March 23, 1863: Mariano Ponce was born in Baliuag, Bulacan
(Leaders of the reform movement in Spain: Left to right: Rizal, del Pilar, and Ponce)
On March 23, 1863, Mariano Ponce, a Filipino physician noted for his works and contribution in the Philippine Revolution, was born in Baliuag, Bulacan.
Ponce took his medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas, then traveled to Spain to finish his advanced studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid in 1889.
From there, he joined Marcelo del Pilar, Graciano López Jaena and José Rizal in the Propaganda Movement which espoused Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes and reforms in the Spanish colonial authorities of the Philippines.