Jose maria Panganiban

JOSE MARIA E. PANGANIBAN

(1863-1890)

Propagandist

On December 1, 1934, Act No. 4155 renamed the mining town of Mambulao, Camarines

Norte to Maria Panganiban in honor of the great propagandist who died in Spain while in pursuit

of reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. Jose Maria Panganiban was born

in Mambulao, Camarines on February 1, 1863. He was the eldest of the three sons of Vicente

Panganiban, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan and Juana Enverga, a native of Mauban, Tayabas (now

Quezon).

Panganiban developed his interest in reading at an early age from reading the cartilla,

caton and catecismo taught by his mother. Once, his mother found him under a tree, sleeping

obviously from reading Don Quixote, the book of Cervantes, found beside him.

Since his mother died when he was a little boy, Panganiban grew up in the care of his

father, the clerk of court in Daet, the capital town of the province. His father sent him to the

seminary of Nueva Caceres (now Naga) and became the protégé of the seminary rector Fr.

Santonja. He earned the praises of his teachers because of his aptitude to easily absorb his lessons.

He was good at writing and was articulate in expressing his ideas. Because of this, the Spanish

Governor-General Domingo Moriones who happened to be visiting the province and heard him

speak during a school program commended him. In April 1878, he wrote A Nuestro Obispo in

honor of Bishop Francisco Gainza who was on a visit to Mambulao.

Father Santoja became instrumental for Panganiban’s studies in Manila. The priest

recommended him to the College of San Juan de Letran where he obtained his degree of Bachelor

of Arts in 1883. Wanting to become a medical practitioner, he took up medical courses at the

University of Santo Tomas and at the same time taking vocational courses in agriculture at Letran

so that in 1885, he received the title of Agricultural Expert.

Panganiban participated in literary scientific contests at the UST and earned prizes. The

first was in 1885 when he won second place. In 1887, he won first prized for each of his three

papers on General Pathology, Therapeutics and Surgical Anatomy. Fr. Gregorio Echevarria, the

rector of the University, had his works printed and exhibited in the Exposition of 1887 in Madrid.

In May 1888, Panganiban sailed for Spain and continued his medical studies at the

University of Barcelona, where he met other Filipino students. Drawn to the propaganda

movement, Panganiban quit his dream of becoming a doctor. He joined liberal organizations like

the Asociacion Hispano-Filipino and the La Solidaridad that both of which aimed for reforms in

the Philippines. On April 25, 1889, Panganiban was one of the signers of the petition to the Spanish

Minister of Colonies, requesting for Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes. While in Spain,

he learned other languages like German, Italian, and French, adding to the Spanish and Latin he

learned during his student days in the seminary of Nueva Caceres. He was able to translate into

Spanish the book of German author Carl Julius Weber entitled: Die Religio und Die Religionen

(Religion and Other Religions).

Using pseudo names like JMP or Jomapa, he wrote the following articles El Pensamiento,

La Universidad de Manila: Su Plan de Estudio, and Los Nuevos Ayuntamientos de Filipinas came

out in different editions of the propaganda newspaper La Solidaridad. In El Pensamiento, he

advocated freedom of the press while in La Universidad, he criticized the educational system

exercised by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines. A versatile writer, he composed poems and

wrote short stories. Among his poems were: Ang Lupang Tinubuan, Noches en Mambulao, Sa

Aking buhay, Bahia de Mambulao, La Mejerde Oro, and Amor mio. His two short stories Clarita

Perez and Kandeng were published in the La Solidaridad after his death.

Panganiban worked hard in the Propaganda Movement even after contracting

tuberculosis. With his meager allowance, he worked in the midst of hunger and sickness. On July

5, 1899, he wrote to Jose Rizal urging the latter to carry on the work they started saying: “Whatever

we have already started should be pushed through even at the sacrifice of our lives, our honor, and

fortunes.” He wished that he had the same strength as before so that he could work with his

compatriots to the end.

On August 19, 1890, death came to him in his boarding house at No. 2 Rambla de

Canaletas, Barcelona. He was buried in grave No. 2043 of the Southwest Cemetery of Barcelona.

Dr. Domingo Abella, a historian, did a great service to this nation by locating the remains of his

province mate in Spain and in bringing them back to the Philippines.

The Filipino propagandists in Europe mourned Panganiban’s death. Rizal saluted him as

an “excellent companion of labor and difficulty…endowed with uncommon talent, with privileged

intelligence, and with indefatigable industry, was one of the sacred, legitimate hopes of his

unfortunate country.”

