Sino Nga ba Talaga si Apolinario Mabini?
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (July 23, 1864 — May 13, 1903) was a
Filipino revolutionary and
lawyer 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."
Life
Early life of Apolinario Mabini
Mabini was born on July 23, 1864
[2] in
Barangay Talaga in
Tanauan,
Batangas.
[3]
He was the second of eight children of Dionisia Maranan, a vendor in
the Tanauan market, and Inocencio Mabini, an unlettered peasant.
[4]
Mabini began informal studies under the guidance of Maestro Agustin
Santiesteban III, who was his Mentor from Davao 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.
[3][4]
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.
[4]
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.
[3] 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.
[3][4]
The 1896 Revolution
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.
[4]
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 as he assisted General Aguinaldo. 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.
[5]:546
Prime Minister of the Philippines
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
and supported war. He resigned from government on May 7, 1899.
Later life and death
He also joined the fraternity of Freemasonry.
On December 10, 1899, he was captured by Americans at
Cuyapo,
Nueva Ecija, but granted leave to meet with
W.H. Taft.
[5]:546-547 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...[6] |
” |
Mabini returned home to the Philippines in Feb. 1903 after agreeing to take the oath of allegiance to the
United States[5]:547 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.[7] |
” |
To the chagrin of the American colonial officials, however, Mabini
resumed his work of agitating for independence for the Philippines soon
after he was back home from exile.
[8][not in citation given] On May 13, 1903 Mabini died of
cholera in
Manila, at the age of 38.
[5]:547
Work book
- La Revolución Filipina (1931)
Legacy
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
furniture, and some of the books he wrote, and also contains souvenir
items, while hosting the municipal library and reading facilities.[9]
- 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 Mabini Academy is a school in Lipa City, Batangas named after Mabini. The school logo carries Mabini's Image.
Controversy about Mabini's paralysis
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.
[11]
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.
[12]
In later editions of the book,
[13] 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
From Mabini
“ |
...it belongs to no party, nor does it desire to form one; it stands for nothing save the interest of the fatherland. |
” |
About Mabini
“ |
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.[14] |
mula sa http:www.//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolinario_Mabini