A PRIVILEGE MIND IN ACTION: Apolinario Mabini as a

Revolutionary Lawyer
By Maria Cresielda S. Ecalnea
Unlike the other national heroes is a man who was born having no prestige or wealth at
hand. Unlike the other national heroes is a man who has no opportunity for further studies abroad,
stories of romance or book of martyrdom. But like most of the national heroes is a man who
dedicated almost his entire life and intellectual faculties, despite physical illness, to free our land
and people.
He had a long and painful journey to success. He was the second child of a family owning
only a land, living in a nipa hut and having just enough to survive their daily lives. They were
situated in the barrio of Talaga, town of Tanauan, Batangas; a place conducive for idleness and
acceptance of farm life. But Apolinario Mabini had another definition of his life being a constant
pursuit and struggle for a higher instruction and education.
It was alsmost a dream for Mabini to attend any school because of poverty. But through the
perseverance of his pious mother and his serious desire to study, Mabini was able to attend a
school in Tanauan. The difficulties did not end upon attending the classes but the struggle
continued as he needed to walk (6) six kilometers every day from their barrio Talaga to Tanauan.
Mabini didn't have any book instead he would borrow and read his classmates' book while on their
way to school. Also, in an occasion, he was beaten as punishment which made him feel humiliated
causing his transfer to another school. This time he was under Padre Valerio Malabanan who was
known as "the grandfather of Batangueos intellectuality." In his new school, Mabini manifested his
thirst for knowledge evidenced by his seriousness, concentration and outstanding mental capacity.
He was even described as the student who never complained about their lengthy assignments
instead studied and recited them with his whole heart.
After finishing his secondary education, Mabini decided to move in Manila for further
studies in Letran without asking financial dependency from his parents. True to his words, he
sought employment as teacher in various schools in order to either receive salary or free board and
lodging. The struggle continued during even until entering law school as his resolute vocation.
The death of his mother put Mabini in the the darkest and painful days. But despite
interruption in his studies and death of his dear mother, Mabini managed to excel in his classes.
After his oral examination, one of the examiners, D. Manuel Araullo uttered, "I have to confess that
he powerfully called my attention as he defended his two thesis with such brilliance... He defended
the conclusion with such conviction and mastery of the subject matter, that his great talent and selfcontrol was then revealed and his examination was highly praised by the whole tribunal." He then
attained LICENCIADO en JURISPRUDENCIA with the qualification of sobresaliente.

Mabini was an exemplification of the full capacity of any student to excel in different
activities, such as attending office works, teaching for a living, and dedicating his time to the
political movements without sacrificing his enthusiasm in his academic work required by the school.
With all the struggles, one can say that education was really a privilege for Apolinario
Mabini. He did not just aim to acquire education, but made use of it in action. This was the period
where he expressed arduous love of country. He joined Masonic lodges doing away with the
Church and principles instilled by him from his mother and schools attended.
Historians accounted that it was Mabini's association to Numeriano Adriano that led him to
join an underground movement that would later on lead to a national revolution. Mabini also
became an Ilustrado which normal membership came from Filipino families owning vast tract of
land and commercial interest. This was again an indication how forceful and intellectually powerful
Mabini was.
The Reform Movement at that time was to enable the educated Filipino to have partial
control over some of the civil and religious offices in the country and to share to the people social
and economic gain. The principle of the movement embodied Mabini's idealism. It was to attain
social betterment through any peaceful and legal means possible and his uninterested attitude to
any form of violence and illegality as the ultimate recourse. This could have been an influence of
his profession as a lawyer.
Mabini also had a hidden antagonism against some Ilustrados who had pecuniary interest
in the movement. For him it was highly unethical if not odious practice to plant any commercial
interest in the movement. As for him, no evidence was known that he used his position in the
revolutionary government or office to enrich himself. He didn't own anything much aside from the
gifts from his admirers which were also received with hesitations.
The intellectual work of Mabini was even highlighted in the second phase of revolution after
being captured and released by amnesty. He said that for the revolution to work there must be a
solid ideology imbedded to each and every member of the revolution. Thus, he wrote three
important books in the revolution. First, the TRUE DECALOGUE which aimed to enlightened the
mind, to instill patriotism and to solidify the moral character and identity the Filipinos. Second, the
RULES OF REVOLUTION which aimed to direct the actions of the revolutionaries and to visualize
a concrete political structure. Third, the CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM OF PHILIPPINES
REPUBLIC which aimed to determine the true and detailed final objective of their revolution. With
these writings, Mabini emphasized the importance of fighting with full knowledge of the cause. It
was not enough but even more, it was detrimental to fight just for the sake of fighting. There should
be rules to be followed and an ultimate goal to be attained.
Another important aspect of Mabini's leadership was his ability to stay calm and maintain
composure. According to Mabini, it was a revolutionary rule to substitute cold reflection for intense
emotions to be able to carefully analyze the situation. This was the product of his way of life since
childhood and from his intense philosophical education in law school. He was known for his silence
and self-control but always ready for any blow from his professors.

Mabini, although there were no enough accounts of his practice of legal profession,
embodied his legal knowledge to be utilized in the revolution. It was apparent in his version of Bill
of Rights revealing his firm believe in the worth of individual, the importance of protecting their
natural rights and upholding the natural laws (laws created by God to be discovered by reason) and
the major function of the government to protect these natural rights of men opposing any form of
tyranny and oppression.
With all these stories and credentials, for me the most striking facts is that Apolinario Mabini
being locally educated, highly intellectual, truly blooded Filipino. He didn't need outside inspirations
or foreign studies to know that our country back then was missing its independence. He didn't need
any European studies to be able to observe that our country needed to be freed. Instead, he
looked upon himself and his surrounding, observing in silence and moving progressively to set out
not just a revolution but to be the back bone and even the brain of our independence. Indeed, he
didn't settle to attain education but he set his privilege mind in action for the freedom we are now
embracing.
References:
Apolinario Mabini - Revolutionary by Cesar Adib Majul
Apolinario Mabini - His birth date and student year by Fidel Villaroel, O.P