THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman) will lead the unveiling of the historical marker "Rafael V. Palma (1874-1939)" at the Palma Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City on Oct. 24, 2024.
The marker unveiling coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of the nationalist writer, lawyer and pioneering educator. This is the highlight activity of a weeklong commemoration led by UP Diliman that includes various lectures and programs throughout October 21-25.
Palma was born on Oct. 24, 1874. He attended the Ateneo de Manila and pursued his law degree at the University of Santo Tomas. An avowed nationalist, he became a writer for the newspaper "La Independencia" and later became its editor after the death of General Antonio Luna in 1899.
He returned to the legal profession and became a member of the Philippine Bar in 1901. Later, he co-founded the newspaper "El Renacimiento," which became a critical publication against the American colonial regime.
In 1907, he was elected to the Philippine Assembly before he became the youngest member of the Second Philippine Commission. In 1925, he was elected as the 4th President of UP — only the 2nd Filipino to hold the office, which he held until 1933.
He was also an elected member of the 1934 Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution. He passed away on May 24, 1939.