Read on Twitter
Philippine History ThreadAs I begin intensive research for my WIP, you guys should look out for more of these threads! Today, I’d like to talk about Apolinario Mabini, a hero widely known as the brains of the Philippine Revolution!
Mabini was born in Batangas in 1864. He went to university for law despite his mother’s wishes (she wanted him to join the clergy), and did so with a scholarship, though he frequently had to pause his education due to lack of funding. Eventually, he earned his law degree.
He was one of the many intellectuals of his generation— a generation that defined the intellectual movement in the Philippines because those who came before usually studied abroad (usually in Madrid). This told the Filipinos one thing: they no longer needed Spain.
He joined La Liga Filipina in 1893, the secret society that would eventually give rise to the Katipunan, the main body of the Philippine Revolution. In 1895, before the Revolution officially began, he was struck with polio and eventually lost the use of his legs.
He was later arrested in an incident in Cavite but was released when the Spaniards found out he was paralyzed.
He was a chief advisor within the Katipunan during the years of the revolution and continued to serve even after independence from Spain was declared in June 12, 1898
He was a chief advisor within the Katipunan during the years of the revolution and continued to serve even after independence from Spain was declared in June 12, 1898
He was a key figure in the establishment of the First Philippine Republic and the Malolos Constitution, the revolutionary government during the Spanish-American War.
Due to rising tensions between the Philippines and the US, he tried to negotiate a ceasefire then an armistice—
Due to rising tensions between the Philippines and the US, he tried to negotiate a ceasefire then an armistice—
but both failed so he decided to support the option of war, then he resigned from the government in 1899.
During the Philippine-American War, he was exiled to Guam because the Americans saw him as a threat but returned in Feb 1903 after swearing an oath of allegiance to the US.
During the Philippine-American War, he was exiled to Guam because the Americans saw him as a threat but returned in Feb 1903 after swearing an oath of allegiance to the US.
He died in May of that year at 38. Even now, he is reduced to one of two things: a cr*pple (as most people still refer to him 
) and a war hero. He may have been a disabled genius, but he was also a self-made lawyer responsible for—
) and a war hero. He may have been a disabled genius, but he was also a self-made lawyer responsible for—
much of the success of the revolution, the framework of the modern Philippines and much, much more.
