n February 15, 1889, the first issue of La

Solidaridad came out and its editorial expressed

its aim:
Our aspirations are modest, very modest.
Our program, aside from being simple, is
clear: to combat reaction, to stop all
retrogressive steps, to extol and adopt
liberal ideas, to defend progress; in a word,
to be a propagandist, above all, of
democratic ideas in order to make these
supreme in all nations here and across the
seas.
The aims, therefore, of La Solidaridad are
described as to collect, to gather, libertarian
ideas which are manifested daily in the field
of politics, science, art, literature, commerce,
agriculture and industry.
We shall also discuss all problems
relating to the general interest of the nation
and seek solutions to those problems in
high-level and democratic manner.
* * *

With regard to the Philippines, since she
needs the most help, not being represented
in the Cortes, we shall pay particular
attention to the defense of her democratic
rights, the accomplishment of which is our
patriotic duty.
That nation of eight million souls should
not, must not be the exclusive preserve of
theocracy and traditionalism.

History of the Filipino People. Teodoro A.
Agoncillo

The contributors of the La Solidaridad were
mostly Filipinos, such as
Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel)
Dr. Jose Rizal (Laon Laan)
Mariano Ponce (Naning, Kalipulo,
Tigbalang)
Antonio Luna (Taga Ilog)
Jose Ma. Panganiban (Jomapa)
Dr. Pedro Paterno
Antonio Ma. Regidor
Isabelo delos Reyes
Eduardo de Lete
The desire to form a purely Filipino organization
was fulfilled with the establishment in Barcelona
on December 13, 1888 ifLa Solidaridad. This
organization was a sort of rival of Morayta's
Madrid group although the two organizations
joined together in a petition addressed to the
Minister of the Colonies asking for
representation in the Cortes, abolition of
censorship of the press, and prohibition of the
practice of deporting citizens merely through
administrative orders.
The president of La Solidaridad was Rizal's
cousin, Galicano Apacible. Among the other
officers were Graciano Lopez-Jaena, vice-
president, and Mariano Ponce, treasurer. Rizal,
in London at the time, was named Honorary
President. Unfortunately, Apacible could not
hold the wrangling reformists together. It took
the prestige of Rizal and the political wisdom of
del Pilar to unite the Filipinos in Spain and to
coordinate their efforts.

But finally, in February 15, 1889, the Filipino
propagandists were able to get together behind
a new publication which they called La
Solidaridad, and which for its more than five
years of its existence became the principal
organ of the propaganda movement. It was
founded on February 15, 1889 and existed up to
November 15, 1895. Its first editor was Graciano
Lopez-Jaena but he was soon succeeded by
Marcelo H. del Pilar. La Solidaridad was a
political propaganda paper with a liberal,
reformist orientation dedicated to the task of
fighting reaction in all its forms.

Certainly an important factor limiting the
influence of the propagandists was the fact that
they wrote in Spanish, a language virtually
unknown to the masses. Furthermore,
censorship seriously limited the inflow of such
reading matter and made possession of it very
risky.
But despite all the foregoing, the influence of the
Propaganda on the revolution cannot be
discounted. True, La Solidaridaditself, Rizal's
novels, and other propaganda material had
limited circulation, but these reached the local
ilustrados who in most instances came to lead
the revolutionary forces in their provinces. The
fund-raising efforts of local committees and
masonic lodges and the clandestine attempts to
distribute these materials involved more
individuals in the campaign for reforms. The
very attempts of the government to stop the
entry of La Solidaridad and prevent its
distribution highlighted the lack of freedoms that
the propagandists were condemning.
If readership was small, seepage of information
Jose Alejandrino
Some friends of the Propaganda Movement also
contributed, notably Professor Blumentritt (
Austrian ethnologist ) and Dr. Morayta ( Spanish
Historian, university professor and statesman ).

In the last issue of La Solidaridad (November
15, 1895), M.H. del Pilar wrote his farewell
editorial saying :
We are persuaded that no sacrifices are
too little to win the rights and the liberty of a
nation that is oppressed by slavery.

The Philippines: A Unique Nation. Dr. Sonia M.
Zaide
to other groups certainly occurred. And because
what the propagandists wrote were accurate
reflections of reality, a feeling of empathy
developed wherever news of their work was
heard. The articulation of their own feelings of
oppression heightened the ferment of the
people and herein lay the continuity between
reformism and revolution despite their
diametrically opposed means and goals.


The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Renato
Constantino



1. THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT Mr. Rey Belen
2. The Propaganda Movement It was not a radical agitation to overthrow Spanish rule by a
bloody revolution but instead it was a peaceful campaign following these aims:
3. Equality of Filipinos and the Spaniards before the law Assimilation of the Philippines as a
regular province of Spain Restoration of Philippine representation in the Cortes, the law
making body of Spain Filipinization of Philippine parishes Individual liberties for the Filipinos,
such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assembly and freedom of
petition for action on all complaints
4. The Propaganda Movement The members were from the middle class families
representing the group of Filipino Intelegencia. Jose Rizal: the greatest novelist of the
movement He wrote his poetical masterpiece entitled Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)
Noli Me Tangere (1887) El Felibusterismo (1891)
5. La Solidaridad The official organ/ magazine of the Propaganda Movement Graciano Lopez
Jaena served as the first editor The first issue was published in Barcelona Spain on February
15, 1889
6. Aims of the La Solidaridad: To work for political and social reforms peacefully To present
the sad conditions in the Philippines so that Spain can remedy them To oppose the evil
influences of reaction and outmoded beliefs and practices To advocate liberal ideas and
progress To champion the just aspirations of the Filipinos to life, democracy and happiness
7. Pen Names of the Members Marcelo H. Del Pilar- Plaridel Jose Rizal- Laong Laan and
Dimasalang Mariano Ponce- Naning, Tikbalang or Kalipulako Antonio Luna- Taga-ilog Jose
Ma. Panganiban- Jomapa Dominador Gomez- Ramiro Franco
8. La Asociacion Hispano-Filipino Established in January 12, 1889 A civic society in Madrid
of the propagandists and their Spanish friends Miguel Morayta was the first president
9. La Politica de Espaa en Felipinas Organized to fight against the La Solidaridad Jose
Feced was the editor of this magazine
10. La Liga Filipina Unus instar Omnium (One like All) Founded by Jose Rizal July 03, 1892
at Ilaya Street in Tondo The constitution was written in Hong Kong with the help of Jose Ma.
Basa
11. The Constitution states: Union of the Philippine Archipelago into a compact, strong and
homogeneous body. Mutual protection of the members Defense against all violence and
injustice Encouragement of education, agriculture and commerce Study and application of
reforms
12. The Arrest of Jose Rizal July 7, 1892: Gen. Eulogio Despujol ordered Rizals arrest and
imprisonment at Fort Santiago July 15: He was put into exile in Dapitan This marked the fall
of the La Liga Filipina Some members, led by Apolinario Mabini, tried to revive the league
but the failed because many members, including Andres Bonifacio, believed that it was
useless to expect reforms from the corrupt Spaniards.
13.