La Solidaridad (The Solidarity) was

an organization created in Spain

on December 13, 1888. Composed
of Filipino liberals exiled in 1872
and students attending Europe's
universities, the organization
aimed to increase Spanish
awareness of the needs of its
colony, the Philippines, and to
propagate a closer relationship
between the colony and Spain.[1]
Headed by Jos Rizal's cousin,
Galicano Apacible, it also issued a
newspaper of the same name
which was published in Barcelona,
Spain on February 15, 1889. It was
edited by Graciano Lpez Jaena
and later on by Marcelo H. del
Pilar.[2] The newspaper published
not only articles and essays about
the economic, cultural, political,
and social conditions of the
country, but also current news,
both local and foreign, and
speeches of prominent Spanish
leaders about the Philippines.
Contents [hide]
1 Members
1.1 Other members
1.2 International members
2 Trivia
3 History
4 Notable contributors
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
Members[edit]
Dr. Jos Rizal (Laong Laan at
Dimasalang)
Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel)
Graciano Lopez Jaena (Diego
Laura)
Antonio Luna (Taga-Ilog)
Mariano Ponce
(Tikbalang,Kalipulako)
Jose Maria Panganiban (Jomapa)
Staff of La Solidaridad
Other members[edit]
Pedro Paterno
Antonio Maria Regidor
Isabelo de los Reyes
Eduardo de Lete
Jos Alejandrino
Jose Luis Guerra
Robert Lacamra
Andres Bonifacio
International members[edit]
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt
(Austrian ethnologist)

Dr. Miguel Morayta Sagrario

(Spanish historian, university
professor and statesman)
Note: Some friends of the
Propaganda Movement also
contributed
Trivia[edit]
Laong-Laan (Jos Rizal's pen
name) used as the same name of
a railway station
Graciano Lopez Jaena was the
founder of La Solidaridad
History[edit]
In order to find a venue where the
desire of the Propaganda
Movement towards achieving
assimilation can be expressed, La
Solidaridad was established.[3]
The first issue of La Solidaridad
came out on February 15, 1889.
Published fortnightly, it served as
the principal organ of the reform
movement for six years.[2]
In general, its funds came from
the Comite de Propaganda in the
Philippines. Rizal was first offered
the position of its editorship.
However, he declined because he
was very busy annotating Antonio
de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas in London. In the end,
Graciano Lpez Jaena showed an
interest in becoming the editor.[2]
On April 25, 1889, La Solidaridad
published the letter entitled "The
aspirations of the Filipinos" which
was written by the Asociacin
Hispano-Filipina de Madrid
(English: Hispanic Filipino
Association of Madrid).[3] It
pursued desires for:[4]
Representation in the Cortes
Abolition of censure
An expressed and definite
prohibition of the existing
practices of exiling residents by
purely administrative order, and
without a writ of execution from
the courts of justice.
On December 15, 1889, Marcelo
H. del Pilar replaced Graciano
Lpez Jaena as the editor of La
Solidaridad.[2][3] Under his
editorship, the aims of the
newspaper expanded and drew
the attention on politicians and
even Spanish ministers.[3] Using
propaganda, it pursued desires
for:

That the Philippines be a province

of Spain
Representation in no priests
instead of Spanish friars-Augustinians, Dominicans, and
Franciscans--in parishes and
remote sitios
Freedom of assembly and speech
Equal rights before the law (for
both Filipino and Spanish
plaintiffs)
After years of publication from
1889 to 1895, La Solidaridad had
begun to run out of funds. It
ceased publication on November
15, 1895, with 7 volumes and 160
issues. In del Pilar's farewell
editorial, he said :

We are persuaded that no

sacrifices are too little to win the
rights and the liberty of a nation
that is oppressed by slavery.[5]

Notable contributors[edit]
Several writers contributed to La
Solidaridad over its six years of
existence, like Antonio Luna,
Anastacio Carpio, Mariano Ponce,
Antonio M.a Regidor, Jose Maria
Panganiban, Isabelo de los Reyes,
Eduardo de Lete, Jos Alejandrino,
and Pedro Paterno. One of the
most prolific contributors though
was Rizal's confidant Ferdinand
Blumentritt, whose impassioned
defense of the Filipino interests
was said to have been
inspirational to the other writers
and the readers of the newspaper
alike.[3]
La Solidaridad
In order to help achieve its goals,
the Propaganda Movement put up
its own newspaper, called La
Solidaridad. The Soli, as the
reformists fondly called their
official organ, came out once
every two weeks. The first issue
saw print was published on
November 15, 1895.
The Solidaridads first editor was
Graciano Lopez Jaena. Marcelo H.
del Pilar took over in October
1889. Del Pilar managed the Soli
until it stopped publication due to
lack of funds.