Fr. Mariano Dacanay

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

NOVEMBER 26, 1862

Fr. Mariano Dacanay, an Ilokano priest was born in Bacnotan, La Union. 

He was responsible for giving the title “Mi Ultimo Adios” (“My Last Farewell”), a poem by Jose Rizal written in Spanish on December 29, 1896. 

Fr. Dacanay was a noted translator of religious works and was jailed for his Masonic leanings and a supporter of the Katipunan. 

He published the poem in the first issue of “La Independencia” on September 28, 1898. 

“Mi Ultimo Adios”, Rizal’s 14 five-line stanza poem was written a day before he was executed by firing squad at the Luneta. 

It was unsigned, untitled and undated. Rizal placed the poem inside a small alcohol stove (cocinilla). 

When his mother Teodora together with his sisters visited him in prison, he told his sister Trinidad that there was something in the stove. 

A guard gave them the stove as they left. At home, they found a folded paper with the poem and made copies and sent them to Rizal’s friends in the country and abroad.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: joserizal.com