Have you ever wondered what is the story of a person on your banknote? I collect many banknote with people faces on them who is a prominent figure in their society. This week, i will try to post some story about Philippine prominent figure that been displayed on their old peso banknotes. If any of my story in here isn't correct, please feel free to comment and I will try to add that in this post. Today we will be talking about Apolinario Mabini which has been featured on a Philippine 10 sampung piso banknote.
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (July 23, 1864 — May 13, 1903) was a Filipino political philosopher and revolutionary who wrote the constitution for the first Philippine republic of 1899-1901, and served as its first prime minister in 1899 (January 2 – May 7, 1899). In Philippine history texts, he is often referred to as "the Sublime Paralytic", and as "the Brains of the Revolution.To his envious enemies, he is referred to as the "Dark Chamber of the President"
Mabini was born on July 23, 1864 in Barangay Talaga in Tanauan, Batangas. On May 13, 1903 Mabini died of cholera in Manila. He was the second of eight children of Dionisia Maranan, a vendor in the Tanauan market, and Inocencio Mabini, an unlettered peasant.
Believing that the Reform Movement still had a chance to achieve success, Mabini did not immediately support the revolution of 1896. When Jose Rizal was executed in December that year, however, he changed his mind and gave the revolution his wholehearted support. In 1898, while vacationing in Los Baños, Laguna, Emilio Aguinaldo sent for him. It took hundreds of men taking turns carrying his hammock to portage Mabini to Kawit. Aguinaldo, upon seeing Mabini's physical condition, must have entertained second thoughts in calling for his help.
Mabini was most active in the revolution in 1898, when he served as the chief adviser for General Aguinaldo. He drafted decrees and crafted the first ever constitution in Asia for the First Philippine Republic, including the framework of the revolutionary government which was implemented in Malolos in 1899.
Apolinario Mabini was appointed prime minister and was also foreign minister of the newly independent dictatorial government of Emilio Aguinaldo on January 2, 1899. Eventually, the government declared the first Philippine republic in appropriate ceremonies on January 23, 1899. Mabini then led the first cabinet of the republic.
Mabini found himself in the center of the most critical period in the new country's history, grappling with problems until then unimagined. Most notable of these were his negotiations with Americans, which began on March 6, 1899. The United States and the new Philippine Republic were embroiled in extremely contentious and eventually violent confrontations. During the negotiations for peace, Americans proffered Mabini autonomy for Aguinaldo's new government, but the talks failed because Mabini’s conditions included a ceasefire, which was rejected. Mabini negotiated once again, seeking for an armistice instead, but the talks failed yet again. Eventually, feeling that the Americans were not negotiating 'bona fide,' he forswore the Americans, rallied the people, and supported war. He resigned from government on May 7, 1899.
Source: Wikipedia
