On his return, de los Reyes quickly set about to launching several initiatives that he already had in mind while still in Spain. On October 25, 1901, ten days after he returned to Manila, he sought authority from the Philippine Commission to publish his "Defensor de Filipinas", which was refused. On October 31, he appeared before the Commission, with Pedro Paterno and Pascual H. Poblete to seek permission to form a political party, the "Partido Nacionalista", which was also denied. He wanted to push for a party that would push for independence within the framework of US occupation. Eventually, Poblete managed to form the Nacionalista Party, which de los Reyes joined. He was eventually named its leader.