Ilonggos honor Jaena’s reformist writings, cultural advocacy

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Ilonggos marked the 169th birth anniversary of Graciano López Jaena by honoring the pioneering journalist from Jaro, Iloilo, whose work left a lasting legacy in literacy and reformist writing during the Spanish colonial period.

The Iloilo City government, the Dr. Graciano López Jaena Foundation, and the hero’s descendants led a wreath-laying ceremony at his statue in Jaro Plaza on Dec. 18.

Historian Joyce Christine Colon from West Visayas State University said literacy for López Jaena was both a torch and a weapon against ignorance and colonial oppression.

“He brought the grievances of his people and his advocacy for reforms right into the heart of Spanish power in Spain. As a journalist and an orator, he staunchly defended the dignity and honor of his people and strongly advocated for their freedom, human rights, and welfare,” Colon said.

López Jaena founded and edited La Solidaridad, where he was able to produce numerous satirical writings, speeches, and essays that critiqued Spanish colonial abuses and championed Filipino reforms.

His satirical short story Fray Botod, written at age 18, targeted Spanish friars’ corruption during colonial rule.

Another satirical novel, La Hija del Fraile (The Friar’s Daughter), criticized Spanish colonial society, particularly interracial relationships and friar influence, through a tragic narrative exposing exploitation and social hypocrisy.

She added that during the 1887 Exposición General de Filipinas in Madrid, López Jaena also protested the mistreatment of indigenous delegates, including the death of a woman from Jolo due to inadequate medical attention and poor living conditions.

Colon shared that the Ilonggo hero, through speeches delivered in Spain, challenged colonial stereotypes of Filipinos as uncivilized, citing archaeological evidence of precolonial civilization and criticizing colonial policies that perpetuated ignorance despite Filipinos’ historical defense of the archipelago.

“Literacy for him is persuasive and courageous. It should be used for advocating one’s principles and ideals for the common good of the people and the community. It is also used for courage in speaking the truth,” Colon added.

Francis Cruz, the husband of one of López Jaena’s descendants, said that in the age of fake news, journalism and accurate storytelling are vital and that it is crucial to remember the truth and the sacrifices made by the country’s heroes.

While López Jaena’s works are widely recognized, Cruz stressed that he should be recognized nationally just like his counterparts, such as Jose Rizal.

He said the recognition of his ancestor as a national hero will give prominence to younger generations in appreciating the stories of local heroes.

“What we are trying to do, for one, is to make it a national holiday. What we have right now is a holiday at the regional level, like Panay,” he said.

“He should be a national hero who fought for our freedom from the Spanish after 300 years. He’s one of the first who sparked the revolution to start the freedom of the Philippines, and yet he’s only recognized regionally,” he added.

Dec. 18 is observed as López Jaena Day under Republic Act No. 6155, enacted in 1970, which originally declared it a public holiday in Iloilo City and Iloilo province.

Republic Act No. 9070 was approved in 2001, extending the holiday’s observance nationwide as a special working public holiday.