WORKS OF JOSE MARIA PANGANIBAN

Jose Ma. Panganiban y Enverga (February 1, 1863 - August 19, 1890) was a Bicolano propagandist, linguist, and essayist. He is one of the main writers and contributors for La Solidaridad, writing under the pen names "Jomapa" and "J.M.P."

ACTIVITIES FOR PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

La Solidaridad

In May 1888, Panganiban sailed for Spain and continued his medical studies at the University of Barcelona, Spain, where he met other Filipino propagandists agitating for reforms in the colony. He joined reformist groups such as the Asociacion Hispano-Filipina and La Solidaridad because he believed in instituting reforms in thePhilippines, and used the pen names "Jomapa" and "J.M.P."

On April 25, 1889 Panganiban signed a petition addressed to the Spanish Minister of Colonies, requesting Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.While in Spain, he learned other languages like German, Italian, and French, adding to the Spanishand Latin he learned during his student days in the seminary of Nueva Caceres (Naga City, Camarines Sur). He was able to translate into Spanish the book of German author Carl Julius Weber entitled: Die Religio und Die Religionen (Religion and Other Religions).

Being one of the writers of the La Solidaridad, he called the attention of the Spaniards on the freedom of the press and criticized the educational system in the Philippines. His works were recognized by Jose Rizal who even said "He was a true orator, of easy and energetic words, vigorous in concepts and of practical and transcedental ideas". Among the articles he published were "El Pensamiento", "La Universidad de Manila: Su Plan de Estudio", and "Los Nuevos Ayuntamientos de Filipinas". He continued to write popems and short stories, including "Ang Lupang Tinubuan", "Noches en Mambulao", "Sa Aking buhay", "Bahia de Mambulao", "La Mejerde Oro", "Amor mio", "Clarita Perez" and "Kandeng".

DEATH

Panganiban contracted tuberculosis and apologized to Rizal that he could not help further in the movement. He confided in Rizal that, "If I only have the strength I had before, I will work with you unto the bitter end". It is a measure of Panganiban’s patriotism and his dedication to the cause that despite the rigors of poverty and the ravages of tuberculosis, he persisted till the end in the struggle of reforms.

On August 19, 1890, he died in his boarding house at No. 2 Rambla de Canaletas, Barcelona. He was buried in grave No. 2043 of the Southwest Cemetery of Barcelona. His grave has the epitaph: Here lies the avenger of the honor of the Filipinos, written by Graciano Lopez Jaena."

The Filipino propagandists in Europe mourned Panganiban’s death. Jose Rizal eulogized Panganiban as an "excellent companion of labor and difficulty... endowed with uncommon talent, with privileged intelligence, and with indefatigable industry, (he) was one of the sacred, legitimate hopes of his unfortunate country.... What should be grieved at is the thought that he died without finishing the noble mission which his exceptional faculties had destined for him."

Dr. Domingo Abella, a historian, located the remains of his province mate in Spain and brought them back to the Philippines. His remains now lie inside the pedestal of the Jose Ma. Panganiban Monument, installed by the National Historical Institute atJose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

LEGACY

The town of Mambulao, Camarines Norte, was renamed to Jose Panganiban in honor of its native son by Act No. 4155 issued on 1 December 1934.
Panganiban Drive (formerly Calle de Legaspi), Naga City- one of Naga City's main avenue at the very heart of the city connecting Elias Angeles Street (formerly Calle Real), and Pan Philippine Highway
President Emilio Aguinaldo cited the country's appreciation of Panganiban's patriotic labors in his opening address at the Congress assembled at Malolos City, Bulacan on September 15, 1898, he (Pres. Aguinaldo) invoked the spirits of the departed heroes of the Fatherland, saying:

Illustrious spirits of Rizal, Lopez Jaena, of Marcelo del Pilar! August shades of Burgos, Pelaez and PANGANIBAN! Warlike geniuses of Aguinaldo (Crispulo-O.), and Tirona, of Natividad and Evangelista! Arise a moment from your unknown graves!

MONUMENT

Jose Maria Panganiban Monument - at Naga Central School 1, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Jose Maria Panganiban Monument - a bronze statue (9 ft. tall) installed on February 1, 1985, by the National Historical Institute in his home town Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, which contains the remains.

Jose Maria Panganiban Monuments - at the lobby of Provincial Capitol and at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, Daet, Camarines Norte