By Resti H. Santiago
Apolinario Mabini, one of the most under-recognized “Leo-Kings” in our history. Artwork by Jimbo Albano.
The historical film Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral directed by Jerrold Tarog was being shown in theaters as the drama involving Senator Sonny Trillanes, one of the leading figures in several attempted coups during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, unfolded. President Rodrigo Duterte issued a proclamation to revoke the amnesty given to Trillanes by the previous administration.
Amidst this real-life event, it seems that this movie is truly the work of an artist reflecting the signs of the times. In addressing the concepts of heroes and heroism, Goyo brings up more questions than answers. Are the heroes that we look up to really worthy of our admiration? The same question applies to the current crop of politicians that people follow blindly. Is Gregorio “Goyo” del Pilar a hero? Did Emilio Aguinaldo order the assassination of Heneral Antonio Luna?
Behind the chaos that was the Philippine-American War, a sphinx-like figure–Apolinario Mabini, stood out. Mabini’s Sun sign is Leo, which modern astrologers associate with the “king of the jungle.”
Leo is the sign of rulers and leaders. It is not coincidental that actor Fernando Poe, Jr. or FPJ, also Leo, was hailed as the “Da King” of Philippine movies. Former president Manuel L. Quezon, also a Leo, sealed our fate by working hard for our independence from the American colonizers.
Do Leos really dominate our psyche? But why are thinkers like Mabini not well-known among the people? In 2015, upon observing who watched Tarog’s previous film Heneral Luna, a young moviegoer’s social media post asked why Mabini was always sitting in the movie became viral. It showed the younger generation’s lack of awareness of the facts about Mabini’s life. The country’s astrology may partly give us an answer.
The Philippines’ mercurial thinkers
The astrological chart of Modern Philippines has Mercury in Leo, hidden in the 12th house. Mercury in a country’s chart signifies the thinkers and philosophers of the race. In this field, Apolinario Mabini is a towering figure. He was not called the “Brains of the Revolution” for nothing. He was the person behind the decrees issued by Emilio Aguinaldo (the country’s first president). He was the brain and power behind the first Philippine Republic.
However, because Mercury is in the 12th house of the Philippine chart, the thinkers of the race remain unrecognized, and their writings mostly unread. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, left us with volumes of written materials that nobody reads (Mercury). Dolphy (Leo, King of Comedy) is yet to receive the National Artist Award. Fernando Poe, Jr. was allegedly cheated out of the presidency in 2004. Mabini himself was eased out of the Malolos Congress.
Is Mabini, whose birth data is actually disputed, a Leo or Cancer? WikiPilipinas gives us July 23, 1864. However, according to Ambeth Ocampo, our “Leo-King of History,” the correct date is July 22, based on what was recorded on Mabini’s baptismal certificate.
This would make Mabini a Cancer. By doing away with Sun sign astrology, whichever Sun sign he belongs to is not a problem. These are just broad generalizations. By specifically emphasizing his Mercury placement, we would see that he is more connected to the Philippines.
Time of birth is important
As in history, the recorded date and time of birth is very significant in astrology. Due to varying speed, different planets occupy different places in the sky. Like a cosmic clock with seven hands, the position of the planets within the 12 Zodiac signs and the 12 subdivisions of the chart, would reveal a person’s personality and fate.
However, the fastest moving point above is not a planet, but the celestial sphere or the sky itself. In the astrological chart, this is reflected as the fast-changing Ascendant or Rising sign. In Medieval astrology, the Ascendant sign, not the Sun Sign, is the most important factor in the chart. This is the personalizing factor in astrology.
The fate of Mabini
But even without the time of birth, an astrologer can look at certain planetary configurations to see highlights in a person’s chart/life. Each planet and its location in the zodiac belt would signify something. This interpretation of Mabini’s planets is based on the recently translated works of the medieval Arabic astrologer and philosopher Abu Ali al-Khayyat:
With Jupiter in Scorpio, the sign ruled by Mars, his fate was to work with princes and military leaders. That was Emilio Aguinaldo, who was both a general and the leader of the land.
With his Moon weak in Pisces, he ended up with a weak body. Mabini was paralyzed at age 32.
With Saturn in Libra, he was not lucky with women; he never had a relationship.
With his Mercury in fixed sign Leo, he was prudent and his ideas would have a lasting influence.
Mabini’s words still ring true
What we are interested here is Mabini’s Mercury in Leo, which happens to be the same sign as that of Modern Philippines. This means that his ideas and messages are still important to us. Below is “The True Decalogue” written by Mabini. It should guide us now as we face a growing problem with the West Philippine Sea and a new set of economic issues.
The True Decalogue
First. Love God and your honor over all things; God, as the source of all truth, all justice, and all activity; your honor, the only power that obliges you to be truthful, just and industrious.
Second. Worship God in the form that your conscience deems most upright and fitting because it is through your conscience that God speaks to you, reproaching you for your misdeeds and applauding you for your good deeds.
Third. Develop the special talents that God has given you, working and studying according to your capabilities, never straying from the path of good and justice, in order to achieve your own perfection, and by this means you will contribute to the progress of humanity:” thus you will accomplish the mission that God himself has given you in this life, and achieving this, you will have honor, and having honor, you will be glorifying God.
Fourth. Love your country after God and your honor, and more than you love yourself, because your country is the only paradise that God has given you in this life; the only patrimony of your race; the only inheritance from your ancestors; and the only future of your descendants: because of your country you have life, love, and interests; happiness, honor and God.
Fifth. Strive for the happiness of your country before your own, making her the reigning influence for reason, justice and work; if your country is happy, you and your family will also be happy.
Sixth. Strive for the independence of your country, because you alone can have a real interest in her aggrandizement and ennoblement since her independence will mean your own freedom, her aggrandizement your own perfection, and her ennoblement your own glory and immortality.
Seventh. In your country, do not recognize the authority of any person who has not been elected by you and your compatriots, because all authority comes from God, and as God speaks to the conscience of each individual, the person chosen and proclaimed by the consciences of all the individuals of a whole town is the only one that can exercise real authority.
Eighth. Strive that your country be constituted as a republic, and never as a monarchy: a monarchy empowers one or several families and lays the foundation for a dynasty; a republic ennobles and dignifies a country based on reason, it is great because of its freedom and is made prosperous and brilliant by dint of work.
Ninth. Love your neighbor as you love yourself, because God has imposed on him and on you the obligation to help one another, and has dictated that he does not do unto you what he does not want you to do unto him; but if your neighbor is remiss in this sacred duty and makes an attempt on your life, your freedom, and your properties, then you should destroy him and crush him, because the supreme law of self-preservation must prevail.
Tenth. Always look on your countryman as more than a neighbor: you will find in him a friend, a brother and at least the companion to whom you are tied by only one destiny, by the same happiness and sorrows, and by the same aspirations and interests.