In honor of the Great Propagandist who is known for his pen-name Plaridel, this shrine in Sitio Cupang, Barangay San Nicolas, Bulakan, Bulacan was first conceived in 1955 by the Samahang Bulacan, a group of patriotic Bulakeños led by its president, poet Jose Corazon de Jesus. To formally begin the construction of the shrine, ground-breaking ceremonies were held on August 30, 1956 led by then President Ramon Magsaysay. The ceremony was also attended by Plaridel’s grandson, Rev. Fr. Vicente Marasigan S.J. who blessed the site.
The historical landmark was declared as a National Shrine on July 7, 2006 upon the issuance of the National Historical Institute (NHI), now National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), of Board Resolution No. 01, s. 2006 and from hereon was known as Marcelo H. Del Pilar Shrine. The historical marker which was installed in 1939 by the Philippines Historical Committee, forerunner of the NHI, was replaced with a revised text on January 17, 2012.
Located at the center of the shrine is the colossal monument of Plaridel which is ten-foot tall. Made of cement mixed with crushed bronze, it was sculptured by famous Maloleño artist Apolinario P. Bulaong.
The hero’s remains which were entombed at the Mausoleum de los Veteranos de la Revolucion, Manila North Cemetery, after it was brought back to the country in 1920, is now interred at a tomb underneath his statue.
On the other side, at the back of the stage where the monument stands is the mausoleum which was constructed for the remains of the departed family members of Plaridel, among whom is Marciana “Tsanay” Del Pilar, his wife. The hero’s clan religiously visits the mausoleum annually for All Saints’ Day commemoration.
Also, the family sends a representative to speak in behalf of them during Plaridel’s birth anniversary every August 30 of the year.
At the rear portion of the shrine situates a museum-library which many has mistaken as a replica of the hero’s house which was burned while Plaridel was in Spain. This was built upon the allocation of appropriate funding ordered by then President Fidel V. Ramos when he led Plaridel’s Death Centennial Anniversary held at the historic site on July 4, 1996.
The said museum-library is open to the public for free. It houses several historical artifacts and documents including a compilation of all original issues of the reformist newspaper La Solidaridad which was edited by Plaridel, however this is currently being digitalized processed at NHCP in Manila for digitalization. Also, Tsanay’s small Sto. Nino ivory-made figurine which survived the fire that burned their house was formerly at the museum but is now being taken care of one of family members while an appropriate showcase for it is being fabricated.
Three stud buttons of Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar’s uniform were also featured in the museum after an American collector handed it back to the NHCP.
According to Alex L. Balagtas, curator of the shrine and cluster head of Bulacan and Zambales provinces, it is a challenge for them to look for relics, artifacts, documents and memorabilia due to the fire that gutted the original house, leaving only a few of their possessions. Also, Tsanay’s way of helping his husband in funding the La Solidaridad was by selling some of their valuable belongings.
Moreover, the NHCP holds two annual events in the shrine which is Del Pilar’s birth anniversary every August 30 and death anniversary every July 4 of the year.
Mahabang preparasyon, magarbong selebrasyon – this is how the shrine curator described the August 30 celebration as it is being attended by 60-70 delegations from various sectors in the municipality as well as the province. It is also declared a province-wide holiday in Bulacan.
Meanwhile, the death commemoration is done through an annual lecture series focusing on the academe, the press and the masonry, Plaridel being recognized as the Father of Philippine Journalism and Father of Philippine Masonry.
While these two annual events continue, Mr. Balagtas said that they will intensify their efforts in conducting public programs such as exhibits, lecture-series and film showings. They also conduct Summer Youth Art Workshops is in cooperation with the Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Parish to encourage students and out-of-school youth to engage in music, theatre and visual arts including vanishing arts and crafts.
Apart from these, the shrine is also open as itinerary for educational trips especially for interested students and tourists. As of now, there is no entrance fee or other fees to be paid for this purpose and for the other activities held in the shrine.
However, according to Mr. Balagtas, they welcome donations for the upkeep and maintenance of the shrine. He also said that publications sold there can be availed at a lower price as they only rate them the cost of printing.
Plans and proposals for the modernization of the national shrine are already in progress so that they can compete with other establishments when it comes to providing learning and information to people.
One of these is the creation of a “Museo ng Propaganda” which will highlight Del Pilar’s life, ideals, writings and heroism and Bulacan as a cradle of heroism. This will be raised in the second floor of the museum-library. Meanwhile, the ground floor will have a multi-purpose, E-learning and audio-visual rooms, and a resource center.
They are hoping that these projects will help in attracting more people to visit the shrine. Last year, 2013, they had more than 16,000 visitors and in the coming years, they are hoping to increase it. They are also studying all possible means of promoting the shrine, other than conducting various programs, such as using the social media.
Moreover, though they are quite satisfied with the help the local government unit is extending to them, Mr. Balagtas said that they are still hoping for more concerted effort with regards to conducting historico-cultural activities.
The family of Del Pilar is also helpful when it comes to funding projects like when the Alagad ni Plaridel, a group of Del Pilar descendants and supporters led by granddaughter, Atty. Benita Marasigan-Santos as chairperson and Mr. Balagtas as Executive Director, in cooperation with DepEd-Bulacan and the NHCP held on-the-spot essay writing and declamation competitions in schools within the province wherein the family provided portion of the total cash prizes. In fact, it was through the initiative of Atty. Marasigan-Santos, daughter of Anita Del Pilar-Marasigan, Plaridel’s youngest daughter that the entire birthsite was donated to the Bulacan Provincial Government and later on was turned-over to the NHI on August 30, 1983. It was then that historic site was known as Marcelo H. Del Pilar Historical Landmark.