The Circulo Hispano-Filipino was established 1882 by a group of Filipino students in Madrid led by Juan Atayde, retired army officer and a Philippine-born Spaniard.
This was the residence of D. Pablo Ortiga y Rey, vice president of the Consejo de Filipinas and the headquarters of Circulo Hispano Filipino.
Supported by a group of peninsulares, the organization aims to voice out the concerns of Filipinos. The aim of the association is reform the Philippines during Spaniards colonization Notable members of the organization include Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, and Graciano Lopez Jaena.
THE ASSOCIATIONS IS DIVIDED INTO THREE: - The political section headed by Marcelo H. del Pilar. - The literary section under Mariano Ponce. - and the sports section under Tomas Arejola.
Marcelo H. del Pilar He promoted the objectives of the paper by contacting liberal Spaniards who would side with the Filipino cause. Under Del Pilar, the aims of the newspaper were expanded to include removal of the friars and the secularization of the parishes; active Filipino participation in the affairs of the government; freedom of speech Mariano Ponce A Filipino physician who was a leader of the Propaganda Movement that spurred the Philippine Revolution against Spanish in 1896. Tomas Arejola Arejola headed the Asociación Hispano-Filipina as the editor of its sports section. He also later helped found the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, which succeeded the Asociación
Among those with whom Rizal discussed Philippine issues were the Paternos — Pedro, Maximino and Antonio — and Gregorio Sangciangco y Goson who made deep impressions on Rizal. The latter (Gregorio Sangciangco y Goson) wrote El Progreso de Filipinas which said that a plan for agriculture, commerce and industry could usher in improvements and progress in the Philippines.
The organization was able to publish the Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino, a newspaper aimed at expressing thoughts about the abusive Spanish goverment. However the publication was short-lived due to lack of funds and conflicting political issues, thus, leading to the dissolution of the organization.
The association did not last long, as Rizal wrote to his family on January 29, 1883, that it disbanded upon his suggestion apparently due to lack of sufficient interests of the members.
The residence had another attraction for Rizal aside from being the venue of political discussions. The daughter of the owner, Consuelo Ortiga y Rey caught Rizal’s fancy. However, Consuelo was torn between Rizal and de Lete. Rizal even gave Consuelo poems, musical pieces from Paris and guimaras, a kind of textile from the Philippines. The guimaras gift was acknowledged by Consuelo through de Lete, which seemed to have put an end to Rizal’s illusions about her love, his first derrota or defeat as he wrote in codes in his diary.
Ang Circulo Hispano-Filipino ay inorginasa ng mga estudyanteng Pilipino sa Madrid, kasama ang ilang mga Espanyol na dating nanirahan sa Pilipinas, karamihan mga Liberal, gaya ni Pedro Ortiga y Rey, alkalde ng Maynila, at Consejero de Ultramar para sa Pilipinas. HIindi nagtagal ang Circulo pati na ang magazin nito. Sa mga estudyante, kahirap mangalap ng pondo. Nagdusa din ang Circulo dahil sa sumusulpot na problemag indibidwalismong wala sa lugar, bawat kasapi ng organisasyon lihim na nagmamaktol kung hindi siya ang inihalal na pangulo. Ang partikular na katangiang ito sa hanay ng kababayan, ang kahirapang pagsanibin ang mga puwersa para sa isang pagkilos, bunga ng labis na indibidwalismo, ay problemang dadagan-dagan kay Rizal sa takbo ng kanyang buhay politikal. Palagian nya itong alalahanin, at hindi rin nya mawari kung paano pakikitunguhan. Nagsimulang magsisi itong mga estudyante sa pagkabuwag ng Circulo, sanhi na rin ng kanilang kawalangpansin at pagkakawatak-watak. Sa panahong ito, kamit na ni Rizal ang mataas na pagpapahalaga ng kanyang mga propesor at mga kaeskwelang Espanyol at unti-unti ng pinakikinggan ng kapwa nya Pilipino; subalit matindi pa rin ang dating naknak. Noong 2 Enero 1884 isang pulong ang idinaos sa bahay ng tatlong magkakapatid na Paterno, Pedro, Maximo, at Antonio, para talakayin ang pagbubuhay-muli ng Circulo. Hindi tinukoy ni Rizal sa kanyang talaarawan, ngunit napagtanto nyang nasa likod nito ang pagtanggi ng mas mayayamang estudyanteng manguna sa pag-aambag ng pera. Datapwat sa mga oras na iyon, si Paterno, isang kaibigang malapit ni Rizal na kapareho nya ng interes at saloobin, na tatanyag sa Unang Republikang Pilipino, ay hindi masugid sa pagtanggap ng responsibilidad. Sa katunayan, ang kawalang liderato ni Paterno ang naging pangunahing balakid na kinaharap ni Rizal sa unang dalawang taon nya sa Madrid.
