To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini on 23 July 2014, the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, has launched “Mabini@150: Visual Arts Competition.
The theme for the celebration is “Apolinario Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan (Wisdom and Conviction/Integrity).”
Apolinario Mabini was born in Tanuan, Batangas on July 23, 1864. He studied in San Juan de Letran and later completed a law degree at University of Santo Tomas.
His contribution to Philippine independence cannot be discounted and he became one of the trusted advisers of Emilio Aguinaldo during the revolutionary period. .
On July 1898, he was appointed the first Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Emilio Aguinaldo following the establishment of the first Philippine Republic in June of the same year. One of his many achievements was his penning of the “True Decalogue,” a set of fundamental rules aimed at arousing the patriotic spirit of Filipinos.
The competition is divided into two categories: 1) Photography, open to 16 years and older; and 2.) Poster-Making, open to children 12-15 years old, aimed at promoting awareness of and celebrating the Sublime Paralytic’s contribution to the Philippines’ struggle for independence.
The deadline for submission of the Official Entry Form, the expression of interest to participate in the Competition, is at 5:00pm of 25 April 2015.
The Official Entries to the Competition must be received by the Embassy by 5:00pm of 16 May 2014 for judging. The guidelines and additional information may be obtained from the Philippine Consulate in Sydney or on the NHCP site, as per link below.
Mabini came to be known as the “Brains of the Revolution.” Strickened by polio, he also came to be known as the “Sublime Paralytic.” He died from cholera at the age of 39 on May 11, 1903
Further information on the life of Mabini may be accessed from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ website, http/nhcp.gov.ph/apolinario-mabini-1864-1903.
