To honor the birth anniversary of National Hero Apolinario Mabini, the city of Tanauan, Batangas declares every July 23 as a Special Non-Working Holiday. The rest of the country also commemorates the Apolinario Mabini Day.   In line with the celebration, here are facts about the country’s illustrious hero: He was born on July 23, 1864, in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas. Though there are speculations that Apolinario was born on the 22nd, not on the 23rd, the country has been celebrating his birth anniversary on the 23rd. Born to a poor family. His father Inocencio Mabini was a farmer and his mother Dionisa Maranan is a vendor at a local public market, he was the second among eight siblings. He was an achiever. Unlike other national heroes that were bestowed with the privilege of studying abroad, Apolinario, who was born in poverty, has finished all his studies in the country. Despite their poor financial status, Apolinario, as a child is intelligent and has a strong desire to learn. Despite the struggle to afford his education, he makes his parents proud, especially his mother, as he showed his passion for learning. And his mother’s golden dream was to have a priest son, which Apolinario wasn’t able to achieve due to their financial situation. While studying he has to work to support himself. In 1881, he was able to win a partial scholarship to Manila’s Colegio de San Juan de Letran. In 1887, Apolinario earned his Bachelor’s degree and official recognition as a Professor of Latin. Then, he attended the University of Santo Tomas to study Law. He opened a school. He worked as an instructor several times and eventually opened a school in 1893 which only lasted for two years. According to the Inspector of Schools, D. Manuel Arellano, Apolinario ranked among the best of that period. Earned his degree in law in 1894. Because he had made many stops to earn money, Apolinario spent has spent the long journey to finish his studies. In 1894, he finally earned his degree in law at the age of 30. He did not show interest in having a partner/relationship. According to his classmates, Apolario was usually quiet, doesn’t have many friends, and doesn’t show himself in fiestas. Unlike our famous Rizal, who we know have engaged in relationships, Apolinario did not show any interest in this matter. Known as the “Sublime Paralytic”. In 1895, Apolinario worked at Adriano law offices in Manila as a newly minted lawyer while being the secretary of the Cuerpo de Compromisarios. In 1896, Apolinario contracted polio, gradually incapacitating him, which led to losing the use of his legs. That made him known to the millennial as the man who always sits in a rattan chair. And his polio made him escape the fate that Rizal has experienced. Apolinario got arrested in October 1896 after his work with the reform movement. Subsequently sentenced to house arrest at the San Juan de Dios Hospital on the day Rizal received his execution. He is well-known as the First Prime Minister. In 1898, Apolinario was able to talk to the new president Emilio Aguinaldo, convincing him to establish a revolutionary government with an assembly rather than an autocrat. He has the ability to persuade the president more than anyone else which led him to his appointment as Secretary of Foreign Affairs and as the President of the Council of Secretaries. The following year, he became both prime minister and foreign minister of the country. On March 6 the same year, Apolinario began negotiating with the U.S. for the Philippines’ fate. But the U.S. refused armistice that resulted in his resignation from Aguinaldo’s government the day after. As the war was declared, in 1899 Apolinario was captured by the Americans, making him a prisoner of war. Upon his release in 1901, he published a newspaper article that is El Símil de Alejandro. The article and his refusal of the alliance to the Americans caused him his exile in Guam. On his exile, Apolinario wrote La Revolucion Filipina. He died on the 13th of May 1903. Apolinario returned to the country on February 26, 1903, and continued to speak and write for the Philippines’ independence.  Unfortunately, on May 13, 1903, at 38 years old he died due to cholera. Buried and transferred several times, from Manila Chinese Cemetery to Mausoleo de Los Veteranos de la Revolución, he finally reached his permanent resting place back to Tanauan in 1965. Published works. El Símil de Alejandro, Programa Constitucional de la Republica Filipina, and La Revolucion Filipina.