Emulate Mabini, Binay urges PUP students

MANILA, Philippines -Vice President Jejomar Binay  urged Tuesday the students of the Polytechnic University (PUP) and the Filipinos to emulate Gat Apolinario Mabini for his love of country and for  the discipline he practiced in overcoming the obstacles for his being a â€œSublime Paralytic.”

 â€œLet us emulate Mabini’s discipline to overcome the obstacles against him, physically and spiritually and in the society,” Binay said in a speech during the commemoration of the hero’s 149th birth anniversary at the Mabini Shrine in PUP.

Binay also advocated for the revival of age-old Filipino values that contribute to our identity as a people.

“Let us revive the true spirit of being nationalistic, love of fellowmen, respect for the elderly, for the traditions that expains who we are,” Binay said.

“Let us also revive our honor by following the law,” Binay said.

Binay recalled that the lawyers’ group Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity, and Nationalism, Inc. (MABINI) was so named because like its namesake, it sought to help the poor and oppressed through law and justice.

MABINI was formed during martial law and included Binay in its roster of members, along with known nationalists Jose W. Diokno, Lorenzo Tanada, Joker Arroyo and Rene Saguisag.

Binay said Mabini believed and worked for instituting laws that would change the attitudes of the people toward the new government and nationalism despite his belief that Filipinos could not yet handle their newfound freedom.

He added that although Mabini and other protagonists of the First Republic had failed in attaining freedom, it is still important to live by and seek to improve the democratic system that Filipino heroes have put in place.

Binay also stressed the need for voluntarism by the public, saying that Mabini had believed that the permanence of the State relied upon the people’s belief and willingness to work for the government’s success.

“They also believed the critical role of volunteerism and their belief for the system of the government for the state to succeed,” Binay said.

Binay  also lauded the news that government had allocated more than P3 billion for the education sector.

He also reiterated Mabini’s belief that education is the key to national progress.