At 17, Pax Pineda wanted to tell the story of his great-great-great-grandfather, Marcelo H. del Pilar, not through history books, but through poignant family memories.
He heard anecdotes about the man’s life from his parents and grandmother, which sparked his curiosity and led him to research and collaborate with historians and museum curators on a personal project.
A senior high school student in Hong Kong, getting the project off the ground entailed Zoom meetings and visiting Manila and Bulacan to further gather research materials.
Now at 18, Pax’s initiative has come to life at the Ayala Museum through ‘Lolo Marcelo: The Man Behind the Hero,’ a pop-up exhibit he curated on the hero, journalist, lawyer, reformist, and driving force behind the Propaganda Movement.
The presentation includes artifacts, letters to fellow compatriots and his family, and artworks that reflect the historical figure’s inner life.
The exhibit also features original pamphlets of ‘Dasalan at Tocsohan,’ the controversial satire written by del Pilar, and copies of ‘La Solidaridad,’ the newspaper co-founded and later edited by del Pilar, which sought reforms for the Philippines.
‘I have always felt a deep responsibility to bridge the gap between the history books and personal heritage. This exhibition is not about a distant monument. It’s about a human character,’ said Pax in his speech at the exhibit opening on September 4.
Passion project
According to his father, Patricio ‘Blums’ Pineda III, Pax personally wanted to pay homage to his Lolo Marcelo.
He narrated his son’s journey began on August 30, 2025, the 175th birth anniversary of the national hero, when Pax asked to attend the yearly wreath-laying ceremony and program at the Marcelo H. del Pilar Shrine in Bulakan, Bulacan, the hero’s hometown.
Blums had been attending the ceremony since he was a boy, showing up with his mother, Sylvia Santos-Pineda, a direct descendant of del Pilar.
Blums also recalled his Lola Bening-Atty. Benita Marasigan-Santos, a distinguished lawyer-attending the occasion. She is the daughter of Anita del Pilar, youngest daughter of Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Vicente Marasigan.
‘I would go, and Lola Bening would write a speech in Tagalog, and I would read that. So it’s very personal to me.
Blums thanked those who supported the project and hoped it would help spread del Pilar’s story.
‘But more importantly, as Pax mentioned in his speech, (may this exhibit) create a spark for all of us to also explore our own heritage and find ways that can inspire us to do more and give back to this country.’
Closer look at history
Jorell M. Legaspi, Museum Director and Senior Arts and Culture Division Director for the Ayala Museum, said that since 1974, the museum’s diorama exhibit has been providing a visual narrative of Philippine history.
‘But 60 scenes are not enough to contain the fullness and complexity of history. Around and between those moments are countless other stories of families, relationships, difficult choices, sacrifices, and other such lived experiences,’ he added.
According to Legaspi, smaller focused exhibitions such as ‘Lolo Marcelo’ complement the diorama experience.
‘They allow us to pause at particular moments, look more closely at individuals and events, and introduce perspectives that the dioramas themselves may not have the space to explore.
‘In doing so, the museum becomes a place where history can be questioned, discussed, and continually reframed.’
Pax told BusinessMirror that Del Pilar’s patriotism touched him and hopes the young generation will also be inspired by the hero’s life.
‘As young people, the biggest lesson we can learn from his life is that we should always love our country and always love our family. Those two aren’t mutually exclusive and that I think Lolo Marcelo was the prime example of loving both,’ he replied.
Encouraging young people to come and view ‘Lolo Marcelo’ alongside the Ayala Museum’s diorama exhibition, Pax noted, ‘Everyone has a rich family history. Everyone has people they can look up to and whom they share the same blood with.
‘I think it’s good to be introspective, to look into themselves, and to look into their own history and strive to be like the people who came before them and make them proud.’
Almost forgotten hero
Using his pen name, Plaridel, Del Pilar wrote fearless essays, articles, and satires criticizing the abuses of the Spanish clergy and colonial rule in the Philippines.
While in exile in Spain, Del Pilar continued publishing pamphlets and funding an underground printing house from his own pockets.
Meanwhile, smuggled copies of ‘La Solidaridad’ became the impetus for Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros to spark the Philippine Revolution.
Pax cited, ‘In Madrid, he lived in a freezing room, scavenging discarded cigarette butts off the streets just to stave off the hunger and the freezing cold. He literally starved himself for freedom, contracting the tuberculosis that ended his life in Barcelona in 1896. He died alone in exile.’
It took 24 years after his death for his remains to be finally moved to the Philippines on December 3, 1920.
‘Lolo Marcelo: The Man Behind The Hero’ exhibition runs till October 17, 2026, at Ayala Museum.