A WREATH-LAYING ceremony was held on Saturday to commemorate the 175th birth anniversary of Marcelo H. Del Pilar led by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, the Association of Philippine Journalists-Samahang Plaridel Foundation Inc. (APJ-SPFI) and the Manila Police District. Evelyn Quiroz, president of APJ-SPFI, highlighted Del Pilar’s continued influence on the journalism landscape. “His dedication to the truth has guided many journalists over the years,” she said, urging members of the press to live by the values of what she calls the “patron saint” of Philippine journalism. “In this age where it is easy to spread fake news, let us remain steadfast in exposing the truth,” Quiroz added. Coinciding with National Press Freedom Day, Del Pilar, who used the pen name “Plaridel,” was a journalist who used his writings to expose the abuses of the friars during the Spanish colonial rule through his “La Soberania Monacal,” or the Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines. He also co-founded the “Diariong Tagalog,” a nationalist and anti-friar publication, and edited the historic “La Solidaridad,” the publication of the Filipino propagandists based in Spain, which advocated for liberal reforms and representation in the Spanish Cortes. In 1889, he defended the Philippine National Hero Jose P. Rizal’s infamous novel “Noli Me Tangere” against attacks from friars. Moreno, in his speech, reminded journalists of their crucial role in today’s media landscape. “There’s so much noise meant to confuse our people. It is good that journalists continue to provide socially relevant stories,” he said. He also cautioned against the risks posed by unchecked use of new technologies. “AI (artificial intelligence) is really dangerous — anyone can act like a journalist now,” he said, stressing the need for accuracy, fairness and excellence in the field. Del Pilar died of tuberculosis on July 4, 1896, in Barcelona. His remains were later repatriated in 1920 and initially interred in Manila before being transferred to his hometown in Bulacan in 1984.