MANILA, Philippines - In his disbelief, Epy Quizon, who played the character of Apolinario Mabini in Jerrold Tarog's film "Heneral Luna" reacted to college students asking him why his character was sitting down throughout the movie.
In a comment on his Facebook post, he said "Ano kaya ang itinuturo sa history classes ng (mga) bata ngayon? May lumapit nga sa'kin grupo ng college students asking bakit lagi ako nakaupo? Ang tanong ko lang… Hindi niyo kilala si (Mabini)?”
Some netizens also shared their comments about millenials who weren't familiar with the role of Mabini in Philippine history:
So apparently,some college students don't know the reason why Apolinario Mabini always sits. Puro kasi Aldub at Pastillas inaatupag eh.Smh
— Vanessa Ho (@SoooHooooo) September 25, 2015 Apolinario Mabini I bet he would rise from his chair to lecture kids these days who he is... #HeneralLuna
— jhn cllns (@JhnCllns) September 25, 2015 It doesn't take a genius to know why Apolinario Mabini sat down in the film. #HeneralLuna
— Hannah Mayo (@HannahMayo_) September 25, 2015 This was why Heneral Luna was made: to educate those people oblivious to our history. Like, why Apolinario Mabini sat the whole time.
— Arya Herrera (@aryaherrera) September 24, 2015 I wanna slap those ppl who are asking why Apolinario Mabini sitting the whole time. Where are you during history class? Srsly?
— INACTIVE (@YLONATerritory) September 24, 2015 For those who need a refresher in history, here are some fast facts about Apolinario Mabini:
1. Apolinario Mabini or "Poly" was born on July 23, 1864, in Tanauan, Batangas. He is the second of eight children.
2. Despite being raised by an illiterate farmer and a public market vendor, Mabini became a lawyer. Her mother wanted him to be a priest.
3. Mabini took the law curriculum at the University of Santo Tomas because apparently, it was cheaper at that time, and it was the only course he could afford. The curriculum included history of philosophy, theodicy, cosmology and physics.
4. He almost did not graduate because he could not even afford a gown for the ceremony.
5. To pay his school fees, Mabini had to work as an instructor several times, and he even opened his own school just to supplement his income.
6. Mabini contracted polio in 1896 that led to the paralysis of his lower limbs. So instead of fighting through bolos and riffles, he fought for the Philippines using his unparalleled intelligence, serving as an adviser to President Emilio Aguinaldo.
7. He is known as the "The Brains of the Revolution" and "The Sublime Paralytic."
8. In his book, A Short History of the Philippine Revolution, Mabini condemned Bonifacio’s assassination, describing the incident as the “first triumph of personal ambition upon true patriotism.”
9. In 1901, he refused to sign the oath of allegiance to the Unites States that's why he was exiled for two years in Guam. Mabini finally decided to sign the oath when his health declined because he wanted to die in his native land.
10. Mabini died of cholera upon his return to Manila in 1903. He was only 38.