Mabini was born to a poor family
Apolinario Mabini was born July 23, 1864, to a market vendor and an unlettered laborer in Tanauan, Batangas. His informal studies began under his mother and Agustin Santiesteban, a teacher from Davao. He was later moved to a school owned by Simplicio Avelino, for whom he worked as a houseboy. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library)
Mabini was a working student
Aside from working as a houseboy, Mabini also took on odd jobs, including that of a tailor, in exchange for board and lodging. He later on moved to Manila at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. To survive, Mabini taught Latin and then worked as a court copyist. He obtained a law degree from the University of Santo Tomas. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/National Historical Commission of The Philippines)
Mabini was not born a paraplegic
Mabini contracted polio, which left both his legs paralyzed, only in 1896. He was arrested due to his links to the Katipunan later that year, but was held in a hospital. After his release, Mabini spent most of his days in Los Banos and Bay, Laguna, where he sought relief for his condition in sulfuric springs. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/Kevin Perez)
Mabini and Aguinaldo only met on June 12, 1898
Mabini is considered the “brains of the revolution” for the counsel he provided Emilio Aguinaldo during the early days of the latter's dictatorship and revolutionary government. The two communicated mostly in letters, however, and met only when Aguinaldo declared independence, when he had Mabini fetched. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/Mabini Shrine)
Mabini was the country’s first prime minister
Upon Aguinaldo’s declaration of Philippine Independence and establishment of a dictatorial government, he appointed Mabini as the first prime minister and also minister of foreign affairs. He led efforts for other countries to recognize Philippine independence. Mabini headed the Aguinaldo Cabinet until his resignation in 1899. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/National Historical Commission of The Philippines)
Mabini got deported to Guam
After the fall of the Aguinaldo government during the Filipino-American War, Mabini fled to Nueva Ecija. American soldiers captured him in Cuyapo in December 1898. He was kept a prisoner of war until September 1900. His article in newspaper El Liberal led to his rearrest and deportation to Guam. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/Mabini Shrine)
Mabini in the end condemned Aguinaldo’s government
In his memoirs titled “La Revolucion Filipina,” Mabini wrote: “The Revolution failed because it was badly led; because its leader won his post by reprehensible rather than meritorious acts; because instead of supporting the men most useful to the people, he made them useless out of jealousy.” (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/Cora Lopez)
Mabini died of cholera at age 39
Mabini returned to the Philippines in Feburary 1902, after reluctantly taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. He was offer a high position in government, but he turned it down, preferring to retire in his Nagtahan home. He died of cholera on May 13, 1903. He was 39. (Photo from the Presidential Museum and Library/National Historical Commission of The Philippines)
