THE TWO FACES OF THE 1872 CAVITE MUTINY

By Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay

The 12th of June of every year since 1898 is a very important event for all the
Filipinos. In this particular day, the entire Filipino nation as well as Filipino
communities all over the world gathers to celebrate the Philippines’ Independence
Day. 1898 came to be a very significant year for all of us— it is as equally important
as 1896—the year when the Philippine Revolution broke out owing to the Filipinos’
desire to be free from the abuses of the Spanish colonial regime. But we should be
reminded that another year is as historic as the two—1872.
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 Fathers Mariano
Gomes, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA). However, not all of us
knew that there were different accounts in reference to the said event. All Filipinos
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 a
major factor in the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos.
1872 Cavite Mutiny: Spanish Perspective
Jose Montero y Vidal, a prolific Spanish historian documented the event and
highlighted it as an attempt of the Indios to overthrow the Spanish government in the
Philippines. Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo’s official report magnified the
event and made use of it to implicate the native clergy, which was then active in the
call for secularization. The two accounts complimented and corroborated with one
other, only that the general’s report was more spiteful. Initially, both Montero and
Izquierdo scored out that the abolition of privileges enjoyed by the workers of Cavite
arsenal such as non-payment of tributes and exemption from force labor were the
main reasons of the “revolution” as how they called it, however, other causes were
enumerated by them including the Spanish Revolution which overthrew the secular
throne, dirty propagandas proliferated by unrestrained press, democratic, liberal and
republican books and pamphlets reaching the Philippines, and most importantly, the
presence of the native clergy who out of animosity against the Spanish friars,
“conspired and supported” the rebels and enemies of Spain. In particular, Izquierdo
blamed the unruly Spanish Press for “stockpiling” malicious propagandas grasped by
the Filipinos. He reported to the King of Spain that the “rebels” wanted to overthrow
the Spanish government to install a new “hari” in the likes of Fathers Burgos and
Zamora. The general even added that the native clergy enticed other participants by
giving them charismatic assurance that their fight will not fail because God is with
them coupled with handsome promises of rewards such as employment, wealth, and
ranks in the army. Izquierdo, in his report lambasted the Indios as gullible and
possessed an innate propensity for stealing.
The two Spaniards deemed that the event of 1872 was planned earlier and was
thought of it as a big conspiracy among educated leaders, mestizos, abogadillos or
native lawyers, residents of Manila and Cavite and the native clergy. They insinuated
that the conspirators of Manila and Cavite planned to liquidate high-ranking Spanish
officers to be followed by the massacre of the friars. The alleged pre-concerted
signal among the conspirators of Manila and Cavite was the firing of rockets from the
walls of Intramuros.
According to the accounts of the two, on 20 January 1872, the district of
Sampaloc celebrated the feast of the Virgin of Loreto, unfortunately participants to
the feast celebrated the occasion with the usual fireworks displays. Allegedly, those
in Cavite mistook the fireworks as the sign for the attack, and just like what was
agreed upon, the 200-men contingent headed by Sergeant Lamadrid launched an
attack targeting Spanish officers at sight and seized the arsenal.
When the news reached the iron-fisted Gov. Izquierdo, he readily ordered the
reinforcement of the Spanish forces in Cavite to quell the revolt. The “revolution”
was easily crushed when the expected reinforcement from Manila did not come
ashore. Major instigators including Sergeant Lamadrid were killed in the skirmish,
while the GOMBURZA were tried by a court-martial and were sentenced to die by
strangulation. Patriots like Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Ma. Regidor, Jose and
Pio Basa and other abogadillos were suspended by the Audencia (High Court) from
the practice of law, arrested and were sentenced with life imprisonment at the
Marianas Island. Furthermore, Gov. Izquierdo dissolved the native regiments of
artillery and ordered the creation of artillery force to be composed exclusively of the
Peninsulares.
On 17 February 1872 in an attempt of the Spanish government and
Frailocracia to instill fear among the Filipinos so that they may never commit such
daring act again, the GOMBURZA were executed. This event was tragic but served
as one of the moving forces that shaped Filipino nationalism.
A Response to Injustice: The Filipino Version of the Incident
Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and researcher,
wrote the Filipino version of the bloody incident in Cavite. In his point of view, the
incident was a mere mutiny by the native Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite
arsenal who turned out to be dissatisfied with the abolition of their
