Graciano López Jaena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Graciano López Jaena
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Graciano López y Jaena
December 18, 1856 Jaro, Iloilo, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire
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| Died | January 20, 1896 (aged 39) Barcelona, Spain
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| Resting place | Fossar de la Pedrera, Montjuïc Cemetery, Barcelona, Spain |
| Education | St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary University of Valencia |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, orator, propagandist |
| Known for | La Solidaridad |
Graciano López Jaena (born December 18, 1856 – died January 20, 1896) was a Filipino journalist, speaker, and reformer. He is known as a national hero of the Philippines. He was famous for starting the newspaper La Solidaridad.
Historians see López Jaena, along with Marcelo H. del Pilar and José Rizal, as important leaders. They were part of a group called the "propagandists." These were Filipinos who spoke out for changes in the Philippines, which was then a Spanish colony. López Jaena was the first of these leaders to go to Spain. He helped start the Propaganda Movement. This movement asked for reforms from Spain and later led to the Philippine Revolution in 1896. The Propaganda Movement helped Filipinos feel like one nation.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Graciano López Jaena was born in Jaro, Iloilo, in the Spanish Empire, on December 18, 1856. His parents were Plácido López and María Jacoba Jaena. He was baptized two days later.
His mother wanted him to become a priest. So, she sent him to study at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro. While studying, he also worked as a secretary for his uncle, Claudio López. His uncle was an honorary consul for Portugal in Iloilo.
Dream of Becoming a Doctor
Even though his mother wanted him to be a priest, Graciano wanted to be a doctor. After convincing his parents, he tried to enroll at the University of Santo Tomas. But he could not get in because his seminary did not offer the required Bachelor of Arts degree.
Instead, he became an apprentice at the San Juan de Dios Hospital. Sadly, he had to drop out due to money problems. He then went back to Iloilo to practice medicine.
Speaking Out for Justice
During this time, Graciano visited many poor people. He saw the unfairness they faced. At 18, he wrote a story called Fray Botod. This story made fun of a greedy and dishonest friar. A friar was a member of a religious order. The story showed how the friar used religion to hide his bad actions.
The friars became very angry about this story. Even though it was not officially published, copies were passed around in Iloilo. The friars could not prove that López Jaena wrote it.
He also got into trouble for refusing to lie in court. He would not say that some prisoners died naturally when it was clear they were killed by the mayor. López Jaena kept fighting for justice. Eventually, he had to leave for Spain because his life was in danger. He sailed to Spain in 1880.
Life in Spain
In Spain, Graciano López Jaena became a leading writer and speaker for Philippine reform. He added his mother's last name, Jaena, to his father's, López. This made his name "López Jaena" and helped him stand out.
He tried to continue his medical studies at the University of Valencia but did not finish. Once, José Rizal told him off for not finishing medical school. Graciano replied, "A doctor's cape should not rest on the shoulders of slaves." Rizal answered, "The shoulders do not honor the doctor's cape, but the doctor's cape honors the shoulders."
López Jaena then focused on journalism. He enjoyed his life in Barcelona and Madrid. His friends forgave his distractions because he was so talented with words. Mariano Ponce, another Filipino propagandist, said that after Graciano spoke, "the ladies waved their kerchiefs wildly, and the men applauded frantically."
Rizal noted, "His great love is politics and literature. I do not know for sure whether he loves politics in order to deliver speeches or he loves literature to be a politician."
Literary Contributions
López Jaena is remembered for his writings that helped the Propaganda Movement. He started the newspaper, La Solidaridad, which came out every two weeks. When the newspaper's office moved from Barcelona to Madrid, Marcelo H. del Pilar became the editor. López Jaena's talent can be seen in his book Discursos y Artículos Varios (Speeches and Various Articles).
Later Life and Death
Graciano López Jaena died from tuberculosis on January 20, 1896, in Barcelona. He was almost 40 years old. The next day, he was buried in a mass grave at the Montjuïc Cemetery in Barcelona. He died in poverty, and his remains have not been brought back to the Philippines.
Public Holiday
December 18, López Jaena's birthday, is a public holiday every year in Iloilo province and Iloilo City. It is called Lopez Jaena Day.
Legacy
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In his honor, the Jaro Plaza was renamed the Graciano López Jaena Park. There is also a statue of him there.
The Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc. works to keep his legacy alive. They support different ways to remember his life and work, like the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Poetry Contest.
An Order of DeMolay Chapter was started around 1965 in Jaro. This is a youth group for young men. It was named Graciano Lopez-Jaena Chapter because López Jaena was an important Freemason from Jaro.
Many streets across the Philippines are named after him to honor his memory.
Notable Works
- Fray Botod (Big-Bellied Friar)
- La Hija del Fraile (The Daughter of a Friar)
- Esperanzas (Hope)
See also
In Spanish: Graciano López Jaena para niños
