City launches Lopez Jaena Learning Resource Center and Museum

By John Noel E. Herrera

As a way of commemorating the 166th birth anniversary of Ilonggo hero Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena and to preserve his legacy, the Iloilo City Government launched the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Resource Center and Museum on Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022.

The city government said that the launching of the resource center was a showcase and a significant reminder to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Iloilo for the younger generation.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas also hoped that Ilonggos would be inspired by the way Lopez Jaena “dedicated his talents and his youth for the greater good.”

“Let us all aspire for greatness because mediocrity and apathy are one of the greatest faults of our humanity. In our veins flow the blood of greatness and heroism. Let us prove to the world that the modern Ilonggos can make great things happen,” Trenas added.

The mayor noted that the city government helped in providing the needed funding to complete the development of the hero’s ancestral home in Jaro district into another cultural heritage destination.

Trenas also emphasized that the learning resource center is a big help for the education of students as it serves as a venue for them to study and review their lessons.

“Pagkatapos sang pag-ubra naton sang sining library kag learning center, nalipay gid ako kay nakita ko ang mga kabataan ta nagakadto sa aton library, kadamo gakadto magtuon para sa exams nila,” Trenas said.

WHO IS GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA?

Graciano Lopez Jaena, one of the pillars of the Reform Movement during the Spanish occupation, was born in Jaro, Iloilo on Dec 18, 1856.

Lively and intelligent, he took writing early in life and produced a tale entitled “Fray Botod” in 1874. The satirical novel ridiculed the friars as abusive, cruel, lazy, greedy and immoral, who spoke of saintly verses but could not see their own wrongdoings.

This infuriated the Spanish clergy and Lopez Jaena was forced to leave for Spain to study medicine (which he did not finish) at the University of Valencia to avoid threats to his life.

In Spain, from huge gatherings (social and political clubs), he bravely spoke about the evils of the Spanish rule in his country; denouncing vigorously the role of the friars in introducing and maintaining obscurantism in the Philippines and in obstructing the progress of the people.

Historians regard Lopez Jaena, Marcelo del Pilar and Dr. Jose Rizal as the triumvirate of Filipino propagandists.

He was one of the founders and editors of La Solidaridad in 1888, which served as the mouthpiece of the Filipinos in Spain. As editor, Lopez Jaena did not receive any salary. His only compensation was free lodging, meals, clothing and a little pocket money for trivial expenses.

He also wrote in many publications in Europe, where his name became famous as the “Fighting Filipino Journalist” abroad.

His obsession to free his country sapped his physical strength, until he died of tuberculosis on January 20, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain. This was followed by the death of Marcelo H. del Pilar on July 4 of the same year, and of Dr. Rizal by firing squad on December 30, thus ending the great triumvirate of Filipino propagandists.

EXPANSION

Meanwhile, Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation, Inc. (DGLJFI) member Atty. Leopoldo Causing said that they are planning to expand the learning resource center to cater to more students, especially since classes are going back to normal.

“This may be a very small building to consider a standard learning resource center, but we assure you that the Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation nagahimo man sang plano to expand it, diri sa kilid naton, pwede ma expand pa to add around 100 learners more so that we can serve them well,” Causing said.

The DGLJFI initiated the construction of the then Graciano Lopez Jaena shrine, but it was stopped in 2017 due to a lack of funds.

In 2018, the DGLJFI turned over the property by way of a 50-year usufruct to the Iloilo City Government, and on Dec 16, 2020, the construction continued and was completed in December 2021 as the city government transformed it into a public library.

Trenas said that the city government planned to build more learning resource centers in the city, like the Chief Justice Ramon Avancena Library and Learning Center in Arevalo district and Justice Delfin Jaranilla Learning Center in La Paz district.

“Ngaa gina ubra ta ini? Kay gusto ta nga ma-encourage ang kabataan ta magbasa kay waay na maygabasa subong. Gusto ta ibalik ang pagbasa sang kabataan kay ti ang knowledge ara dira. Gabay pa nga with these libraries spread in the city ma-encourage man ang mga Ilonggo nga magbasa kag i-enjoy ang mga libro,” Trenas said. (With a report from PNA)