirate of Filipino propagandists that include
Graciano, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Dr. Jose Rizal, it
was Graciano who actually started the Propaganda
Movement. |