privileges. Indirectly, Tavera blamed Gov. Izquierdo’s cold-blooded policies such as
the abolition of privileges of the workers and native army members of the arsenal and
the prohibition of the founding of school of arts and trades for the Filipinos, which the
general believed as a cover-up for the organization of a political club.
On 20 January 1872, about 200 men comprised of soldiers, laborers of the
arsenal, and residents of Cavite headed by Sergeant Lamadrid rose in arms and
assassinated the commanding officer and Spanish officers in sight. The insurgents
were expecting support from the bulk of the army unfortunately, that didn’t
happen. The news about the mutiny reached authorities in Manila and Gen.
Izquierdo immediately ordered the reinforcement of Spanish troops in Cavite. After
two days, the mutiny was officially declared subdued.
Tavera believed that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite Mutiny as
a powerful lever by magnifying it as a full-blown conspiracy involving not only the
native army but also included residents of Cavite and Manila, and more importantly
the native clergy to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines. It is
noteworthy that during the time, the Central Government in Madrid announced its
intention to deprive the friars of all the powers of intervention in matters of civil
government and the direction and management of educational institutions. This
turnout of events was believed by Tavera, prompted the friars to do something drastic
in their dire sedire to maintain power in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, in the intention of installing reforms, the Central Government of
Spain welcomed an educational decree authored by Segismundo Moret promoted the
fusion of sectarian schools run by the friars into a school called Philippine
Institute. The decree proposed to improve the standard of education in the
Philippines by requiring teaching positions in such schools to be filled by competitive
examinations. This improvement was warmly received by most Filipinos in spite of
the native clergy’s zest for secularization.
 The friars, fearing that their influence in the Philippines would be a thing of the
past, took advantage of the incident and presented it to the Spanish Government as a
vast conspiracy organized throughout the archipelago with the object of destroying
Spanish sovereignty. Tavera sadly confirmed that the Madrid government came to
believe that the scheme was true without any attempt to investigate the real facts or
extent of the alleged “revolution” reported by Izquierdo and the friars.
Convicted educated men who participated in the mutiny were sentenced life
imprisonment while members of the native clergy headed by the GOMBURZA were
tried and executed by garrote. This episode leads to the awakening of nationalism
and eventually to the outbreak of Philippine Revolution of 1896. The French writer
Edmund Plauchut’s account complimented Tavera’s account by confirming that the
event happened due to discontentment of the arsenal workers and soldiers in Cavite
fort. The Frenchman, however, dwelt more on the execution of the three martyr
priests which he actually witnessed.
Unraveling the Truth
Considering the four accounts of the 1872 Mutiny, there were some basic facts
that remained to be unvarying: First, there was dissatisfaction among the workers of
the arsenal as well as the members of the native army after their privileges were
drawn back by Gen. Izquierdo; Second, Gen. Izquierdo introduced rigid and strict
policies that made the Filipinos move and turn away from Spanish government out of
disgust; Third, the Central Government failed to conduct an investigation on what
truly transpired but relied on reports of Izquierdo and the friars and the opinion of the
public; Fourth, the happy days of the friars were already numbered in 1872 when the
Central Government in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to intervene in
government affairs as well as in the direction and management of schools prompting
them to commit frantic moves to extend their stay and power; Fifth, the Filipino
clergy members actively participated in the secularization movement in order
to allow Filipino priests to take hold of the parishes in the country making them prey
to the rage of the friars; Sixth, Filipinos during the time were active participants, and
responded to what they deemed as injustices; and Lastly, the execution of
GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of the Spanish government, for the action
severed the ill-feelings of the Filipinos and the event inspired Filipino patriots to call
for reforms and eventually independence. There may be different versions of the
event, but one thing is certain, the 1872 Cavite Mutiny paved way for a momentous
1898.
The road to independence was rough and tough to toddle, many patriots
named and unnamed shed their bloods to attain reforms and achieve
independence. 12 June 1898 may be a glorious event for us, but we should not forget
that before we came across to victory, our forefathers suffered enough. As weenjoy
our freeedom, may we be more historically aware of our past to have a better future
ahead of us. And just like what Elias said in Noli me Tangere, may we “not forget
those who fell during the night.”

