Baliwag – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and Provincial Government of Bulacan will spearhead the commemoration of the 158th birth anniversary of Mariano Ponce on 22 March 2021, 8:00 a.m. at the Museo ni Mariano Ponce.

Resolution 104, dated 20 March 2021 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease prohibits mass gatherings, hence a simple wreath-laying will be spearheaded by NHCP Bulacan Cluster Curators Ruel Paguiligan, Alexander Aguinaldo and Ericson Dublas, Provincial Government of Bulacan Provincial Librarian Marlon Hipolito, and Mariano Ponce’s descendant Mr. Jayjay Gonzales while the wreath from the Office of the President will be prepositioned in front of the monument of Mariano Ponce. On line activities will be available in MMP’s FB page.

Mariano Ponce was born on 22 March 1863 to Mariano Ponce and Maria Collantes delos Santos. A medical student in Spain, he joined and became an administrator and part-time editor of La Solidaridad in 1889. He helped procure weapons for the Filipinos when the revolution began and was appointed by then President Emilio Aguinaldo as a diplomatic representative to Japan. He became a representative to the Philippine Assembly from 1910 to 1912 and a history researcher of the Philippine Library and Museum in 1916.

NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine History through its museums and publications, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage.