Marcelo H. Del Pilar: His Religious Conversions

The coincidence of the celebration of two death centennials this year, namely, that of Jose Rizal (December 30) and that of Marcel del Pilar (July 4th) is likely to attract our attention mostly on the National Hero , to the disadvantage of Del Pilar. This is not surprising. Del Pilar's figure remains rather obscure in the popular mind. His biography lacks the poetry and romanticism of Rizal the poet and the novelist; it is associated with his legal frame of mind and the monotony of his work behind his desk as editor of La Solidaridad. His formative years have been completely ignored: and the circumstances of his death remains a mystery. And while the retraction of Rizal on the eve of his death has kept his memory aflame through decades of heartfelt discussions, has somebody ever asked whether Marcelo del Pilar, higher ranking mason than Rizal by many degrees, retracted his religious conviction and returned to the bosom of the Church before his death? Perhaps the centennial of his death is the most fitting occasion to study this aspect of his life.