President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on the youth to draw inspiration from the life and works of Apolinario Mabini to become an active contributor to nation-building.

Speaking at Mabini’s 160th birth anniversary commemoration at the Mabini Shrine in Tanauan, Batangas, Marcos honored the “Sublime Paralytic” for overcoming his disability and contributing greatly to the revolution against the country’s colonizers.

“Tinatawagan ko ang mga kabataang Pilipino ngayon na gawing inspirasyon at halimbawa ang buhay ni Apolinario Mabini upang magpunyagi sa buhay (I call on the Filipino youth today to use Apolinario Mabini’s life as an inspiration and example to strive in life),” Marcos said.

“Nawa’y higit [na] maunawaan ng mga [nakababatang] henerasyon ang kaniyang mga pilosopiyang pampulitika at panlipunan upang sila ay mahikayat na mag-ambag sa pagsulong ng ating bansa (May the younger generation better understand his political and social philosophies so that they can be encouraged to contribute to the advancement of our country),” he added.

Mabini was a nationalist lawyer and intellectual during the Philippine Revolution who served as the primary advisor of then-President Emilio Aguinaldo and steered the creation of the First Philippine Republic in 1899.

His political and nationalist writings helped shape the early years of Philippine independence and the country’s struggle against the United States during the Philippine-American War.

According to the President, Mabini is a testament that everyone can overcome trials.

“Si Mabini ay nagpapatunay sa kaisipan na ang bawat isa sa atin ay may kakayahang gumawa ng pagbabago at tumahak sa sariling landas tungo sa tagumpay, sa kabila ng iniindang kalagayan o anumang pagsubok (Mabini affirms the thought that each of us has the ability to make a change and take our own path to success, despite our circumstances or any trials,” Marcos said.

“Kaya, sama-sama tayong magtulungan upang matiyak na ang [mga] mithiin ni Apolinario Mabini [ay] magpapatuloy sa Bagong Pilipinas—kung saan ang mga mamamayan ay may pagkakataong maging produktibong kasapi ng isang mas makatao at nagkakaisang lipunan (So, let us work together to ensure that the ideals of Apolinario Mabini will continue in the New Philippines—where citizens have the opportunity to be productive members of a more humane and united society),” he added.

Mabini was arrested twice by the Americans, set free, and exiled to Guam. He expressed his love for the country through his passion for literature. And, one of his notable works was his memoir titled “La Revolucion Filipina.”

He died of cholera in 1903 at the age of 38. (PNA)