The Sublime Filipino

Tomorrow, July 22, marks the birthday of one of our national heroes, Apolinario Mabini. Known to Filipinos as “The Sublime Paralytic” or “The Brains of the Revolution”, he was born 143 years ago in Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas, as the second of eight sons of Inocencio Mabini, a peasant; and Dionisia Maranan, a vendor in the Tanauan market and daughter of the village school teacher.

Even at an early age, Mabini has already displayed an extraordinary level of intelligence and was always studious. This allowed him to pursue education in a regular school. While studying, he worked as a houseboy for a tailor in exchange for free board and lodging. He later transferred to the school of Fr. Valerio Malabanan, a renowned teacher in Tanauan who had been mentioned in Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo. Mabini’s parents and Fr. Malabanan served as his earliest influences. He then 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.

Mabini has always shown concern for other people and his dream to defend the poor led him to abandon priesthood, which his mother had always encouraged him to pursue. In early 1896, he contracted a severe fever that led to the paralysis of his lower limbs. This, however, did not serve as hindrance to Mabini to continue fighting for the rights of others. When the revolution broke out that same year, Spanish authorities suspected him of being involved in the disturbance and had him arrested. However, upon seeing that Mabini could not even move his lower limbs, the Spanish authorities thought they had made a mistake and had him released.

Mabini was most active during the Philippine revolution in 1898, when he served as chief adviser of General Emilio Aguinaldo. He drafted decrees and proposed 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. in drafting the Constitution, Mabini made sure that the general interests of the people are included and compliance with the laws ensured. As Mabini said: “Society, then, should have a soul, — sovereignty. This sovereignty should have a brain to guide and direct it, — the legislative power, a will that works and makes it work, – the executive; a conscience to try and punish the bad, – the judicial power. These powers should be independent in the sense that one should not encroach upon the attributes of the other. But the last two should be made subservient to the first, just as will and conscience are subordinate to reason. The executive and the judiciary cannot separate themselves from the laws dictated by the legislature, any more than a citizen can violate them. The power of legislation is the highest manifestation of sovereignty, just as reason is the highest attribute of our soul” (Source: Assembly of the Nation, page 35). Mabini eventually went on to serve as our country’s first Prime Minister and Secretary of Foreign Affairs. On May 13, 1903, he passed away at a young age of 39.

Apolinario Mabini was a staunch believer in the right of every Filipino to be free. He was a brilliant thinker who, despite his physical handicap, used the might of his pen to awaken the consciousness of his fellow Filipinos and fight for freedom and democracy. May the memory of Apolinario Mabini’s heroism and patriotism inspire our politicians to set aside selfish political ambitions, to become modern day heroes and lead our people and country to greatness.