"Father of Philippine Masonry"

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

 (August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896)

Born on August 30, 1850 in Cupang, Bulacan. His parents were Don Julián H. del Pilar, an excellent Tagalog grammarian, speaker, and poet, and Doña Blasa Gatmaitán, familiarly known as Blasica. Don Julian was three times gobernadorcillo of the pueblo of Bulacan and afterwards oficial de mesa of the alcalde mayor of the province. The name of the family was Hilario; but pursuant to a decree of Claveria's, in 1849, the surname of the grandmother, Del Pilar, had to be added. His oldest brother, Toribio, was a priest. Del Pilar married his cousin Marciana (Tsanay). The couple had seven children (of which five died in infancy).

He Was made a Mason in Spain in 1888, and later attained the 33° and became Grand Orator of the Spanish Supreme Council. He organized the Soli­daridad Lodge No. 53 in Barcelona, Spain, which in time included liberal Filipino students in Europe. Del Pilar and Rizal of the day. He believed that oppression cannot suffer indefinitely.  As a Filipino and a Ma­son, he suffered indefinitely and indescribable hardships, but his passion for righteousness and justice encouraged his fellowmen to work unselfishly for home and country. He died away from his loved ones, but his faith was unshaken to the end, he left a legacy of determina­tion to our brethern when he said: "We must exert all efforts so that our Ven­erable Order may extend its influence to the remotest corners fostered the idea of organizing Philippine Freemasonry and the for­mer's effort resulted in authority from the Grand Oriente Espanol to do so. Nilad Lodge No. 144 was the first to be established, in January 1891, and others followed, earning for Del Pilar recognition as "The Father of Philippine Masonry". Speaking at the 1950 Annual Com­munication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands, Grand Orator RW Mauro Baradi, said in part, "a notable exponent of the Masonic faith was Mar­cello H. Del Pilar, likewise known as Plaridel.  He detested the tyrannical rule of the monastic orders of our beloved Philippines so that we may imbue the popular customs of our people with the love and liberty, equality and fra­ternity

LEGACY

-Died on July 4, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain.

-Made a Mason in a Spanish Lodge in 1889 – one of   the First Filipinos initiated in Masonry in Europe.

-Co-founded Logia Revolucion in Barcelona and revived   Logia Solidaridad No. 53 in Madrid, he became   Worshipful Master of the latter with Rizal as orator.

-He spearheaded the secret organization of Masonic   Lodges of the Philippines as a means of   strengthening the Propaganda Movement.

-Crowned 33rd Degree by Gran Oriente Espanol.

-The Plaridel Masonic Temple and his hometown are   named in his honor, adopting his pen-name   ”Plaridel.”

-He founded the “Diariong Tagalog”, the first vernacular daily newspaper and used it in publicly denouncing theab uses and oppression of the authorities.

-A well-trained lawyer and writer, he left the Philippines for Spain because of government persecution.

-He carried his fight against the rulers to Madrid where he edited “La Solidaridad”.

-Considered the greatest Filipino journalist of his time and “most intellectual leader and true soul of the   Philippine Revolution” he died of starvation away from his beloved country, a true patriot and martyr.