Marcelo H. del Pilar

Explainer Video

Dasalan at Tucsohan

One of Del Pilar's most notable satirical works is "Dasalan at Tocsohan" (Prayers and Mockeries), a collection of witty and biting essays that mocked the corrupt friars and highlighted their abuses within the church. 

The text's message was to condemn the Friars by criticizing them for being God, and that the people should request forgiveness from the Friars since they became more conscious of the biases that oppressing the Friars had a reason. 

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Questions & Cues 



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Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán

August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896

He studied at the University of Santo Tomas, where he earned a law degree in 1880.

Del Pilar was a prolific writer and journalist. He wrote numerous articles and essays that criticized the Spanish government's policies in the Philippines.

Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes)

Caiigat Cayó (Beware)

La Soberanía Monacal en Filipinas (Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines)

Pasióng Dapat Ipag-alab nang Puso nang Tauong Babasa (Passion That Should Inflame the Heart of the Reader)

La Frailocracia Filipina (The Friarocracy of the Philippines)

Sagót ng España sa Hibic ng Filipinas (Spain's Answer to the Grievances of the Philippines)

Del Pilar died in Barcelona, Spain, in 1896. He was only 45 years old. He is considered one of the most important figures in Philippine history.

In 1888, he moved to Spain, where he became editor of the newspaper La Solidaridad.

He founded the newspaper Diariong Tagalog, which became a voice for the Filipino people.


Summary

Del Pilar's works were instrumental in the Philippine Revolution. They helped to raise awareness of the injustices suffered by the Filipino people under Spanish rule. They also inspired Filipinos to fight for their freedom.

Reflection:

Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán, known by his pen name Pláridel, was a prominent Filipino nationalist and satirical writer. He was born on August 30, 1850, in Bulacan, Philippines. He studied at the University of Santo Tomas, where he obtained his law degree in 1880. One of Del Pilar's most notable contributions was the founding of the newspaper "Diariong Tagalog" in 1882. The publication served as a platform for expressing nationalist sentiments and promoting social and political reforms. He also co-founded the newspaper La Solidaridad along with the Jose Rizal and Graciano Lopez.

Marcelo's style of writing is satirical or mockery using the prayers. Reading "Dasalan at tucsohan" for me is kind of sad, funny, and insulting at the same time  because it's like a form of blasphemy. Like the example above "Amain Namin" where it conveys a very strong message of opposition to the oppression of the priest that time. It also uses vulgar words like "sumpain" meaning "to condemn or cursed" to emphasize his critique. But Del Pilar only used satire to expose the hypocrisy and corruption within the religious institutions . Although, aside from satirical writings, he also succeeded as the editor of the newspaper La Solidaridad from Graciano Lopez.  The newspaper La Solidadridad become the mouthpiece of the propaganda movement. 

Overall, Marcelo Hilario del Pilar was a significant figure in the Filipino nationalist movement, known for his satirical writings and his contributions to newspapers like "Diariong Tagalog" and "La Solidaridad." Del Pilar's influence extended beyond satirical writing. He co-founded the newspaper "La Solidaridad" alongside Jose Rizal and Graciano Lopez. As the editor of "La Solidaridad," he played a crucial role in making it the mouthpiece of the propaganda movement, which aimed to raise awareness about the plight of the Filipino people under Spanish colonial rule and advocate for reforms.