His Works.

I happen to be forunate enough to take hold of a copy of a book about his life's works. This book was published during the early 1970's and is a special issue made in tribute to his brilliance, stainless patriotism and immense love for the Philippines.

The book is entitled Graciano Lopez Jaena: Speeches, Articles, and Letters.





The following page is Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena's Dedication from the first edition of his book Barcelona, 1891.
Here he tells his readers what to expect from his works.

A Letter To The Filipinos

TO THE FILIPINOS by Graciano Lopez Jaena

Persons with whose friendship I feel highly honored have succeeded in overcoming my tenacious opposition to the publication of my speeches and various articles which I consider works of passing interest, products of improvisation, unconnected with each other, at the time of writin, lacking in value and interest like all works written for publication in magazines and newspapers.

I am giving you this warning, my compatriots, to whom I dedicate this modest work: Do not look in it for literary gems which it does not have; or profound and luminous thoughts, or ingenious and sublime concepts, or even coherent ideas, because such conseptions cannot sprout from a dwarfish intellect like mine.

Though the work suffers from these defects, yet you will discover in it, you will note throbbing on all its pages three sublime aspirations., for in this respect I yield to no one, which are--

1. A stainless patriotism, an immense love of the Philippines; the Philippines, constant love of my heart, my perennial illusion!
2. My aim, my vehement desire to improve her lot, to see the sun of progress, liberty, and
law shine over her horizons;
3. My earnest desire to unmask her oppressors, those responsible for her immense
misfortunes.

It is said that in certain towns in India are found trees called manzanillos whose shade brings death to those who unfortunately seek shelter under their leafy but poisonous bowers.

"Voila l'ennemi", said Gambetta; see there the enemy, we say: The friars are the human manzanillos, more poisonous than those trees, under whose "protective" shade Philippine towns languishing and agonizing.

Having pointed out the evil, the "tree" being known, it only remains for us all in solidum to pull it up by the roots and thereby render an immense servise to our Motherand the Philippines and to all humanity.

Barcelona, 1891
Graciano Lopez Jaena: Speeches, Articles and Letters