This information reached National Artist F. Sionil José too late, however.
Villanueva served as the Visayan delegate to the Malolos Congress, where he conferred with Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini to assure that the Visayas would be included in nascent First Philippine Republic.
Following certain criteria, they found a select group of people who, they believed, should be honoured for their deeds: Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino, and Gabriela Silang.
On the same day, the President and the Council of Government (Cabinet of the Philippines) headed by Apolinario Mabini as Presidente (Prime Minister of the Philippines) signed a decree covering the release of all Spanish prisoners not pertaining to the regular army, the disposition of Spanish-owned properties, and the expulsion of the Spanish clergy.
The revolutionary cabinet headed by Apolinario Mabini was replaced on May 8 by a new "peace" cabinet headed by Pedro Paterno.
It was named after Apolinario Mabini, an alumnus, principal author of the Malolos Constitution, and the first Prime Minister of the Philippine Revolutionary Government.