One hundred and forty years ago, on January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino military
personnel of Fort San Felipe Arsenal in Cavite, Philippines, staged a mutiny which in
a way led to the Philippine Revolution in 1896. The 1872 Cavite Mutiny was
precipitated by the removal of long-standing personal benefits to the workers such as
tax (tribute) and forced labor exemptions on order from the Governor General Rafael
de Izquierdo.

Izquierdo replaced Governor General Carlos Maria de la Torre some months before in
1871 and immediately rescinded Torre’s liberal measures and imposed his iron-fist
rule. He was opposed to any hint of reformist or nationalistic movements in the
Philippines. He was in office for less than two years, but he will be remembered for
his cruelty to the Filipinos and the barbaric execution of the three martyr-priests
blamed for the mutiny: Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora,
later collectively called “Gomburza.”

The mutineers were led by Sgt. Fernando La Madrid; they seized the Fort and killed
the Spanish officers. Fearing a general uprising, the Spanish government in Manila
sent a regiment under General Felipe Ginoves to recover the Fort. The besieged
mutiny was quelled, and many mutineers including Sgt. La Madrid were killed. Later,
others were sentenced to death or hard labor.

Izquierdo used the mutiny to implicate Gomburza and other notable Filipinos known
for their liberal leanings. Prominent Filipinos such as priests, professionals, and
businessmen were arrested on flimsy and trumped-up charges and sentenced to prison,
death, or exile. These include Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Jose Basa, and Antonio M.
Regidor. It was said that the Cavite mutineers got their cue from Manila when they
saw and heard fireworks across the Manila Bay which was really a celebration of the
feast of the Lady of Loreto in Sampaloc.

When the Archbishop of Manila, Rev. Meliton Martinez, refused to cooperate and
defrock the priests, the Spanish court-martial on February 15 went ahead and
maliciously found Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora guilty of treason for
instigating the Cavite mutiny. Two days later, the three priests were put to death by
garrotte in Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta. (Garrote was a barbaric Spanish
method of execution in which an iron collar was tightened around the prisoner’s neck
until death occurred.)

Father Burgos was of Spanish descent, born in the Philippines. He was a parish priest
of the Manila Cathedral and had been known to be close to the liberal Governor
General de la Torre. He was 35 years old at the time and was active and outspoken in
advocating the Filipinization of the clergy. He was quoted as saying, “Why shall a
young man strive to rise in the profession of law or theology when he can vision no
future for himself but obscurity?”

Father Zamora, 37, was also Spanish, born in the Philippines. He was the parish priest
of Marikina and was known to be unfriendly to and would not countenance any
arrogance or authoritative behavior from Spaniards coming from Spain. He once
snubbed a Spanish governor who came to visit Marikina.
 Father Gomez was an old man in his mid-’70, Chinese-Filipino, born in Cavite. He
held the most senior position of the three as Archbishop’s Vicar in Cavite. He was
truly nationalistic and accepted the death penalty calmly as though it were his penance
for being pro-Filipinos.

The three priests were stripped of their albs, and with chained hands and feet were
brought to their cells after their sentence. They received numerous visits from folks
coming from Cavite, Bulacan, and elsewhere. Forty thousand Filipinos came to
Luneta to witness and quietly condemn the execution, and Gomburza became a
rallying catchword for the down-trodden Filipinos seeking justice and freedom from
Spain.

In the dedication page of his second book, El Filibusterismo, published in 1891, Dr.
Jose Rizal wrote, “I dedicate my work to you as victims of the evil which I undertake
to combat…”

It is well to remember that the seeds of nationalism that was sown in Cavite
blossomed to the Philippine Revolution and later to the Declaration of Independence
by Emilio Aguinaldo which took place also in Cavite. As for me, the 1872 Cavite
Mutiny bolstered the stereotypical belief that Caviteños were the most courageous of
my fellow Filipinos.

CAVITE MUTINY
May 7, 2016

Few events in Philippine history are as important to the establishment of the

Philippines national identify as that of the Cavite mutiny in 1872.

Filipino Soldiers 1872

In the early 1890's, the Philippines were still under Spanish control, and things
went awry when the Spanish Governor-General (Rafael de Izquierdo)
introduced a new reforms including a tax of Filipinos serving in the Army,
requiring them to pay a tax for their service and force them into labour.

In January of 1872, when the soldiers received their pay with the new tax
taken out, all hell broke out as they were furious with the change. At Fort San
Filipe (which was the Spanish arsenal in Cavite province in the Philippines), the
soldiers began their uprising. 200 Philippine soldiers proceeded to take the
entire fort killing eleven Spanish soldiers in the process.

The Philippine soldiers were under the belief that they would have support from
Manila to start an all out uprising against the Spanish (a sentiment that had
fostering for a while).

Once word of the uprising in Cavite reached the Spanish in Manila, the Spanish
army quickly sent an entire regiment to Cavite led by General Felipe Ginovés.
The Spanish laid siege to the captured fort until all of the mutineers
surrendered.

Once the fort was back under Spanish control, Ginovés ordered all mutineers to
be executed. When the soldiers were lined up, Ginovés asked which of the
mutineers would not pledge their allegiance to Spain. One man stepped forward
and was swiftly shot and killed, no one else stepped forward, and the rest of the
mutineers were imprisoned. The prisoners were later exiled to the Philippine
island of Mindanao.

By late January, the Philippine Governor had sentenced 41 of the mutineers to

death, with 11 more added a week later, but the latter order turned into life
imprisonment.

Over the next month the Spanish were relentless in the pursuit of rounding up
any and all who were involved in assisting the soldiers with their uprising, which
included three local priests, who were executed by garrote in late February.

No Filipino was allowed to serve as a priest following the incident, until the
Philippines independence from Spain in 1898.