He was the eldest of the three sons of Vicente Panganiban, originally from Hagonoy, Bulacan, and Juana Enverga, a native of Mauban, Quezon.

[1] Since his mother died when he was a little boy, Panganiban grew up in the care of his father, the clerk of court in Daet, the capital town of the province.

Unknown to many of his fellow Bicolanos was Panganiban’s superior academic credentials as a student at the seminary with grades of sobresaliente (excellent) in all subjects.

Gregorio Echevarria, rector of University of Santo Tomas, and sent to be exhibited at the 1887 Exposicion General de Filipinas in Madrid.

He joined reformist groups such as the Asociacion Hispano-Filipina and La Solidaridad because he believed in instituting reforms in the Philippines, and used the pen names "Jomapa" and "J.M.P."

Being one of the writers of the La Solidaridad, he called the attention of the Spaniards on the freedom of the press and criticized the educational system in the Philippines.

His works were recognized by Jose Rizal who even said "He was a true orator, of easy and energetic words, vigorous in concepts and of practical and transcendental ideas".

It is a measure of Panganiban’s patriotism and his dedication to the cause that despite the rigors of poverty and the ravages of tuberculosis, he persisted till the end in the struggle of reforms.

Jose Rizal eulogized Panganiban as an "excellent companion of labor and difficulty... endowed with uncommon talent, with privileged intelligence, and with indefatigable industry, (he) was one of the sacred, legitimate hopes of his unfortunate country.... What should be grieved at is the thought that he died without finishing the noble mission which his exceptional faculties had destined for him.

"[2][3][4] Dr. Domingo Abella, a historian, located the remains of his province mate in Spain and brought them back to the Philippines.