PASCUAL H. POBLETE (1857-1921)
THRICE imprisoned by Spanish and American authorities for his nationalistic writings, Pascual H. Poblete is probably one of the most versatile journalists produced by the Filipino race. He edited he Tagalog section of the first bilingual newspaper in the Philippines, the Diariong Tagalog, and Marcelo H. del Pilar the Spanish section. Del Pilar or Plaridel, of course, was the more mature of the two Filipino journalists, and much feared by the Spanish friars, being a lawyer. Poblete, on the other hand, was seven years younger than Plaridel, and had only finished a normal course. He could not pursue higher studies by reason of poverty.
But Poblete, a native of San Roque, Naik was destined to play a more varied role in the national life of the country. In the field of journalism his contributions included the publications of the Revista Popular de Filipinas (Popular Review of the Philippines), which started September 1, 1888; the Revista Catolica de Filipinas (Catholic Review of the Philippines), October 14; and later the Patnubay ng Catolico (Catholic Guide); the El Resumen (The Review), which started the reform movement in the Philippines; El Bello Sexo. (The Fair Sex), January 1901; El Hogar (The Home), January 11, 1893; and Ang Pleigong Tagalog (The Tagalog Paper).
Appointed member of the pacification campaign in Nueva Vizaya by Spanish Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera, Poblete later incurred the wrath of the Spanish authorities. He was separated from the government as a “dangerous man,” and finally held “incomunicado”. Then on October 12, 1896, he was banished to Spain as a political prisoner. However, this did not dater him from putting out the paper El Progreso de Madrid (the Progress of Madrid), which was managed by a Spanish friend. He befriended other influential Spanish liberals, including Overseas Minister Segismundo Moret, who secured his release from prison.
Returning to Manila in 1899, he was arrested again by the American authorities and imprisoned in Fort Santiago. After his release he began contributing articles to several Manila dailies including the Taliba, La Vanguardia, El Mercantil. A great admirer of Dr. Rizal, he published several articles about the hero. It was an article published in July 1901 that Poblete broached the idea of setting up a Rizal monument on the Luneta. Consequently, the Philippine Commission approved Act No. 243 authorizing a fund campaign for the erection of the monument.
Poblete also wrote dramas and zarzuelas (song and dance skits) in Tagalog. The presentation of his play entitled Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Native Land) so irked the American authorities that Poblete and Pedro Reyes, the director of the play, were ordered arrested. Poblete likewise wrote many other literary works in Tagalog.
A virtual human dynamo, Poblete was one of the organizers of the first labor union in the Philippines and of the Partido Nacionalista (Nationalista Party). He also helped Isabelo de los Reyes and Father Gregorio Aglipay organize the Philippine Independent church.
Born on May 17, 1857, to a poor Naik couple, Francisco Hicaro and Maria Poblete, Pascual adopted his mother’s surname perhaps because the Pobletes were known all over Cavite. His wife, Leonicia Rieta of Manila having died and left him five children, Poblete decided to marry again, his second wife being a Spanish lady, Rafaela Alemany, by whom he had seven children. He died of heart attack on February 5, 1921 at the age of 64.
[Sources: (1) Leon S. del Rosario, “Pascual H. Poblete: Father of Tagalog Writers,” Philippines Free Press, date of publication inadvertently misplaced; (2) Eminent Filipinos. Manila, National Historical Commission, 1965; (3) Nati Nuguid, “a Hero was Born,” Saturday Mirror Magazine, June 21, 1958; and (4) Remedios F. Sarino, “Pascual H. Poblete,” Prominent Caviteños in Philippine History. Copyright by Esteban A. de Ocampo, 1941.]