The City of Iloilo commemorated the 168th birth anniversary of national hero, Graciano Lopez Jaena, who was born in the District of Jaro. 

A program in honor of his sense of nationalism, and significant contribution being one of the pillars of the Reform Movement during the Spanish occupation, was held at Jaro Plaza. 

Earlier, the Iloilo City Government has issued Executive Order No. 168 declaring December 18, 2024 a special non-working day in consonance with Republic Act 6155 that has designated Jaena's birth anniversary as an official public holiday in both Iloilo City and Iloilo Province. 

Jaena was born in Jaro, Iloilo City on December 18, 1856. 

He was a journalist who was one of the founders and editors of the newspaper "La Solidaridad" in 1888, which served as the mouthpiece then of the Filipinos in Spain.

(Info courtesy: Iloilo City Government, The Kahimyang Project)