138th Birth Anniversary of Don Isabelo de los Reyes
ISABELO de los Reyes was the “Historian of the Philippine Revolution.” The death of General Antonio Luna in June 1899, and the disbandment of the field forces of the Filipino republic led to the demise of the Heraldo de la Revolucion and Gaceta de Filipinas, official organs of the Filipino republic. Without these newspapers, the Filipino cause was subjected to a barrage of the enemy’s black propaganda.
Don Belong used his own resources to fill the gap. He established and edited the nationalistic newspapers, especially the Filipinas Ante Europa and, until President Emilio F. Aguinaldo’s capture in March 1901, led a crusade for Philippine independence and became the spokesman of the Filipino people. This newspaper, together with his many other writings and publications, recorded the many great deeds done by our forefathers during the revolution against Spain and the war for freedom against the United States.
Don Belong, as he was called by his friends and colleagues, expressed his sentiments through his many works and publications. His El Folklore Filipino earned for him the sobriquet “Father of Philippine Folklore.” His proFilipino books Sensacional Memoria Sobre la Revolucion de 1896, La Religion del Katipunan (1900), Independencia y Revolucion (1900) espoused Filipino freedom. The various newspapers he established and edited, such as El Ilocano (reputed to the first vernacular newspaper of the Philippines) and La Redencion del Obrero mirrored his deep commitment.
All his life he was dedicated to the Filipino cause and his works are concrete evidence that he lived such commitment. He was truly in the category of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, etc., for he loved no other country but his native land.
De los Reyes and Father Gregorio Aglipay, they proclaimed the birth of a truly Filipino church the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) on August 3, 1902.
De los Reyes is one sterling example of a Filipino who sacrificed so much to erase the centuries-old stigma made by foreign rulers against the Filipino people. He personified patriotism and nationalism. We hope that Filipino youth will emulate his noble example.
