Father Pedro Palaez The Ecclesiastical governor of the Philippines in 1862.

. A brilliant educator, journalist, and orator, he used the pulpit and the press to expose and criticized the rampant racial discrimination against the native clergy.
He was a Filipino Catholic priest who favored the rights for Filipino clergy during the 19th century. He was fought for the secularization of Filipino priests Pelaez was ordained in 1833 and serve in the Manila Cathedral. From 1836 to 1839, he taught Philosophy at the Colegio de San Jose and taught at the University of Santo Tomas from 1843 to 1861. Along with Father Mariano Gmez, Pelaez started organizing activities that demanded the return of control of Philippine parishes to Filipino seculars. Pelez died during an earthquake [1] in Manila, Philippines.

Father Jose A. Burgos One of the brilliant students of Father Palaez at the University of Santo Tomas who continued his unfinished mission. He was a Filipino mestizo secular priest, accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. He was born in Vigan on February 9, 1837. He obtained three undergraduate degrees with honors, two masters degrees and two doctorate degrees from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and from the University of Santo Tomas. He conducted his first mass in the Intramuros. Burgos' liberal views, codified in editorial essays, championing political and ecclesiastic reforms in favor of empowering more native clergymen, made him a target of opposition by Roman Catholic authorities. In 1869, Felipe Buencamino, a young student and an acquaintance of Burgos, was charged with spreading nationalist propaganda in the form of leaflets scattered throughout his school's campus, demanding academic freedom. By this time, Burgos had established a reputation as a defender of the native clergy.

Futile Spanish attempts to initiate Reforms Sensing the prevalent social discontent, political insecurity and the growing anti-spanish feelings in the islands, Governor Generals Manuel Pavia (1854) and Carlos Ma. de la Torre(1869-1871) warned the Spanish government and suggested certain reforms. The Most active organizers were priests and laymen sush as: o Father Jose Burgos o Father Ma. Gomez o Father Jacinto Zamora o Augusto Mendoza

o o o

Jose Ma. Basa Antonio Ma. Regidor Joaquin Pardo de Tavera

Mariano Gmez y Guard (Latin: Marianus Gomez) After studying in the Colegio de San Juan de Letrn, he took theology in the University of Santo Toms. He was a student preparing for the priesthood in the Seminary of Manila. On June 2, 1824, he was designated the head priest of Bacoor, Cavite. Aside from taking care of the spiritual necessities of the town and the church, he also taught agriculture and cottage industries.Gmez also helped in maintaining a harmonious relationship among his other priests. He fought for equal rights of native priests against the abuses of their Spanish counterparts. Jacinto Zamora y del Rosario He began his early education in Pandacan and later at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He was classified as an insular under the Spanish caste system prevailing at that time.[1] He later transferred to the University of Santo Tomas after finishing his Bachiller en Artes. Zamora graduated on March 16, 1858 with the degree of Bachelor of Canon and Civil Laws. He became a student preparing for the priesthood in the Seminary of Manila. After being ordained, Zamora handled parishes in Marikina, Pasig, and Batangas. He was also assigned to manage the Manila Cathedral on 3 December 1864. In league with fellow priests Mariano Gmez and Jos Burgos, he continued the mission that Pedro Pelaez began, the secularization of Filipino priests. Zamora had a habit of playing cards after saying Mass. Once, he received an invitation stating that his friend had "Powder and Munitions"; in a gambler's language, "Powder and Munitions" meant that the player had much money to gamble with. This invitation fell into the hands of the Spaniards and worse, it was on the night of the Cavite mutiny led by a Filipino soldier, Sgt. Lamadrid. This invitation was used by the Spaniards as evidence against the three priests. The court accused them of inciting the revolt, even though the evidence was not adequate. They were found guilty and sentenced to death by garrote. The execution was carried out on February 17, 1872 at Bagumbayan Field in Manila. Augusto Mendoza Jose Ma. Basa(December 19, 1839 - d. July 10, 1907) a native of Binondo, Manila was a Filipino patriot and propagandist. He studied at University of Santo Tomas, where he received a bachelors degree in philosophy in 1860. He inherited a distillery in Trozo, prospered and became wellknown in Binondo.

 Basa was a member of a reformist group. He was accused of participating in the 1872 revolt which led to the execution of Gomburza. After two years, he , together with other accused people, were given a pardon under the condition that they will not return to the Philippines. When Spanish-American war broke up, he and other wealthy Filipino in exile offered money for the American government to either grant protection or to annex the Philippines. He died in Hong Kong, and after four years, his remains were brought to Manila. Antonio Ma. Regidor y Juan (16 April 1845 28 December 1910) was a lawyer, diplomat, and propagandist. Despite being of Spanish parentage, Regidor supported the Secularization Movement and the nationalist propaganda Regidor welcomed liberal ideas and thus became a supporter of Gov. Carlos dela Torres administration. He was one of the lawyers who defended the latter from the grave charges accused against him during his rule. He also supported the Secularization Movement of Father Jose Burgos and Father Pedro Pelaez. As a result, he was implicated in the Cavite Revolt of 1872, and was arrested and ordered imprisoned by the same court which condemned Filipino priests. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera y Gomez (1829-1884) was a reformist, liberal-minded lawyer and an early supporter of the Filipino cause in the 19th century. He is known primarily for his involvement in the events that lead to the Cavite Mutiny in 1872 and for unjustly being exile to the Marianas Islands for his beliefs. Filipino Sentiment of Nationality Aroused The local incidents of civil unrest being initiated by Filipinos were magnified by the Spanish authorities into a national rebellion to justify mass reprisals. When the news of the Cavite Mutiny reached Manila, the arrest of the liberal intellectuals was immediately ordered. Since then, the Filipino people have developed a sense of identity and a national consciousness that strengthened with the years. This became more pronounced and aggressive as the fight for independence became imminent during the American colonialization of the Philippines. Political independence was recognized of July 1946, half a century after the death of Jaena, del Pilar, and Rizal, and after Bonifacio inspired the katipunan to rise the rebellion in the name of freedom. We had at last realized emancipation.