Mightier than the sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez Jaena
- Title
- Mightier than the sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez Jaena
- Subject
- Jaena, Graciano Lopez
- Creator
- Sonza, Demy
- Publisher
- Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation, Inc.
- Date
- 2002
- Language
- English
- Type
- Book
Dublin Core
Files
- Text
- MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD
Biography of
GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA
Third Edition
by
DEMY P. SONZA
DR. GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA FOUNDATION, INC.
Iloilo City, Philippines
2002
Copyright 1988
by Demy P. Sonza
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced in any form without permission
from the author.
GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA
Photo courtesy of
Mr. & Mrs. Jose Lopez
Preface to the Third Edition
This third edition of Mightier Than the Sword
became necessary for two reasons. First, copies of
the 2nd edition have been exhausted and, second,
the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation is raising
money to put up the Memorial Shrine of the hero at
his birthplace in Jaro, Iloilo City. Proceeds from the
sale of this book shall go to the fund for the building
of the Shrine. The author shall not collect any royalty
from this edition of his work.
A few pictures included in the previous editions
of the book have been changed with new photographs
that are more relevant to the story of Lopez Jaena.
The author joins other ardent admirers of
Graciano Lopez Jaena in the campaign to build a
memorial worthy of the first Filipino Propagandist
and the greatest orator the Philippines has ever
produced.
Demy P. Sonza
CPU, Jaro, Iloilo City
06 January 2003
Preface to the Second Edition
The first edition ofthis book came out in 1964, some 24 years
ago. We assigned only one Filipiniana book dealer in Manila as
distributor but we were surprised that the edition was sold out in a
relatively short time.
The book was included among the works of selected Filipino
authors for display in Philippine embassies and consulates abroad.
In Iloilo, however, the sale ofthe book was not so good because
ofinadequate promotion and marketing.
The increasing interest in Lopez Jaena among the Ilonggos
these past few years is a welcomed thing. For some time now
friends have been suggesting that we reprint the book so that more
people would be able to know Lopez Jaena and his works. The
opportunity to do this came when the Graciano Lopez Jaena Press
Foundation offered to be the publisher. The Philippine Press In
stitute. by deciding to undertake an exhibit on Lopez Jaena in Manila
this coming December, also helped encourage the reprinting of
this humble volume.
I am grateful to the Graciano Lopez Jaena Press Foundation
for making the publication of this second edition possible. One
important difference between the first and the present editions is
the expanded bibliography. This was done to help researchers
and students who may wish to read more about the hero from
Jaro.
DemyP. Sonza
CPU, Iloilo City
15 September 1988
Preface to the First Edition
It is both sad and strange that the first Filipino to set out on the
Propaganda Movement for his country’s freedom has found very
few among his countrymen who have been interested in perpetuat
ing his memory and popularizing his name. Graciano Lopez Jaena
has been relegated to the background in his people’s estimation of
Filipino national heroes. He died for his country some sixty-eight
years ago yet this is only the first attempt to publish a book on his
life and labors.
Challenged by the seeming neglect ofLopez Jaena, the author
undertook the writing of the hero’s biography under very limited
resources. Fortunately, Dr. A.O. Larsen, former president of
Central Philippine University, provided the research money, first
from his own pocket and later from Central Philippine University.
The Philippine Historical Association further inspired the writer by
publishing a shorter version of this work in its journal, The
Historical Bulletin. Atty. Orlando M. Hernando now with the
University ofthe Philippines Iloilo College and Dr. F. Landa Jocano
of the National Museum also offered valuable suggestions and
encouragement. Dr. Joseph T. Howard, CPU president, has also
encouraged the author by his deep interest in Lopez Jaena while
Remigio N. Heredia, the most ardent Lopez Jaena enthusiast in
Jaro, also gave much help. Likewise, the members of the Iloilo
Press and Radio Club further spurred the writer to push through
the publication ofthe work. Special mention should be made of
Pelagio N. Gomez who helped in the editing and proofreading and
of Rodrigo Salvarita for designing the cover of the book.
Finally, credit for the printing ofthis book should go to Vice
Mayor Benigno G. Hinolan ofMurcia, Negros Occidental, author
of a shorter work entitled The Life of Graciano Lopez Jaena
(1923) who generously offered to finance the publication. Presi
dent Soban C. Singh of the Federation ofProvincial Press Clubs;
Col. Alejo F. Alvares, Iloilo PC commander, Mariano M. Diolosa,
and Jose Fabales also pitched in their contributions
The author would like to acknowledge his indebtedness and
express his appreciation to the above-mentioned friends. The short
comings and faults of the book, however, are all his own.
D.P.S.
Collection
Citation
Sonza, Demy, “Mightier than the sword: Biography of Graciano Lopez Jaena,” Iloilo Province eLibrary, accessed August 21, 2026, https://iloiloelibrary.com/items/show/4.