Graciano Lopez Jaena was called the “Prince of Filipino Orators.” Together with Jose P. Rizal and
Marcelo H. del Pilar, he composed the great triumvirate of the Propaganda Movement. Graciano
Lopez Jaena was called the “Prince of Filipino Orators.” Together with Jose P. Rizal and Marcelo H.
del Pilar, he composed the great triumvirate of the Propaganda Movement.
He was born in Jaro, Iloilo on December 18, 1856 to Placido Lopez and Maria Jacob Jaena, a
poor but pious couple. He was later placed under the tutelage of Father Francisco Jayme of the
Colegio Provincial of Jaro, Iloilo. His mother wanted him to become a priest but he chose to be a
physician.
He entered the San Juan de Dios Hospital as an apprentice for two years and went back to his
hometown to practice. Most of the time, he rendered his services free to the poor.
This practice brought him closer to the experiences of the people and realized the abuses committed
by the military and the soldiers. In 1874, he wrote the satire, Fray Botod. In this narrative, he
exposed the extreme greed, laziness, cruelty and lust of the friars. This got the ire of the friars and
Spanish authorities in Iloilo. He left his hometown for Manila and eventually fled to Spain in 1880.
He contributed articles to newspapers, advocating liberal measures for the Philippines and at the
same time, he went around in speaking engagements to propagate liberal ideas. It is believed that he
delivered more than a thousand speeches but only nine had been collected and published.
The organ of the Propaganda Movement was the La Solidaridad, its initial issue was published in
1889 by Graciano in Barcelona. This was later issued fortnightly through the funding of the Junta de
la Propaganda, a group of patriots in Manila, headed by Deodato Arellano.
He returned to the Philippines using an assumed name, Diego Laura to solicit more aid for the
Propaganda movement in Spain. Upon his arrival, he held meeting with the members of the Junta but
was discovered by authorities. He fled to Hongkong and proceeded to Spain. He died on January
20, 1896.
