Apolinario Mabini

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For the municipality, see Mabini, Batangas. For the school, see The Mabini Academy.
Apolinario Mabini
A mabini.jpg
1st Prime Minister of the Philippines
In office
January 23, 1899 – May 7, 1899
President Emilio Aguinaldo
Deputy Pedro Paterno
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Pedro Paterno
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
January 23, 1899 – December 10, 1899
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Apolinario Mabini
— TITULAR —
Minister of Foreign Affairs
— TITULAR —
In office
December 11, 1899 – April 1, 1901
Preceded by Apolinario Mabini
Succeeded by Position abolished
Post restored in 1946 and later held by Elpidio Quirino
Personal details
Born (1864-07-22)July 22, 1864
Talaga, Spanish East Indies
Died May 13, 1903(1903-05-13) (aged 38)
Manila, Philippines
Political party Katipunan
Alma mater San Juan de Letran College
University of Santo Tomas
Profession Lawyer
Signature

Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (July 22, 1864 — May 13, 1903) was a Filipino political philosopher and revolutionary who served as its first prime minister until May 1899. In Philippine history texts, he is often referred to as "the Sublime Paralytic", and as "the Brains of the Revolution." To his enemies and detractors, he is referred to as the "Dark Chamber of the President."

Contents

Life [edit]

Early life of Apolinario Mabini [edit]

Mabini was born on July 22, 1864 in Barangay Talaga in Tanauan, Batangas.[1] He was the second of eight children of Dionisia Maranan, a vendor in the Tanauan market, and Inocencio Mabini, an unlettered peasant.[2]

Mabini began informal studies under his maternal grandfather, who was the village teacher and his mother . Because he demonstrated uncommon intelligence, he was transferred to a regular school owned by Simplicio Avelino, where he worked as a houseboy, and also took odd jobs from a local tailor - all in exchange for free board and lodging. He later transferred to a school conducted by the Fray Valerio Malabanan, whose fame as an educator merited a mention in José Rizal's novel El Filibusterismo.[1][2]

In 1881 Mabini received a scholarship to go to the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila. An anecdote about his stay there says that a professor there decided to pick on him because his shabby clothing clearly showed he was poor. Mabini amazed the professor by answering a series of very difficult questions with ease. His studies at Letran were periodically interrupted by a chronic lack of funds, and he earned money for his board and lodging by teaching children.[2]

Mabini's mother had wanted him to take up the priesthood, but his desire to defend the poor made him decide to take up Law instead.[1] A year after receiving his Bachilles en Artes with highest honors and the title Professor of Latin from Letran, he moved on to the University of Santo Tomas, where he received his law degree in 1894.[1][2]

The 1896 Revolution [edit]

Believing that the Reform Movement still had a chance to achieve success, Mabini did not immediately support the Philippine Revolution. He became part of the La Liga Filipina wherein they would write instead of revolt and chose that they would rather be a colony of Spain rather than having a big revolution for their freedom. When José Rizal, part of the "La Liga Filipina", was executed in December that year, however, he changed his mind and gave the revolution his wholehearted support.[2]

In 1898, while vacationing in Los Baños, Laguna, Emilio Aguinaldo sent for him. It took hundreds of men taking turns carrying his hammock to portage Mabini to Kawit. Aguinaldo, upon seeing Mabini's physical condition, must have entertained second thoughts in calling for his help.

Mabini was most active during the Spanish–American War when he served as the chief adviser for General Aguinaldo after the Philippine Declaration of Independence on June 12. He drafted decrees and edited the first ever constitution in Asia (the Malolos Constitution) for the First Philippine Republic, including the framework of the revolutionary government which was implemented in Malolos in 1899.

Prime Minister of the Philippines [edit]

Apolinario Mabini was appointed prime minister and was also foreign minister of the newly independent dictatorial government of Aguinaldo on January 2, 1899. Eventually, the government declared the first Philippine republic in appropriate ceremonies on January 23, 1899. Mabini then led the first cabinet of the republic.

Mabini found himself in the center of the most critical period in the new country's history, grappling with problems until then unimagined. Most notable of these were his negotiations with Americans, which began on March 6, 1899. The United States and the Philippine Republic were embroiled in extremely contentious and eventually violent confrontations. During the negotiations for peace, Americans proffered Mabini autonomy for Aguinaldo's new government, but the talks failed because Mabini’s conditions included a ceasefire, which was rejected. Mabini negotiated once again, seeking for an armistice instead, but the talks failed yet again. Eventually, feeling that the Americans were not negotiating 'bona fide,' he forswore the Americans, rallied the people, and supported war. He resigned from government on May 7, 1899.

Later life and death [edit]

He also joined the fraternity of Freemasonry.

On December 10, 1899, he was captured by Americans at Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, but was later set free. In 1901, he was exiled to Guam, along with scores of revolutionists Americans referred to as 'insurrectos' and who refused to swear fealty to imperialist America. When Brig. Gen. Arthur C. MacArthur, Jr. was asked to explain by the US Senate why Mabini had to be deported, he cabled:

“ Mabini deported: a most active agitator; persistently and defiantly refusing amnesty, and maintaining correspondence with insurgents in the field while living in Manila, Luzon...[3] ”

Mabini returned home to the Philippines in 1903 after agreeing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States on February 26, 1903 before the Collector of Customs. On the day he sailed, he issued this statement to the press:

“ After two long years I am returning, so to speak, completely disoriented and, what is worse, almost overcome by disease and sufferings. Nevertheless, I hope, after some time of rest and study, still to be of some use, unless I have returned to the Islands for the sole purpose of dying.[4] ”

To the chagrin of the American colonial officials, however, Mabini resumed his patriotic work of agitating for independence for the Philippines soon after he was back home from exile.[5][not in citation given] On May 13, 1903 Mabini died of cholera in Manila, at the age of 38.

