The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) formally reopened the Dambanang Apolinario Mabini, also known as the Apolinario Mabini Shrine, at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila on December 10, 2025, following a two-year restoration and museum enhancement project.
The reopening program began with the singing of the National Anthem by Bagong Himig Serenata, followed by an opening prayer and messages from officials of PUP and the NHCP.
The ceremony was led by the NHCP, with Senator Loren Legarda serving as guest of honor. Also present were NHCP Chairperson Regalado Trota Jose Jr. and Executive Director Carminda R. Arevalo, PUP President Manuel Muhi, Executive Vice President Alberto C. Guillo, university officials, faculty members, and students from the PUP Sta. Mesa campus.
In her message, Senator Legarda underscored the enduring relevance of Apolinario Mabini’s intellectual legacy, noting his crucial role in shaping the Philippine Revolution and the country’s struggle for independence. As the chief adviser of the First Philippine Republic, Mabini’s principles and teachings, she said, helped advance democratic ideals that remain timely amid the nation’s present-day challenges.
The Apolinario Mabini Shrine at PUP had been closed to the public since September 2023 to allow for the conservation of the historic house and the upgrading of museum exhibits and office spaces. The project forms part of the NHCP’s decade-long program to restore and develop shrines, historical sites, and museums under its care.
With its reopening, the NHCP said the shrine aims to once again serve as an educational and cultural space for students and the public, highlighting the life, works, and enduring influence of one of the country’s foremost national heroes.
