Jose Panganiban lived a short life. He was a victim of tuberculosis and died on August 19, 1890. However, Panganiban proved his immense love for his country albeit his short life on earth. Patriotism, after all, is not measured in the length of service alone.
Panganiban used his pen to fight for the rights of our people. He wrote well and bravely, too. When he was in Spain, he wrote against spaniards who talked ill of Filipinos.
Panganiban was a very bright student. He studied first in a seminary in Naga. Then he went to manila and studied at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Later, he went to the University of Sto. Tomas to become a doctor. During his studies, he had very high grades. He also won prizes in writing and science contests.
Panganiban went to spain to continue his studies in Medicine. There he met Rizal,Marcelo H. del Pilar. and Lopez-Jaena. Like them. he wrote about the injustices committed by the Spanish rulers in our country. He became a contributor to the La Solidaridad.
He read and wrote without much rest. He studies till very late at night. He studied other languages too. So he was able to speak Chinese, English, German and Latin. Soon he fell very ill.
''You should rest, Jose", his Filipino friends advised him. "I cannot rest until I have written down my thoughts. I want to tell the whole world about our country, I want everyone to know how our people are suffering", he answered.
And so, he went on writing till he died in Madrid at the young age 25 on August 19 1890, far from the country he loved.
He was a dedicated writer. He wrote EL Gobierno entre Dos Tendencias, Anatomia de Regimen, EL Pensamiento and La Universidad de Manila y su Plan de Estudio. He also contibuted some poems, among which were Noche de Mambulao, Bahia de Mambulao, A Nuestra Obrero, Ang Tinubuan , and Sa Aking Buhay! His stories were Clarita Perez and Kading.
As a writer,Panganiban believed in the necessity of reform for the Philippines, including academic freedom, freedom of the press and humane treatment of the Filipinos. Although not trained as an educator, he toyed with the ideas of founding an ideal university in Manila.
Jose P. Rizal paid Jose Panganiban the highest tribute when the former said, that what Panganiban grieved most was he died without accomplishing the highest mission he had hoped for and was able to dedicate his energies and interest to the noble cause of fighting for freedom for the Filipino people.
The church, by refusing to degrade you, had place in doubt the crime has been imputed to you; the Government, by surrounding the trials with mystery and shadows cause the belief that there was some error committed in the fatal moment; and see the Philippines, by workshipping your money and calling you martyrs , in no sense recognizes your culpability.Insofar, therefore, as your complicity in Cavite mutiny is not clearly proved and as you may not cherish sentiments for justice and liberty, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as victims of the evil that I undertake the combat. And while we admit expectantly for: Spain someday to restore your good name and cease to be answerable for your death, let these pages serve as tardy wreath of dried leaves over your unknown tombs and let it understood that everyone who without clear proofs attacks your memory stains his hands with your blood.A great tribute to three great patriots from an equally great hero.