Work book [edit]

  • La revolución filipina (1931)

Legacy [edit]

The Mabini Shrine, now located in the PUP campus in Santa Mesa, Manila
  • Two sites related to Mabini have been chosen to host shrines in his honor:
  • The house where Mabini died is now located in the campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Santa Mesa, Manila, having been moved twice. The simple nipa retains the original the furniture, and some of the books he wrote, and also contains souvenir items, while hosting the municipal library and reading facilities.[6]
  • Mabini was buried in his town of birth - what is now Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas. A replica of the house Mabini was born in was also constructed on the site, and also contains memorabilia.
  • Four Philippine municipalities are named after Mabini:
The BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36).
  • The Mabini Academy is a school in Lipa City, Batangas named after Mabini. The school logo carries Mabini's Image.

Controversy about Mabini's paralysis [edit]

Even during his lifetime, there were controversial rumors regarding the cause of Mabini's paralysis. Infighting among members of the Malolos congress led to the spread of rumors saying that Mabini's paralysis had by caused by venereal disease - specifically, syphilis. This was debunked only in 1980, when Mabini's bones were exhumed and the autopsy proved once and for all that the cause of his paralysis was Polio.[8]

This information reached National Artist F. Sionil José too late, however. By the time the historian Ambeth Ocampo told him about the autopsy results, he had already published Po-on, the first novel of his Rosales Saga. That novel contained plot points based on the premise that Mabini had indeed become a paralytic due to syphilis.[9]

In later editions of the book,[10] the novelist corrected the error and issued an apology,which reads in part:

“ I committed a horrible blunder in the first edition of Po-On. No apology to the august memory of Mabini no matter how deeply felt will ever suffice to undo the damage that I did.... According to historian Ambeth Ocampo who told me this too late, this calumny against Mabini was spread by the wealthy mestizos around Aguinaldo who wanted Mabini's ethical and ideological influence cut off. They succeeded. So, what else in our country has changed? ”

In the later editions, Mabini's disease - an important plot point - was changed to an undefined liver ailment. The ailing Mabini takes pride in the fact that his symptoms are definitely not those of syphilis, despite the rumors spread by his detractors in the Philippine Revolutionary government.

Quotes [edit]

From Mabini [edit]

  • Describing his cabinet:
“ ...it belongs to no party, nor does it desire to form one; it stands for nothing save the interest of the fatherland. ”

About Mabini [edit]

“ Mabini is a highly educated young man who, unfortunately, is paralyzed. He has a classical education, a very flexible, imaginative mind, and Mabini's views were more comprehensive than any of the Filipinos that I have met. His idea was a dream of a Malay confederacy. Not the Luzon or the Philippine Archipelago, but I mean of that blood. He is a dreamy man, but a very firm character and of very high accomplishments. As said, unfortunately, he is paralyzed. He is a young man, and would undoubtedly be of great use in the future of those islands if it were not for his affliction.[11] ”

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984), Philippine History and Government, National Bookstore Printing Press 
  2. ^ a b c d e Remollino, Alexander Martin (May 11–17, 2003), "Mabini: A Century After His Passing", Bulatlat.com 3 (14) 
  3. ^ Quoted in Arnaldo Dumindin, Philippine-American War, 1899-1902.
  4. ^ Wolff, Leon (2006), Little brown brother: how the United States purchased and pacified the Philippine Islands at the century's turn, History Book Club (published 2005), p. 361, ISBN 978-1-58288-209-3  (Introduction, Decolonizing the History of the Philippine-American War, by Paul A. Kramer dated December 8, 2005)
  5. ^ Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin. http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/philippineindependence.htm
  6. ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (August 23, 2008), "Looking Back: The house where Mabini died", Philippine Daily Inquirer 
  7. ^ Foundation sets Mabini Awards for the Disabled, January 28, 2008, Philippine Information Agency
  8. ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (September 27, 2004), "Looking Back: News and gossip from Mabini", Philippine Daily Inquirer 
  9. ^ José, Francisco Sionil (November 11, 2007), "The Literary Life: Literature as History", The Manila Times, retrieved 2008-09-30 [dead link]
  10. ^ José, Francisco Sionil (2005), Po-On (6th ed.), Ermita, Manila, Philippines: Solidaridad Publishing House, p. 231, ISBN 978-971-8845-10-3 
  11. ^ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Philippines (January 31-June 28, 1902), "Hearings Before the Committee on the Philippines of the United States Senate in Relation to Affairs in the Philippine Islands", Hearings before the Committee on the Philippines of the United States Senate in relation to affairs in the Philippine Islands [January 31-June 28, 1902] (Govt. print. off.) 2 

External links [edit]

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New office Prime Minister of the Philippines
1899		 Succeeded by
Pedro Paterno
New office Minister of Foreign Affairs
January 23, 1899 - December 10, 1899		 Succeeded by
Position abolished
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Position abolished		 — TITULAR —
Minister of Foreign Affairs
December 11, 1899 - April 1, 1901		 Succeeded by
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Post restored in 1946 and later held by Elpidio Quirino
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