#apolinariomabini

“SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE”

"Liberty is freedom to do right and never wrong” -Apolinario Mabini

HISTORICAL NOTE: Mabini is the second of 8 children of an illiterate peasant and a public market vendor in Tanauan, Batangas. However, Mabini overcame poverty and became a lawyer. In his memoir, La Revolucion Filipina (The Philippine Revolution), Mabini wrote that his mother, Dionisia Maranan, aspired for him to be a priest. But Mabini said that priesthood was not meant for him. He wrote, "I am, however, convinced that the true minister of God is not one who wears a cassock, but everyone who proclaims His glory by good works of service to the greatest possible number of His creatures." In 1894, he earned his law degree at the University of Santo Tomas.

Barya Series: Representation of the Filipino Heroes on Philippine coinage.

Jacinto: PAANO AKO!? *hikbi

On the one peso coin is Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero and a known “ilustrado” (translated as enlightened ones, or the elites that were typically educated abroad, because they were forced to get out of the country in fear of being targeted by the Spaniards). Born in Calamba, Laguna. He wrote the Noli Me Tangere (Germany in 1887) and El Filibusterismo (Belgium in 1891) During his study and stay at Spain, he became an active member of a newspaper La Solidaridad. And when he went back to Manila, formed his own civic movement, La Liga Filipina.

On the five peso coin is Emilio Aguinaldo, first Philippine President, from Kawit, Cavite. He was the one who led the Declaration of Philippine Independence in Malolos, Bulacan, the first republic in Asia.

On the ten peso coin is Andres Bonifacio (Ama ng Katipunan), from Tondo, Manila. He founded KKK, Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) and was known as Supremo, and the president of Tagalog Republic, the first active movement against colonizers in Asia. He is always depicted as a strong-willed hot-headed poor man, wearing camisa de chino, red scarf and a bolo.

Next to him is Apolinario Mabini (Sublime Paralytic), from Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas. Member of La Liga Filipina. Became the chief adviser of Aguinaldo, known for being a diplomat and writer. He had a fall-out with Aguinaldo at a later end of the president’s term of office

"SUBLIME PARALYTIC"

More than Bonifacio or Rizal or Aguinaldo, we need more people like Mabini.

HISTORICAL NOTE: On one of his letters to Aguinaldo, he asked for forgiveness for being 'maculit' on issues regarding the positions and policies of the Congress (following that the people on the position on the congressional seats were all meztisos and merchants, and do not represents the minorities at all).

By this time, Aguinaldo was currying support from the higher societies (since he is also part of it), and Mabini saw how the political landscape of the 'supposedly' new government would simply be manipulated by the old and powerful oligarchs and elites despite the initial drive of the Katipunan to topple the system and free the discriminated Indios.

At one point, he attended the Malolos Banquet, (June 12, 1898) a refined and highly expensive dinner with the elites to show how 'cultured' Filipinos were. It's actually not that surprising that Mabini was the only one wearing a barong tagalog at the event, and he even rented a funeral carriage as his ride.

Whether he had no choice in the matter or it was a statement for his belief at the present gov't, I'm not sure...but it's still badass.