Originally situated along the Nagtahan River, the structure was moved to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines main campus in Santa Mesa, Manila in the mid-2000s.

The bamboo-and-nipa house which would later become known as the Mabini Shrine was owned by Cecilio del Rosario and Maxima Castañeda.

Apolinario Mabini first lived in this house in 1888, the year he entered law school at the University of Santo Tomas.

[5] In April 2007, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority proposed that the Mabini Shrine be relocated to another site, as part of a project to widen the Pasig River.

[6] There was a proposal to move the house inside the Arroceros Park, a plan which had the support of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.