Hero of the Philippine Revolution

Apolinario Mabini
 Conscience and Brains of the Philippine Revolution
 the Sublime Paralytic
 key adviser of Emilio Aguinaldo
 proposed the first constitution of the Philippine Republic
 born July 22, 1864 Barrio Talaga, Tanawan Batangas to Inocencio Mabini, Dionisia
Maranan
 died May 13, 1903

It was immediately before the proclamation of independence that a young man was brought before Aguinaldo as
his adviser. He was Apolinario Mabini. Born of very poor parents, Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia Maranan, in
Talaga, Tanawan, Batangas. Mabini studied in a school in Tanawan, 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 San Juan de Letran and at the University of Sto. 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.
Mabini, it must be noted, was not entirely free from nationalistic association, 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, Aguinaldo sent for him. It took hundreds of men taking turns at carrying the
hammock he was in to bring Mabini to Kawit. Aguinaldo, upon seeing Mabini's physical condition, thought that he
must have made a mistake in calling for him to help him in his work. What could a man in such a condition do to
help him?
But when Mabini spoke, Aguinaldo's doubts vanished. There was firmness in the sick man's voice, and Aguinaldo
decided to make him his trusted adviser. From then on, it was Mabini who stood behind Aguinaldo. Envious enemies
called him the "Dark Chamber of the President", but his admirers called him the "Brains of the Revolution".

Born of a poor family, Apolinario Mabini was always studious. He was always sad and silent and liked to sit alone
to meditate.
Mabini studied at San Juan de Letran where he got his Bachelor of Arts degree and Professor of Latin. He also
finished Law. He was a spokesman of the Congress, and a notary public.

In early 1896, he contracted a severe fever which paralyzed him for the rest of his life. He was later called the
Sublime Paralytic.

Mabini was most active in the revolution in 1898, when he became the chief adviser of Gen. Aguinaldo during
the revolution. He drafted decrees and proposed a constitution for the Philippine Republic. He made the plans
for the revolutionary government.

In 1899, he was captured by the Americans but was later set free. In 1901, he was exiled to Guam but returned
to the Philippines in 1903 after agreeing to take an oath of allegiance to the US. He took his oath on February
26, 1903 before the Collector of Customs.

On May 13, 1903, he died of cholera in Manila.