The Capture of Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini, the Sublime Paralytic, was captured by the American soldiers on December 10, 1899 at about ten o’clock in the morning in the house of Don Zacarias B. Flores where he was then hiding, allegedly upon indication of a twelve-year old boy by the name of Damial Pascual ( son of the spouses Simon Pascual and Feliciana Domingo who are immediate neighbors of the Flores Family) (Note: During the celebration of the centennial of the birth of Mabini, Mr. Damian Pascual, already 77 years old, told that such imputation is false and baseless and tends to discredit him so that his townmates may hate him as a traitor.
This was Mr. Damian Pascual’s version of the story:
It was December 10, 1899, when a unnamed tall and robust American cavalryman, who knew beforehand where Mabini was hiding, approached the store of Damian’s mother who was then in the market making purchases. He asked Damian who was then tending the store by means of signs if he had eggs for sale. Realizing that the American needed eggs for food, Damian went to get eggs from a nest and gave this to the Cavalryman who took a bottle of wine on display at the “estante”, poured the wine in a glass mixed with the contents of one egg and later drank the potion. After this, the American, again by signs, inquired if he knew Mabini to which the boy Damian answered in the negative by shaking his head. After finishing the third egg, the American drew a bill of five dollars from his wallet and gave it to the boy who said he did not have enough to change it, but the American made him understand that it was not necessary for him to give the change, adding that the bill was worth ten pesos . The American spread all his fingers to make his point clear. Later, the American who appeared to be on an urgent business held him by the hand and said “ come on pequeno” and took Damian to the house of Don Zacarias B. Flores. Finding no one, the American led him to the door of the only room of the house, and slowly pushed the door and saw Apolinario Mabini seated in a ‘sillon’ (reclined armchair) resting. Upon seeing the man, he greeted him with a “good morning Mabini,” making signs that he should stand; but Mabini calmly responded: “I cannot stand”. Then noting the physical condition of the man, the American was convinced that he had found his quarry then said “ you are under arrest.” He proceeded to the window facing the street and called to his fellow soldiers who were then on their way to water their horses in the neighboring Salundipit Creek, by saying in a loud voice: “Mabini is here.” Scarcely had he uttered these words, the house was surrounded immediately by cavalry troops. Other soldiers later arrived coming from the barracks. While the sergeant was near the window speaking with his fellow soldiers, Mabini chided the boy Damian thus: “Bakit mo ako itinuro?” (Why did you show where I am?), to which the boy replied: “Hindi po, ang Amerikano po ang nagdala sa akin dito at hindi ko alam ang dahilan.” (No sir, the American took me here and I did not know the reason) After a while, various soldiers helped the paralytic stand from his chair. He was carried by four soldiers to the convent which then served as a soldiers’ barracks. Hours later, he was taken to Rosales, Pangasinan and from there to Bayambang, Pangasinan from where he was taken to Manila by train. On the day of the capture, no other person was in the house except Mabini and his brother Prudencio Mabini, who on seeing his brother captured by the Americans, jumped through the window to the kitchen and went to the municipal building to inform the Municipal President, Don Mariano B. Flores, about the capture. It was said that the commanding officer of the local military outpost has asked explanations from the Municipal President about the presence of Mabini in the locality without him (commanding officer) being informed about it. The latter replied that he absolutely know nothing about the matter. Should anyone told him about it, he would have reported it to the authorities.
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