Marcelo H. del Pilar was one of the greatest propagandists who sought Philippine freedom through his pen. He was born in Kupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan, on August 30, 1850 to parents Julian H. del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaitan. Marcelo was a gifted child; he can play the piano, violin and flute. He’s also good in fencing and has a wonderful voice.

His first school was the college owned by Mrs. Herminigilda Flores, then he went to San Jose College, and from there he transferred to University of Santo Tomas where he finished Law in 1880. He married and has seven children to his cousin, Marciana del Pilar.

1882, He became the editor of Diariong Tagalog -- a newspaper that strongly criticized the way the Spaniards ran the government and treated the people. He wrote satires against the Spanish friars using the pen name Plaridel. His two notable works are: "Dasalan at Tuksuhan" ("Prayers and Temptations") and "Kaiingat Kayo" ("Be Careful").

When he went to Spain, he took the place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as Editor of the La Solidaridad -- the mouthpiece of the propagandists who were working for reforms for the Filipinos. But illness from tuberculosis kept him from holding the position longer. He died on July 4, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain, away from his family.

Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitan (August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896), was a Filipino writer, journalist, and revolutionary leader of the Philippine Revolution and one of the leading Ilustrado (Knowledgeable) propagandist of the Philippine Propaganda Movement in the late 19th century. Del Pilar was one of the co-publisher and founder of La Solidaridad. He tried to marshal the nationalist sentiment of the enlightened Filipino Ilustrados, or bourgeoisie, against the Spanish imperialism. That made him one of the greatest leader of the Philippine Revolution.

The youngest of the ten children born to a wealthy family in the town of Cupang, Bulacan, Bulacan, he attended the college of Herminigilda Flores, then at the Colegio de San Jose, from where he transferred to the University of Santo Tomas where he obtained his law course in 1880. In 1882, he became the editor of Diariong Tagalog which strongly criticized the way the Spaniards ran the government. In 1888, he fled Spain fleeing from clerical persecution, leaving his family behind. He took place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as the editor of the La Solidaridad, the mouthpiece of the propagandists working for reforms for the Filipinos. From 1890 to around 1895, he edited the newspaper almost on his own because funds for the support of the fortnightly had become more and more difficult to raise in the Philippines. Del Pilar slowly lost hope in reforms and began to entertain the possibility of the Philippines separating from Spain. He died in 1896 at the age of 45 caused by hunger and tuberculosis.

Marcelo H. del Pilar was popularly known Plaridel, Dolores Manapat, Piping Dilat, Siling Labuyo, Kupang, Haitalaga, Patos, Carmelo D.A. Murgas, and L.O. Crame his pseudonyms.

Marcelo H. Del Pilar
(1850-1896)

Political analyst of the Filipino colony in Spain. Born in Kupang, Bulacan, Bulacan, on August 30, 1850. In 1882, he founded the nationalistic newspaper, Diariong Tagalog. In December 1889, he became the editor of La Solidaridad and became the moving spirit behind the propaganda movement. Died on July 4, 1896.