Felipe Agoncillo

(May 26, 1859 – September 29, 1941) was the Filipino lawyer representative to the negotiations
in Paris that led to the Treaty of Paris (1898), ending the Spanish–American War and achieving him the
title of "outstanding first Filipino diplomat."[2]

As a family friend and adviser of General Emilio Aguinaldo[3] and General Antonio Luna[4] during the
critical times of the revolution, Agoncillo has been active in participating during that era especially when
he presided over the Hong Kong Junta—a group of Filipino exiles who met to plan for future steps in
achieving independence.[5] His greatest contribution to Philippine history was when he was assigned to
negotiate with foreign countries to secure the independence of the country. This was considered the
most important

Juan Luna y Novicio

(Spanish: [ˈxwan ˈluna] October 24, 1857 – December 7, 1899), better known as Juan Luna was
a Filipinopainter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th
century. He became one of the first recognized Philippine artists.
His winning the gold medal in the 1884 Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts, along with the silver win of
fellow Filipino painter Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, prompted a celebration which was a major
highlight in the memoirs of members of the Propaganda Movement, with the
fellow Ilustrados toasting to the two painters' good health and to the brotherhood between Spain and
the Philippines.
Regarded for work done in the manner of the Spanish, Italian and French academies of his time,
Luna painted literary and historical scenes, some with an underscore of political commentary. His
allegorical works were inspired with classical balance, and often showed figures in theatrical poses.

Rafael Palma
Rafael Palma (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel ˈpalma] : 24 October 1874 – 24 May 1939) was
a Filipino politician, Rizalian, writer, educator and a famous Freemason. He became the fourth
President of the University of the Philippines.
Palma was born in Manila on 24 October 1874 to Don Hermógenes Palma, a clerk at
the Intendencia Office, and Hilaria Velásquez. His younger brother was the soldier-poet José
Palma–the author of the Spanish poem «Filipinas», which was, along with its subsequent
translations, used in the Philippine National Anthem.
He was later elected a senator under the Nacionalista Party, consistently representing the 4th
District, in both the 1916 and 1919 senatorial polls.

Marcelo H. del Pilar

Marcelo H. del Pilar (born Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán;[1] August 30, 1850 – July 4,
1896), better known by his pen namePlaridel,[2] was a Filipino writer, lawyer, journalist,
and freemason. Del Pilar, along with José Rizal and Graciano López Jaena, became known as the
leaders of the Reform Movement in Spain.

Del Pilar was born and brought up in Bulakan, Bulacan. At an early age, he became a critic of the
monastic rule in the country (the Spanish friars). He was suspended at the University of Santo
Tomas and jailed in 1869 after he and the parish priest quarrelled over exorbitant baptismal fees. In
the 1880s, he expanded his anti-friar movement from Malolos to Manila.

He went to Spain in 1888 after an order of banishment was issued against him. Twelve months after
his arrival in Barcelona, he succeeded López Jaena as editor of the La Solidaridad (Solidarity).
Publication of the newspaper stopped in 1895 due to lack of funds. Losing hope in reforms, he
planned to lead a revolution against Spain. He was on his way home in 1896 when he
contracted tuberculosis in Barcelona. He later died in a public hospital and was buried in a pauper's
grave.[5]

On November 30, 1997, the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee, created
through Executive Order No. 5 by former President Fidel Ramos, recommended del Pilar along with
the eight Filipino historical figures to be National Heroes.[6] The recommendations were submitted
to Department of Education Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria on November 22, 1995. No action has been
taken for these recommended historical figures.[6] In 2009, this issue was revisited in one of the
proceedings of the 14th Congress.[7
Pedro Paterno
Pedro Alejandro Paterno y de Vera Ignacio,[1] also spelled Pedro Alejandro Paterno y Debera
Ignacio (born on February 17, 1857 - died on April 26, 1911; in some references the birth date is
February 27, 1858 while the death date is March 11, 1911.)[2] was a Filipinopolitician. He was also
a poet and novelist.[3]

Pedro finished Bachiller en Artes at Ateneo de Manila and gained fame with his conclusion. At the
age of 14, he was sent to study in Spain, where he spent the next 11 years at the University of
Salamanca and then the Central University of Madrid (now the Complutense University of
Madrid).[5]:412 At Salamanca he took courses in Philosophy and Theology, while at Madrid he
graduated with an expertise in law in 1880. In 1893, he was awarded the Order of Isabella the
Catholic.[5]:412

The Filipino negotiators for the Pact of Biak-na-

Bato. Seated from left to right: Paterno and Emilio
Aguinaldo with five companions

His intervention on behalf of the Spanish led to the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato on December
14, 1897, an account of which he published in 1910. Among his other works include the first novel
written by a native Filipino, Ninay (1885), and the first Filipino collection of poems
in Spanish, Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias ("Jasmines and Other Various Poems"), published
in Madrid in 1880.[4]

With the Philippine-American War after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, he was among the
most prominent Filipinos who joined the American side and advocated the incorporation of the
Philippines into the United States. As the editor and proprietor of the newspaper La Patria, he
supported American dominion and gratitude towards Spain, from whence "the Filipinos derived their
civilization."[5]:412–413 He died of cholera on April 26, 1911.