Consider this: a monument erected in memory of a man who helped shape Filipino identity. This is the Tomas Pinpin Obelisk. It stands as a tribute to Tomas Pinpin. He was the first Filipino printer. He is sometimes called the Prince of Filipino Printers.
Tomas Pinpin was born in Abucay Bataan between 1580 and 1585. His exact birth date is unknown. Dutch looters burned the parish records in 1646.
Pinpin first encountered the printing world around 1608 or 1609. He learned from Christian Chinese printers. These included Juan de Vera and Luis Beltran. They printed books for Spanish missionaries.
Pinpin began as an apprentice at a printing press in Abucay in 1609. The Dominicans ran it. Father Blancas taught Pinpin printing techniques. Pinpin quickly developed skills. Within a year, he became the printing manager.
In 1610, he printed Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala. It was written by his mentor, Father Francisco Blancas de San Jose. That same year, his famous Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla was printed. His assistant, Diego Talaghay, printed it. The book had 119 pages divided into five parts. It helped Filipinos learn Spanish.
Pinpin wrote in the prologue: Let us study my countrymen. Learning is difficult. But if we persevere, we will improve. Other Tagalogs learned Spanish quickly using my book. This result satisfies me. It encourages me to print more. All may profit from it.
Librong Pagaaralan was the first book written by a Filipino. It was written in the local Tagalog language. However, it was not the first book printed in Tagalog. Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Espanola y Tagala came first. It was printed in 1593. It used both Latin script and Baybayin. Baybayin was the script of the natives.
In 1612, Pinpin supervised a printing press setup in Pila Laguna. The Franciscans owned it. There, he printed Vocabulario de Lengua Tagala. Fray Pedro de San Buenaventura wrote it. It was the first dictionary of a Philippine language. He also printed in Binondo Manila between 1623 and 1627. The printing press moved to spread the art of printing.
In 1637, he published Sucesos Felices. It is thought to be the first newspaper in the Philippines. The 14-page paper reported Spanish military victories.
From 1609 to 1639, Tomas Pinpin printed at least fourteen publications. A book printed in 1648 said Printed in the Office of Tomas Pin-pin. Historians believe he opened a printing shop with his son Simon. Simon learned printing from his father. Simon’s name appears on several books from the Jesuit press.
There are no records of Tomas Pinpin after 1648. His death date and place are unknown. The Tomas Pinpin Obelisk reminds us of his contribution. He helped Filipinos learn and express themselves. The obelisk stands proudly. It honors the Prince of Filipino Printers. It ensures his legacy lives on.