Apolinario Mabini

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Apolinario Mabini
1st Prime Minister of the Philippines 1st Prime Minister of the First Republic
In office January 2, 1899 – May 7, 1899
Preceded by	None [1]
Succeeded by	Pedro Paterno
Secretary of State
In office June 23, 1898 – December 10, 1899
Born	July 22, 1864 Tanauan, Batangas
Died	May 13, 1903 Manila, The Philippines

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.

[edit] Early life

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 could not move his lower limbs showed the Spaniards that they had made a mistake. He was released and sent to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

[edit] Revolution

Mabini, it must be noted, was not 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. He also headed the revolutionary congress and the cabinet.

[edit] Prime Minister

Apolinario Mabini was appointed prime minister and was also foreign secretary 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.

[edit] Later life

Apolinario Mabini (left) and Andres Bonifacio (right) are depicted on the front of the 10-peso bill (phased out but still legal tender).

On December 10, 1899, he was captured by Americans, 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.

[edit] 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."

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Msc.edu Mabini link
• Works by Apolinario Mabini at Project Gutenberg
• Short biography

[edit] References

• Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.