The Cavite Mutiny
of 1872
On the night of January 20, 1872, a group of native
artillery men, marines soldiers and workers in the
arsenal of Cavite, led by Sergeant La Madrid, seized the
nearby Fort of San Felipe, protesting the abolition of their
privileges by Governor Izquierdo. Spanish authorities used
the incident to accuse Filipino priest and intellectuals of
plotting a rebellion.
Before the mutiny, the Philippines was under Spanish Colonial rule, which was
mark by the dominance of Spanish friars who controlled many aspects of Filipino
life, including governance, education, and land ownership.
The friars, who became powerful land owners, exploited the Filipino people,
particularly through practices such as forced labor (polo y servicios) and
taxation.
The secularization movement, which sought to transfer parishes from Spanish
friars to Filipino priests. However, the Spanish friars resisted the secularization of
parishes to maintain their wealth, land, and power.
The friars were also racist, doubting the capability of Filipino
(Indio) priests, and they feared exposure of their immoral
behavior if Filipinos took over.
This led to tensions between the Spanish friars and Filipino secular
priests, including leaders like Fr. Jose Burgos, Fr. Mariano Gomez, and
Fr, Jacinto Zamora (collectively known as Gomburza), who advocated
for secularization.
Fr. Mariano Gomez Fr. Jose Burgos Fr. Jacinto Zamora
The Cavite Mutiny was triggered by the The Spanish quickly crushed the
reinstatement of the tribute (tax) and rebellion with help from local troops. The
forced labor under Governor-General leaders of the rebellion were executed,
Rafael de Izquierdo. These policies had and the Spanish used the event to target
been abolished earlier but were Filipino priests, including the martyred
reintroduced, leading to the discontent GomBurZa, blaming them for the
Filipino soldiers, workers, and marines uprising of the rebellion.
stationed at the Cavite arsenal. Led by
Sergeant La Madrid, they seized the Fort
of San Felipe on the night of January 20,
1872.
Because of the testimony of Francisco Zaldua, three Filipino priests were
incriminated as key plotters in the Cavite Mutiny. The three were Mariano
Gomez de los Angeles, Jacinto Zamora, and Jose Burgos.
Fr. Gomez helped Fr. Palaez gathered funds for secularization.
Fr. Burgos was a known leader in the secularization movement.
Fr, Jacinto Zamora was known to enjoy a card game called panggingge. an
incriminating piece of evidence was found on him. It was an invitation calling
for “bullets and gun powder!” Because it was dated on the day of the Cavite
Mutiny, it was used by the Spaniards as proof of Fr. Zamora’s part in the
uprisng.
Hence, all three priests were found guilty of having played an important role in
the Cavite Mutiny and sentenced to death. And on February 17, 1872, the three
priests along with Zaldua were executed in Bagumbayan using the garrote.
The execution of Gomburza shocked the Philippines. Their martyrdom provoked
the Filipino population, exposing the injustice of Spanish rule and intensifying
the desire for revolution. The public showed off their execution, which was
intended to give Filipino fear, instead led to widespread protest and a sense of
unity among Filipinos against the colonial authority.
Various factors such as the impact of European liberalism
and the administration of Carlos Maria de la Torre, racial
discrimination, the effects of the secular-regular conflicts,
and the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, all contributed to the birth
of the Filipino Nationalism.
Two major events happened in 1872, first was the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
and the other was the martyrdom of the three martyr priests in the
persons of Father Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora
(GOMBURZA). All Filipino must know the different sides of the story
since this event led to another tragic yet meaningful part of our history
the execution of GOMBURZA which in effect is a major factor in
the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos.
