ILOILO CITY—The National Museum of the Philippines – Iloilo became a center of celebration on December 18, 2025, as the 169th birth anniversary of Graciano López Jaena was marked with the launch of Graciano’s Dirty Fingers, a new book by Emmanuel Lerona (UP High School Class 1999). The event, sponsored by the Friends of UP Visayas High School Foundation, Inc., brought together scholars, advocates, and the public to honor the life and legacy of the national hero from Jaro, Iloilo City.
López Jaena, the founding editor of La Solidaridad, the newspaper of the Reformists that later inspired the 1898 Philippine Revolution, was celebrated not only for his contributions to Philippine history but also for his enduring influence on the nation’s identity. Lerona’s book offers a fresh perspective on López Jaena’s life, blending archival research and storytelling to challenge traditional approaches to history.
The program featured the unveiling of Do Doy Setubal’s portrait of López Jaena and a performance by the Hubon Taliambong Community Theater, which presented excerpted songs from their play Ciano, a tribute to the hero’s life and work.
A panel discussion on “Counter-Archive as Historiography” added depth to the event, with insights from Dr. Genevieve Asenjo, Dr. Ma. Luisa Mabunay, Prof. Stephen B. Alayon, Mia Fe Lopez-Cruz, and Berks Joseph Barrios Tan. The discussion explored how archives shape historical narratives and collective memory.
As part of the celebration, Dr. Reynaldo “Bong” Gustilo, Vice President of the Friends of UP Visayas High School Foundation, Inc., turned over books to representatives of local government units and libraries across Iloilo, ensuring that López Jaena’s legacy reaches communities far and wide.
The event was made possible through the collaboration of several organizations, including the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation, Inc., the University of the Philippines Visayas Center for West Visayan Studies, the UPV Office of Alumni Relations, Kasingkasing Press, West Visayas State University Maaram, WVSU DevCom Society, WVSU Athenaeum Keepers, WYWV West TV, and the University of San Agustin Archives and Museum.
Copies of Graciano’s Dirty Fingers were sold at a special launch price of Php 400, with many attendees eager to delve deeper into López Jaena’s legacy.
The book launch was a fitting tribute to one of Iloilo’s most celebrated figures, combining art, scholarship, and community to honor his legacy.
To get in touch with the author, visit Emmanuel Lerona’s Facebook page.