Type: Tangible Movable (Archival Holdings)
Location: In the private collection of Mariano Ponce descendants
Brief Description
The family keeps a collection of photographs (in its original/first printing) of Mariano Ponce. Most of the photographs are from the time that Ponce was in Japan as ambassador to seek assistance from the Japanese government in procuring arms and rifles that he planned to send in the Philippines.
Significance
Born in Baliwag, Bulacan onMarch 22, 1863, he was one of the founders of La Solidaridad, the propaganda paper of Filipino reformers and nationalists in Spain.Moreover, he is known as part of the triumvirate of reformers together with Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Jose Rizal. Ponce also served as secretary of General Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine Republic established by Aguinaldo.
Mariano Ponce reached out and forged international relations in Japan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Siam, and China among others. He represented the newly established Philippine government in Japan as a diplomat to work with the Japanese government and seek assistance. When he returned to the Philippines, he served as director of the newspaper El Renacimiento. He also became the representative of Bulacan in the Asemblea Filipina until 1912.
Ponce died on May 23, 1918
Commentaires