One of the more perceptive students of the Philippine Revolution,
the late Teodoro M. Kalaw has observed that:
The separatist movement, conducted from 1896 to the promulgation of
the Malolos Constitution.....was not a mere stroke of chance, or an
outburst of ungovernable passions, but a carefully considered action,
directed throughout upon platform of lofty ideals of emancipation
and organization. It was a movement both political and constitutional
The persons who observed tendencies of each step, as well as purpose
of each phase of the plan, will see at every turn constructive genius
inspiring the work of destructions.....For every hand, there was reason,
a guide. Every warrior had his statesman. Emilio Jacinto counsels
the Katipunero Bonifacio, Rianzares Bautista, Mabini Paterno, Buencamino
and others the revolutionist Aguinaldo *
Majul's prize-winning biography is by far the only full-length biography
that has come out during the postwar period. It agrees basically with
T M Kalaw above thesis that the Revolution had constructive genius
in the form in or the Sublime Paralytic. The author departs from the
other biographies in that he makes this work an interpretative one.
It "includes how his actions, mind and character represent an
interplay of responses to the demand of a given social structure and
what manner of responses have left their mark in history" (Preface
1).
This biography is admittedly not an exhaustive one but "selective
in many of its details. For it represents an effort to portray Mabini
as a man deliberately trying to play a distinct and prominent role
in the Revolution by rationalizing the struggle of the Filipinos to
do away with a colonial regime and delineating, at the same time the
general direction of how the Filipinos could be attained" (p.1x)
Mabini as a man and a Filipino, is this book thesis:
Here is to be found the dual but consistent character of Mabini, as
a Filipino and a Man. As Filipino, his nationalism essentially consisted
in propounding a new way of life, a national Life. As Man, it reflected
the human spirit in its efforts toward a greater freedom at every
step. Within this context of duality, the complexities of Mabini's
attitudes become intelligible. He hated the Mother Country insofar
as she represented the colonial dominance and exploitation of the
Filipinos, preventing them from utilizing their energies fully for
their own needs and benefit. He felt indebted in so far as the spread
to the Filipinos a civilizing influences by the introduction of liberal
ideas from their own sons and those other sister countries. (p.7)
In eighteen chapters, of course of varying length and importance,
Mabini's life is compressed. The opening chapter is the setting ---Mabini
in a hammock being carried from Bay to Kawit, upon order of Aguinaldo.
Mabini had attracted Aguinaldo's attention by his writings from the
lake town. The later must have heard about the "First Greetings
to the Filipino people," "True Decalogue", "Constitutional
Program of the Republic and Ordinances of the Revolution."
The next three chapters are a flashback of Mabini's formative years
and the social milieu. The feudal condition was gradually being changed
by the coming of the Suez Canal and the subsequent commercial penetration
of the country; the entracne of liberal ideas and its effects; and
the increase of schools; the rise of the illustrado class; the reform
movement, including Mabini's membership in Masonry, the Liga Filipina,
and the Cuerpo de Compromisarios.
The fifth chapter deals with the first phase of the Revolution, when
we find Mabini detained by the Spanish authorities but released after
the Pact of Biyak-na-bato. To recuperate from paralysis, he went to
the town of Bay. There the Revolution went on to its second phase,
with Mabini offering his services to General Paciano Rizal and writing
several articles.
Then, successively the rest of the chapters deal with the foundation
of social regeneration. The two-fold aspect of revolution becomes
internal and external. Internal revolution involves "changes
in attitudes, way of thinking and behavior towards each other and
social institutions." External revolution was the "process
to smash Spanish rule." (p.53). The TRUE DECALOGUE was
a step to enhance internal revolution, while the ORDINANCES
was to make possible the external revolution.
There is unfolded the organization of local governments and the electoral
system and finally the organization of the revolutionary Congress,
also known as the Malolos Congress. Then, the transfer of the Revolutionary
capital to Bacoor from Kawit, whose purpose was to make it more convenient
in the operations to capture Manila from the Spaniards. It was from
Bacoor that the revolutionary control was extended to the other parts
of Luzon, at least in the twelve provinces.
The Malolos Constitution, politics and finances follow, with a detailed
and extended treatment of the government and the travails of the Republic.
Next, the drift to war and the subsequent fall of the Mabini cabinet.
Mabini, out of power, was not out of touch with the situation for
his advice was still sought after and listened to. We have his views
on the Roman Catholic Church, religion and politics.
Then follows his capture and exile in Guam. His merits as a political
thinker are presented penultimately, followed by his last days.
Rather than just a biographical sketch, this work gives more space
to his ideas in what the author called "mentography." Well-organized
and documented, the extensive study that has gone to is intimated
to the reader by the primary source materials used.
The author successfully presents hidden motives.
To those familiar with the author's earlier works like the POLITICAL
AND CONSTITUTIONAL IDEAS OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION, this work might
be a disappointment for no new ideas are added. This reviewer would
even think that the earlier MABINI AND THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
has a more comprehensive treatment and that the present work is more
of a summary than the earlier two works.
The author's language has a peculiar disadvantage to the uninitiated.
It tends to "philosophize," the use of abstract words whose
meanings the reader might not be aware of perhaps due to the author's
training in philosophy and political science. But just the the same,
the language creates a barrier to some readers and prevents the book
from becoming a popular reading. What others have not done, Majul
has in ably presenting the mind of Mabini which would always stand
rereading for sometime to come.
*1 "Political and Constitutional Idea of the Philippine Revolution"
in Eliseo Quirino & Vicente M.Hilario, THINKING FOR OURSELVES
(Manila: Oriental Commerical Company, 1924), P.242
**Originally published UNIVERSITY COLLEGE JOURNAL, No. 7 (1964-65)
pp.232-5
