MABINI DAY, 23 JULY 2019 (50th BATANGAS CITY FOUNDATION DAY)

Today, July 23, is Apolinario Mabini Day by virtue of Republic Act 9430 signed in April
2007. Mabini studied at San Juan de Letran College in Manila, and at University of Sto.
Tomas, taking up law. When Emilio Aguinaldo was proclaimed president of the
independent republic in 1898, Mabini helped draw up its Constitution. But when the United
States announced it would annex the Philippines, Mabini joined Aguinaldo in a renewed
struggle for independence. He was captured by American troops in December 1899
because he refused to swear allegiance to the United States. He was exiled to Guam and
allowed to come home to Manila only months before his death on May 12, 1903.

Biography of Apolinario Mabini, Sublime Paralytic

Born in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas on July 23,1864 of poor parents, and later hampered for life by
paralysis, Apolinario Mabini nevertheless grew up to be a good writer, lawyer and patriot. He is known as
the Sublime Paralytic and the Brain of the Revolution. He was the second of the eight children of
Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia Maranan.

Inspite of poverty, Mabini obtained a teaching certificate in March 1887 and finished law in 1894. He was
admited to the bar in 1895.

His misfortune came in 1896, when he contracted fever, which permanently paralyzed him. Still he did
notarial work in his invalid’s chair and supported the reform movement so that he was imprisoned until
June 1897.

When the Filipino-American war broke out, Mabini inspired his countrymen to fight and die for freedom’s
sake. He penned his famous True Decalogue.

Mabini served as General Emilio Aguinaldo’s adviser. He advised Aguinaldo to change the dictatorial
form of government to revolutionary. He organized the municipalities, and provinces, and the judiciary
and the police forces, and formulated army regulations. When the revolutionary congress convened at
Barasoain, Malolos, Bulacan, he was Aguinaldo’s Prime Minister.
He helped outline the Malolos constitution. Hence, he was aptly called the “Brains of the Revolution.” He
continued writing articles advocating for reforms while in hiding, but was captured by the Americans on
September 10, 1899. After his release on Setember 23,1900 he lived in Nagtahan, Manila where he wrote
for local newspapers. On January 5, 1901 he was exiled to Guam because of his articles, notably “El
Semil de Alejandro” in “El Liberal.”

Believing that he had no other choice and that he could better serve his countrymen by returning to the
Philippines, Mabini took his oath of allegiance to the United States on February 26,1903. He died in
Nagtahan, Manila on May 13,1903 at the age of 39.