Declare Del Pilar birthday press freedom day, Congress urged

BULAKAN, BULACAN—Provincial leaders here are asking Congress to declare the celebration of Marcelo H. del Pilar’s birthday as Philippine Press Freedom Day.

A House bill sponsored by Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado seeks to make Aug. 30 as the Marcelo H. del Pilar National Responsible Press Freedom Day to honor the propagandist as father of Philippine journalism.

Alvarado said the proposed measure would recognize the works and activism demonstrated by Del Pilar, including the publication of La Solidaridad that inspired the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonial rule. Del Pilar edited La Solidaridad and founded Diyaryong Tagalog.

Born on Aug. 30, 1850, he died of tuberculosis in Spain on July 4, 1896. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE