The Filipino Ilustrados were a group of educated and reform-minded Filipinos in the late 19th century who played a pivotal role in the development of Filipino nationalism. Emerging from wealthy or middle-class families, they were often educated in Europe, where they were exposed to liberal and Enlightenment ideas such as democracy, equality, and self-determination. Influential figures like Dr. José Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano López Jaena used their writings and advocacy to critique Spanish colonial rule and push for reforms, including representation in the Spanish Cortes, secularization of the clergy, and equal rights for Filipinos. Their efforts, particularly through the Propaganda Movement and publications like La Solidaridad, awakened a sense of national identity among Filipinos and laid the intellectual groundwork for the Philippine Revolution. While their reformist approach sought change within the framework of Spanish governance, their work inspired the more radical movements that ultimately fought for independence.
