Jose Maria Panganiban was born in Mambulao, Camarines Norte on February 1,1863.He learned his first lessons from his mother. He could read the cartilla and caton in one month. In another month, he mastered the catecismo. At eight, he was taken by Father Francisco Fernandez to Labo to learn Spanish. The following year, he was taken to Daet to obtain a primary education. At twelve,he could speak Spanish and Latin quite admirably.At fifteen, he was acquainted with the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Divine Comedy.He also perused Cesar Cantu's Historia Universal and Don Quixote.
His hard-working parents sent him to the Seminary of Nueva Caceres in Naga. He displayed precocious intellect combined with prodigious application.He was only fifteen when he was made assistant to the seminary physician and allowed to treat minor ailments. His professors were so impressed of his intellectual prowess that they decided to send him to Manila for further studies. He enrolled at the San Juan de Letran College where he graduated after two years with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Agricultural Expert with highest honors. He then enrolled at Santo Tomas for his medical course.
It was not only in the classroom that he achieved distinction. He won in literary-scientific contests in the university despite the competition of favored Spanish students.His works were published at the Philippine Exposition in Madrid in 1887. He completed his medical course with "Excellent"grades in all subjects. The discrimination against the "Indios" at the U.S.T. prompted Panganiban with bitterness in his heart to sail for Spain in search for broader knowledge.
While studying at the University of Barcelona, he joined the Propaganda Movement. He was one of the founders of La Solidaridad, the society which later put up through Lopez-Jaena, a fortnightly with the same name which became the mouthpiece of the Propaganda Movement. As one of the propagandists, he wrote fiery articles which incurred the hatred of the Spaniards, using a pseudonym "Jomapa". He was the essayist and translator of the group, excelling his colleagues in philosophical essays. He aired the grievances of his people and stressed the need for reforms.He used his tongue just as well.He was called the "walking Noli Mi Tangere" because he committed to memory that novel which became the gospel of our people. Rizal said that he was a true orator , eloquent,seductive and convincing. He took advantage of all occasions to deliver speeches about the ills of his land,the agonies it suffered , the immense pain it feels.Ponce stated that Panganiban was useful and very necessary to their cause as he was "the flattering hope " of the country.
Once,a group of Filipinos in a Barcelona restaurant overheard insulting remarks from some Spaniards seated nearby, calling them "just a bunch of flat-nosed ignoramus".The Filipinos challenged the Spaniards to an intellectual contest. A copy of a Madrid daily was produced and a representative from each group was asked to read the editorial for one minute and then recite it word for word . Panganiban recited the whole piece word for word ,punctuation marks included. The Spaniards were silenced.
In April 25,1889 Panganiban signed a petition drafted by the Hispano -Filipino Association and La Solidaridad and sent to the minister of war. It asked for the granting to the Filipinos the same fundamental rights enjoyed by the Spaniards. In his "El Pensamiento ",which was published on March 15,1890, he batted for the freedom of the press. In his "Nuevos Ayuntamientos, de Filipinos", he attacked the municipal reforms in several provinces in the Philippines. Also, in his "La Universidad de Manila: Su Plan de Estudio",he advocated academic freedom. His other known writngs were: "Aking Buhay" , "Bahia de Mambulao", "La Mujer de Oro", "Clarita Perez",and "Kandeng o Recuerdos de mi Pueblo". (The last two were posthumously published works in La Solidaridad in 1892)
Father Santoja, his benefactor and his friends back home stopped sending him financial support after learning of his activities in Spain,without finishing his medical course,His health, weakened by irregular meals and the rigors of work,gradually wore out.Deprived of support, destitute and stranded in a foreign land where an "Indio" was looked down upon, he relied for survival on the charity of his compatriots. He moved from one dwelling to another, until he occupied not a room ,but a dark alley of a building for habitation . Pulmonary tuberculosis soon got hold of his weak constitution.
When due to his illness he could no longer participate actively in the fight for reforms, he wrote to Rizal, advising the propagandists to continue the campaign,"even if it results to the sacrifice of our lives, our honor and our wealth."
In his boarding house at No. 2, Rambia de Canalitas, Barcelona, death came to him on August 19,1890, at the age of 27. Rizal was at his bedside and had the bitter task of announcing to those present the death of a great friend. All his compatriots lamented his early death . His untimely death, according to Rizal, was a great loss to their cause. But while living, he did his part well as avenger of the honor of his people.
He was buried in grave No.2043 of the Southwest Cemetery of Barcelona. His burial was attended by the entire colony in Barcelona and by a delegation of Cubans and Puerto Ricans sympathetic to our cause.
Panganiban, the youngest of the propagandists, was the last to return home. In 1956, Dr. Domingo Abella, a Bicolano historical researcher, had his remains exhumed and brought home to the Philippines together with the handfuls of soil that had covered him for 65 years .He was buried alongside his compatriots at the North Cemetery.
"In honor of the Filipino champion and patriot,"the town of Mambulao was named Jose Panganiban on December 1, 1934. The legislator of the post Commonwealth did the right thing, because Panganiban, "the avenger of the honor of the Filipinos" saw the first light of day in that town.
References: 1. In The Grade School _February 1965 :Jose Ma. Panganiban _by Leopoldo R. Serrano 2._Notes on the Life of Jose Maria Panganiban by Lutgarda B. Bascon _In the Grade School , January 1965 _
