BULAKAN, Bulacan — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. on Wednesday (Aug. 30) graced the commemoration of the 173rd Birth Anniversary of Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar or “Marcelo Day” at the Shrine of the “great propagandist” in Sitio Cupang, Barangay San Nicolas here.
Anchored on the theme “Marcelo H. Del Pilar Liwanag ng Nakaraan, Tanglaw natin sa Kasalukuyan,” Abalos including Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro, town-host Mayor Patrick Meneses, and Vice Mayor Aika Sanchez, PRO 3 Regional Director General Jose S Hidalgo Jr., Bulacan Provincial Director Col. Relly Arnedo and officials of National Press Club, Central Luzon Media Association and Bulacan Press Club led the flag raising and the wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Del Pilar.
“The future will not be any more determined by the resources of gold and silver but technology. Those rich and powerful persons nowadays like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jack Ma among others use technology,” Abalos said.
The secretary believed that technology is the future of our youth in today’s world.
“At kung may isang bagay man na hindi magbabago ay ang katangian ng katapangan, kadakilaan at pagmamahal. At kung mayroon mang problema na hindi magbabago noon man at ngayon, ’yan ay ang problema ng kahirapan, kagutuman at problema sa droga,” Abalos added.
He added, For evil to triumph, it is for all good men to do nothing. Importante ang gumalaw tayong lahat. Importanteng makiisa tayo at ito ang ipinakita ni Gat. Marcelo H. Del Pilar.
On his part, Gov. Fernando also believed that Gat. Marcelo H. del Pilar as a journalist and with the sharpness of his pen is the one who lit the torch to kindle the flame of revolution in the heart and spirit of every Filipino.
“Sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Del Pilar, ang layunin ng pahayagan ay pinalawak gaya ng aktibong pagsali ng mga Pilipino sa mga gawain ng pamahalaan, kalayaan sa pagsasalita, sa pamamahayag at kalayaan sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng lipunan at pulitika,” Fernando added.
Del Pilar was a key figure in the struggle against Spanish occupation and one of the leaders of the Philippine propaganda movement.
Also known as “Plaridel”, he became the editor-in-chief of La Solidaridad, the newspaper of Filipino propagandists who pushed for the Philippines to become a province of Spain and afford the citizens the same rights as those in the mainland.
Del Pilar was born on August 30, 1850, in Cupang, San Nicolas, Bulakan, Bulacan, and died on July 4, 1896, in Barcelona, Spain.
Under Republic Act 7449, every 30th of August was declared a special non-working holiday in this province.
Every August 30, Del Pilar Day is also marked as National Press Freedom Day after former President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 116991 declaring the annual Marcelo Del Pilar Day as National Press Freedom Day. (UnliNews Online)
