Home Contact About
The 27th National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) museum in the country is a two-storey structure in Baliuag, Bulacan honoring Mariano Ponce, a nationalist who’s one of the founders of the propaganda group and newspaper La Solidaridad in 1888.

Located in Brgy. Tibag, the museum is a scaled-down replica of Ponce’s original estate that used to stand in the same location but burned down in 1962.

The museum, which opened on May 23, is a great way to introduce the public to the unsung hero hailing from Baliuag, said NHCP chair Rene Escalante, adding that most Filipinos are only familiar with the likes of more famous propagandistas Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, and Marcelo H. del Pilar. But even Ponce’s long list of credentials is displayed throughout the property starting from his birth in 1863 and adolescence all the way to his life as a revolutionary, a folklorist and, later on, a historian. An arts graduate from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Ponce authored history books such as “Historia de Bulacan” and “Wika at Lahi” both published in 1917.



The museum houses some of Ponce’s belongings such as an old watch, UST school records from 1886 as well as reproductions of documents of his death on May 23, 1918. The historical marker placed on his monument, which bore his date of death as May 25th has also been corrected to May 23.

The Museo ni Mariano Ponce is the fourth NHCP museum in Bulacan to add to the current roster, which include Museo ng Republika ng 1899 and Museo ng Kasaysayang Pampulitika ng Pilipinas, which are both in Malolos, and the Museo ni Marcelo H. del Pilar in Bulacan.

Explore the Legacy of Mariano Ponce – A Hero’s Journey in History and Culture

The museum, which opened on May 23, is a great way to introduce the public to the unsung hero hailing from Baliuag, said NHCP chair Rene Escalante, adding that most Filipinos are only familiar with the likes of more famous propagandistas Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, and Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Explore Mariano Ponce’s personal letters, manuscripts, and photographs that provide an intimate glimpse into his life.

From handwritten letters to the first editions of revolutionary publications, this exhibit showcases priceless artifacts that tell the story of Mariano Ponce’s pivotal role in Philippine history.

Discover Ponce’s role in documenting Philippine culture and folklore through his writings and research.

Did you know? Ponce used several pen names, including "Naning", his nickname; "Kalipulako", named after Lapu-Lapu; and "Tigbalang", a supernatural being in Filipino folklore. Ponce was imprisoned when the revolution broke out in August 1896 and was imprisoned for forty eight hours before being released.

Explore Mariano Ponce’s personal letters, manuscripts, and photographs that provide an intimate glimpse into his life. He served as the editor of La Solidaridad and played a significant role in documenting and spreading the ideals of Philippine independence.

Through his life’s work, Ponce left behind an enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations.



Avatar

Mariano Ponce y Collantes

Filipino physician, writer, statesman, and active member of the Propaganda Movement.

Member of the Philippine Assembly (1909–1912)

Mariano Ponce was a Filipino physician, writer, statesman, and active member of the Propaganda Movement. In Spain, he was among the founders of La Solidaridad and Asociación Hispano-Filipino. Among his significant works was Efemerides Filipinas, a column on historical events in the Philippines which appeared in La Oceania Española (1892–1893) and El Ideal (1911–1912). He wrote Ang Wika at Lahi (1917), a discussion on the importance of a national language. He also served as Bulacan's representative to the Philippine Assembly from 1909 to 1912.

Ponce was born in Baliuag, Bulacan to Mariano Ponce and Maria Collantes. He had six siblings: Vicente, Fransisco, Jacinto, Carmen, Pedro, and Consolacion Ponce. He also completed his primary education in Baliuag. He completed his secondary education at the private school of Juan Evangelista, Hugo Ilagan, and Escolastico Salandanan in Manila. He later enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and took up medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. In 1881, he traveled to Spain to continue his medical studies at the Universidad


Museo ni Mariano Ponce | NHCP Museum Virtual Tour

Education

He also completed his primary education in Baliuag. He completed his secondary education at the private school of Juan Evangelista, Hugo Ilagan, and Escolastico Salandanan in Manila. He later enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and took up medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. In 1881, he traveled to Spain to continue his medical studies at the Universidad

Propaganda Movement

There he joined Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano López Jaena, José Rizal and others in the Propaganda Movement. This espoused Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes and reforms in the Spanish colonial administration of the Philippines. Ponce was the co-founder of La Solidaridad with fellow co-founder Graciano López Jaena. He was also the head of the Literary Section of the Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, created to aid the Propaganda Movement where he served as secretary



In La Solidaridad, his works included daily editorials on history, politics, sociology and travel. Ponce used several pen names, including "Naning", his nickname; "Kalipulako", named after Lapu-Lapu; and "Tigbalang", a supernatural being in Filipino folklore.



Resting place

On May 23, 2019, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines opened the Museo ni Mariano Ponce at the Ponce property in Baliuag, Bulacan.

Ponce wrote his memoirs, "Cartas Sobre La Revolución" (Letters on the Revolution). He died in the Government Civil Hospital in Hong Kong, on May 23, 1918. His remains were originally interred in the Cementerio del Norte, Manila. According to local historian Rolando Villacorte, his remains were transferred to the Art Deco Ponce family mausoleum in Baliuag Catholic Cemetery. There, he is interred alongside his wife, brother Jacinto, daughter Maria, and grandson Marianito Ponce Gonzales.