Everything about Apolinario Mabini totally explained
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (
July 23,
1864—
May 13,
1903), also known as the "Sublime Paralytic", was a
Filipino theoretician who wrote the
constitution for the
first Philippine republic
of 1899-1901, and served as its first
prime minister in
1899. He was born in
Talaga,
Tanauan City,
Batangas of poor parents, Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia Maranan.
In his youth, Mabini studied at a school in
Tanauan City, then conducted by a certain Simplicio Avelino. Much later, he transferred to a school conducted by the famous pedagogue, Father Valerio Malabanan. He continued his studies at the
Colegio de San Juan de Letran, where he received his Bachelor of Arts and the title Professor of
Latin, and at the
University of Santo Tomas, where he received his law degree in 1894.
His dream to defend the poor led him to forsake the priesthood, which his mother wanted him to take. Early in 1896, he contracted an illness, probably
infantile paralysis, that led to the
paralysis of his lower limbs. When the revolution broke out the same year, the Spanish authorities, suspecting that he was somehow involved in the disturbance, arrested him. The fact, however, that he couldn't move his lower limbs showed the Spaniards that they'd made a mistake. He was released and sent to the
San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Mabini, it must be noted, wasn't entirely without nationalistic aspirations, for he was a member of Rizal's
La Liga Filipina and worked secretly for the introduction of reforms in the administration of government. 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 in the
revolution in 1898, when he served as the chief adviser for General Aguinaldo. He drafted decrees and crafted the first ever constitution in Asia for the First Philippine Republic, including the framework of the revolutionary government which was implemented in
Malolos in 1899.
Apolinario Mabini was appointed
prime minister and was also
foreign minister of the newly independent dictatorial government of
Emilio 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 new 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
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,' but returned home in 1903, after agreeing to take the oath of allegiance to the
United States. He took the oath on
February 26,
1903 before the Collector of Customs.
On
May 13,
1903 Mabini died of
cholera in
Manila.
Quotes
In describing his cabinet, he said that it "...belongs to no party, nor does it desire to form one; it stands for nothing save the interest of the fatherland."
In early 1902, a US Senate committee held a number of hearings to investigate war crimes by American officers and soldiers during the Philippine American War. These investigations and trials would later be known as the
Lodge Committee of 1902. Former Military Governor of the Philippines, Gen.
Arthur MacArthur was called to give his testimony. Gen. MacArthur gave the following description of Apolinario 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've 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 I said, unfortunately, he's 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.Further Information
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