Apolinario Mabini
Born: July 22, 1864
Died: May 13, 1903
Adviser of the Philippine Revolution. Planned the Revolutionary Government; wrote decrees and a proposed Constitution of the Philippine Republic.
Si Apolinario Mabini, ang bayani at itinuturing na utak ng himagsikang Pilipino, ay ipinanganak noong ika-22 ng Hulyo ng 1864 sa nayon ng Talaga, Tanawan, Batangas. Dahil sa kahirapan ng kaniyang mga magulang na sina Inocencio Mabini at Dionisia Maranan, ay nagtatanim sila ng kaunting palay, mais, bawang at tubo upang kanilang ikabuhay.
Noong bata pa si Mabini ay nagpakita na siya ng kasipagan sa pag-aaral. Siya ay masunurin, at hindi mapagbasagulo ngunit buong dahas na ipinagtatanggol niya ang sinumang batang inaapi ng kapwa bata. Maraming hirap and tiniis ni Mabini upang makapag-aral lamang siya, at dahil sa talino ng kaniyang isip, ay maraming gantimpala ang tinamo niya sa San Juan de Letran nang siya’y magkapalad na mapasok doon. Matapos ang ilang taong pagsusumikap at pagpapakahirap ay natapos niya ang pagka-"Bachiller en Artes" at "Professor en Latin"
Sari-saring gawain ang kaniyang pinasukan upang makapagpatuloy lamang siya ng kaniyang pag-aaral. Bago siya nakatapos ng pagka-abugado, ay sapin-saping hirap muna ang kaniyang dinanas. Noo’y panahon ng himagsikan at dahil sa ang dugong nananalaytay sa kaniyang mga ugat ay dugong makabayan, siya’y di nagpahuli sa pagkilos tungo sa katubusan ng Inang Bayan lalo noong ikalawang yugto ng himagsikan.
Naging tagapayo siya ng Pamahalaan ng Himagsikan. Si Mabini ang gumagawa ng mga pahayag at kautusan ng Pamahalaan. Sinulat din niya ang Programa Constitucional de la Republica Filipina.
Nang taong 1899 si Mabini ay nabihag ng mga Amerikano at matapos ang ilang panahon ay muli siyang pinalaya. Dito nagsimula ang pamamanhid ng kaniyang katawan at siya nga ay naging isang paralitiko. Nakasama sa mga itinapon sa Guam dahil sa kanilang pagkamakabayan.
Nang taong 1902 ay ipinasyang maaari nang siya’y bumalik sa Pilipinas kung kikilala sa kapangyarihan ng Amerikano sa Pilipinas. Inisip ni Mabini na ang pakikipagkaibigan na at hindi ang pakikipag-alitan sa Amerikano ang makatutulong sa paglutas ng suliranin ng bayan. Bumalik siya sa Maynila noong ika-26 ng Pebrero ng 1903 at sa kasaliwaang palad ay nagkasakit siya ng kolera na siyang tumapos sa buhay niyang puspos kadakilaan at kalualhatian ng ika-13 ng Mayo, ng 1903.
Apolinario Mabini, who was considered the brain of the Revolution, was born on July 22, 1864, in the barrio of Talaga, Tanawan, Batangas. Because of poverty, his parents Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia Maranan, supported their family by cultivating a small plot of land upon which they raised rice and corn for home consumption, and a little garlic and sugar cane for sale.
Apolinario even as a small boy, was studious. Although in perfect health, he was sad and silent and liked to sit alone to meditate, taking little pleasure in any of the other childre’s games, He was obedient and was not inclined to quarrel, yet he was all ready to defend a child who had been mistreated by others. He suffered many hardships before he could study, but because of his unusual talents he received many prizes in San Juan de Letran in Manila. After years of sufferings and hardships he obtained the Bachelor of Arts degree and Professor of Latin.
He engaged in many kinds of work before he was able to continue his studies. And before he finished law, he gave private lessons, was spokesman of the Congress, assistant to the clerk Numeriano Adriano, and became a notary public after he became a lawyer.
In 1896 he contracted a severe fever which paralyzed him. People called him the Sublime Paralytic.
At the time of the Revolution, he acted early because of the patriotic blood that flew through his veins. He was most active in 1898. He became adviser of the Philippine Revolution. He planned the Revolutionary government, wrote decrees and a proposed constitution of the Philippine Republic.
In 1899 Mabini was captured by the Americans but was set free after a few years.
In 1901 he was exiled to Guam with the other reformists but in 1902, the exiles were allowed to return provided they took the oath of allegiance to the United States. Mabini having been convinced that a Filipino nation could become a reality only through the help of America, on February 9, 1903 he announced that he was ready to take the oath, and on February 26, the day of his arrival, he took the oath before the collector of customs. Unfortunately, on May 13, 1903 he died of cholera in Manila, at the age of 39. Thus ended the life of a great leader, a man who had made the best of himself and of his talents in order that he might serve his God and his country.