Apolinario Mabini’s The Philippine Revolution: Chapter 9 and 10 [Memoirs]

Apolinario Mabini was born on July 23, 1864 in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas. He was the
second of Dionisia Maranan and Inocencio Mabini's eight children; both were from the poor
peasantry. Mabini attended San Juan de Letran College in Manila and graduated with a law
degree from the University of Santo Tomás in 1894, despite his extreme poverty. Apolinario
Mabini is also known as the "brains" of the revolution. Despite having both of his legs paralyzed
from polio, he developed the fundamentals of a democratic popular government and carried
out all of his revolutionary and governmental duties.

He joined Emilio Aguinaldo's forces in an uprising that patriots planned in August 1896
and quickly rose to the position of right-hand man. Mabini encouraged cooperation with the
United States as a means of achieving liberty from Spain when the Spanish-American War broke
out in 1898. An impartial republic with Aguinaldo as its president was declared at a convention
held in the provincial town of Malolos in September and October 1898; Mabini drafted its
constitution, which was similar to that of the United States. But when it was revealed that the
United States would annex the Philippines, Mabini teamed up with Aguinaldo in a fresh fight for
independence. A paralytic stroke struck Mabini six months before the uprising. Even though
Mabini was already paralyzed, General Emilio Aguinaldo called on him to be his chief adviser in
1898. The general had contracted polio in 1895, and the illness gradually made him less and
less capable until January 1896, when he finally lost use of both of his legs. When he refused to
swear allegiance to the United States after being captured by American troops in December
1899, he was exiled to Guam and wasn't allowed to come back for several months before he
passed away. The novel, La Revolución Filipina, written by Mabini, was released in 1931.

After reading chapters 9 and 10 of Mabini's book, The Philippine Revolution, I believe
that he has the leadership skills necessary to serve as president of the Philippines during that
period. I also admired his principles, and he also knew who was capable and not capable of
leading the revolution. He mentioned many unnecessary deaths caused by the jelousy of
Aguinaldo that could have made the revolution successful. The demise of the Bonifacio
brothers, which Mabini described as a crime, represents the first time that a desire for power
has triumphed over a genuine love of country. Heneral Luna's fall was also in the book. The way
he died saddened me because Luna is our best leader since he can create the best plan for our
country and can produce competent soldiers to fight US soldiers. The Philippines could succeed
in the battle with the lead of General Luna if Aguinaldo supported him instead of killing him out
of jealousy.

After reading Katipunan and the Revolution by Santiago Alvarez, I haven't really liked
Aguinaldo. I had a gut feeling that he wouldn't make a good leader, and I was right. He couldn't
run our country because he couldn't put together wise decisions on his own and constantly
sought advice from Apolinario Mabini. According to Mabini, he valued men more according to
the degree of their blood relations and companionship with him than by their talent, character,
or sense of patriotism. The death of Mabini somewhat reminded me of Rizal because he also
expressed his love for the country through his passion for literature, and he was known for his
powerful intellect, political savvy, and eloquence.