Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1864, Apolinario Mabini is born in Talaga, #Tanauan #Batangas #PH. Mabini was a statesman, Prime Minister (1st head of Aguinaldo's Cabinet), and the legal mind and architect of the bureaucracy of the 1st #PH Republic. (LONG THREAD) tmblr.co/ZtGCUx2jhp-Xb

Context: Born to a very poor family, and second of the 8 children, his mother Dionisia Maranan y Magpantay, a simple market vendor, dreamt for his son to become a priest, exerting much effort to support his education until her untimely passing. tmblr.co/ZtGCUx2i8Ger4

Mabini's all-consuming passion was fighting for what's fair and just for all, especially the poor. Hence, his decision to shift courses in pursuit of Law. His early studies was under the tutelage of Valerio Malabanan who took in poor students pro bono.

Later on, Mabini finished Bachiller en Artes at @LetranOfficial & gained a Law degree from the @UST1611official, all w/ flying colors. He became member of Rizal's Liga Filipina & Cuerpo de Compromisarios. He wrote pamphlets in support of the #PH Revolution

Upon Aguinaldo's return in May 1898, Mabini, then resting in Los Baños due to his polio, was recommended to the general. Mabini was immediately fetched, upon Mabini's agreement, as he was carried via hammock from town to town, fro Los Baños to Kawit.

Mabini began his tedious work, challenging the Proclamation of Independence, and having it ratified by true representatives elected by the people in August 1898. He set down to work, drafting Aguinaldo's decrees, setting up a truly Filipino government.

His legal mind was uncompromising—in Sept. 1898, he disagreed w/ a constitution that put special powers on Congress since at the time #PH was still at war w/ Spain. But upon promulgation, he defended it when its own drafters eventually went against it. tmblr.co/ZtGCUx1Qtbmty

The ambitious project of building a government, led by Filipinos for Filipinos, would come to fruition on 23 January 1899 when the Malolos Constitution was promulgated. It would be known as the 1st #PH Republic—the 1st constitutional republic in Asia. tmblr.co/ZtGCUx2HX6x2n

The outbreak of the Philippine-American War on 4 February 1899 strained the new republic, as Aguinaldo slowly leaned towards the sway of Congress for autonomy (unconstitutional) instead of independence. Mabini stepped down as head of Cabinet on 7 May 1899.

He was considered for Chief Justice post, but his enemies in Congress ensured that this was not to be. He was captured by the Americans in Rosales, Pangasinan on 10 Dec. 1899, & tagged as the most "intransigent" of Filipinos. He was exiled to Guam in 1901.

Upon observing that the Filipino people have largely accepted American rule, adhering to the People's voice, he conceded to the Americans, and returned to #PH in 1903, but not completely giving up on independence. Months later, he died from cholera.

Photo:

Apolinario Mabini at Anda St. Police Station, c. 1900, Donovan McCune Collection.

erratum: "her"