Tomas Pinpin is a printer, writer, and publisher widely regarded as the first Filipino printer earning the moniker "Prince of Filipino Printers" or the "Father of Filipino Printing".
Pinpin is remembered for being the first Filipino to publish and print a book titled, "Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla" (Reference Book for Learning Spanish Language in Tagalog) in 1610, entirely written by himself in the old Tagalog orthography.
Early Years
Tomas Pinpin was born in Barrio Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan between 1580 and 1585. The exact dates of his birth and death as well as his parentage are unknown because in 1646 Dutch looters raided his hometown of Abucay and burned the parish records. However, his last name and business acumen indicate that he must have had Chinese ancestors. The Spanish historian Wenceslao E. Retana believes he did not belong to the principales, the highest class of natives such as Pablo Tanclanmanoc and Fernando Bagongbata who were also from the Abucay town and who were called "Don" by the Spaniards themselves.
He was thought to have first come into contact with the printing world around 1608 or 1609 learning from the works of other Christian Chinese printers such as Juan de Vera, Pedro de Vera, and Luis Beltran who had already printed several books for Spanish missionaries.
He learned the art of printing around the end of 1608 in the Dominican-owned printing press in his hometown of Abucay when the Dominican-owned printing press was transferred there in 1608 from its original location of Binondo, Manila from where the printing press was established in 1602 by its founder Francisco Blancas de San Jose. In 1609 still in Abucay, Father Blancas employed the young Pinpin as an apprentice at the printing shop and taught him the art of printing and the printing techniques of the time. In just one year he had developed enough skills to be promoted to printing manager.
His Works
The following year 1610, he printed the famous book of his mentor and founder of the printing press Father Francisco Blancas de San Jose, the "Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala" (Art and Rules of the Tagalog Language) and in the same year Pinpin's famous book "Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla" (Reference Book for Learning Spanish Language in Tagalog). This was the first Filipino Tagalog-language book to be imprinted and was designed to help other Filipinos learn the Spanish language easily. The book contained 119 pages divided into five parts and was designed to help Filipinos learn the Spanish language. The prologue read:
"Let us, therefore, study, my countrymen, for although the art of learning is somewhat difficult, yet if we are persevering, we shall soon improve our knowledge.
Other Tagalogs like us did not take a year to learn the Spanish language when using my book. This good result has given me satisfaction and encouraged me to print my work, so that all may derive some profit from it."
It was written in the old Tagalog orthography, as shown by the following terms: uica (today's wika - language); caya (today's kaya-therefore); and canina (today's kanina - a while ago). The author's name was printed Tomas Pin-pin. The book was printed by Diego Talaghay probably his assistant. For this, he earned the title "Demosthenes of the Tagalog language."
Pinpin, having mastered the technique and operation of the printing, was soon appointed shop manager.
In 1612, Pinpin supervised the setup of a Franciscans-owned printing press in Pila, Laguna where he printed the book, Vocabulario de Lengua Tagala (Tagalog Language Vocabulary) by Fray Pedro de San Buenaventura, the first Philippine Islands local language dictionary ever printed in 1613. For the next three decades, he printed at least 14 books.
He is also known to have printed in Binondo district, Manila, between 1623 and 1627, as the early printing press was being transported to several places to bring the art of printing.
In 1637, he published and printed what is thought to be the first newspaper in the Philippines, the 14-page "Sucesos Felices", which reported mainly on Spanish military victories.
It is estimated that throughout his career, from 1609 to 1639, Tomas Pinpin printed at least fourteen different publications.
Pinpin As An Engraver
Aside from being an author, publisher, and printer, Pinpin was a skilled engraver. He engraved beautifully the book he printed. His engravings revealed his remarkable gift as an artist. He enhanced the appearance of the books he printed with his engraving skills.
Among these books of different authors were: Relacion de Martirio (1625), Relacion (1626), Triunfo (1626), Arte Ilocano (1627), Vocabulario Japon (1630), Ritual (1630), Confesario (1636), Sucesos Felices (1637) and Relacion de la Vida y Martirio del Jusuita P. Mastrilli (1639).
Historian Pardo de Tavera concluded that Pinpin must have been an active and hardworking man.
Later Years
Since Pinpin's signature no longer appeared on books printed after 1639, it was assumed that he retired. However, Pardo de Tavera claimed that a book of a friar in 1648 in 1648 was signed: "Printed in the office of Tomas Pinpin" and concluded that Pinpin must have passed the trade to his son. By 1643, several books that were printed bored the name of his son, Simon Pinpin.
There are no other records of Tomas Pinpin after 1640 so it is unsure when or where Tomas Pinpin passed away.
A bust in his honor rests at Plaza Cervantes in the Binondo district, Manila while a street in Escolta, Manila bears his name.
Books Printed
"Arte y Reglas de Lengua Tagala", 1610, by Padre Blancas.
"Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla", 1610.
"Vocabulario de Lengua Tagala", 1612, by Pedro de San Buenaventura.
"Relacion de Martirio", by an unknown author, 1625.
"Triunfo", by Carreras, 1626.
"Arte Ilocano", by Lopez, 1627.
"Vocabulario de Japon", 1630.
"Confesionario", by Herreras, 1636.
"Sucesos Felices", Newspaper, 1637.
"Relacion de la Vida y Martirio del Jesuita P. Mastrillo" , 1639.
Source:
Wikipedia
Bahay Tsinoy, Museum of Chinese in Philippine Life Facebook Page -https://www.facebook.com/bahaytsinoy/photos/a.126159806720/10157591892776721/?type=3
The Limbagang Pinpin Museum Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/limbagangpinpinmuseum/posts/1790833431027860/
Termpaper Warehouse - https://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Thomas-Pinpin/303568
Instituto Cervantes Manila - https://manila.cervantes.es/es/biblioteca_espanol/Filipiniana/XVII/Pinpin_Tomas.htm
