Readings in Philippine History

Informatics College – Manila

How “Filipino” Was Burgos?

GOMBURZA

• Padre Mariano Gomez, 72 years old

• Padre Jose Burgos, 35 years old

• Padre Jacinto Zamora 36 years old

Jose Apolonio Burgos y García

Father: Don José Tiburcio Burgos

(a retired Spanish army lieutenant)

Mother: Florencia García

(Filipino mestiza)

Born: February 8, 1837 (Vigan, Ilocos Sur)

Persons of pure Spanish descent born in the Spanish Philippines were those to whom
the term Filipinos originally applied, though they were also called Insulares ("islanders",
i.e. Spaniard born in the Philippine islands) or Creoles, i.e. [Philippine-born Spaniard]
"Locals"). During this era, the term "Filipinos" had not yet extended to include the
majority indigenous Austronesian population of the Philippines to whom Filipinos has
now shifted to imply.
Education

He obtained three undergraduate degrees with honors, two master's degrees and two
doctorate degrees from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and from the University of
Santo Tomas.

• Doctorate in Philosophy

• Licentiate in Canon Law

REGULAR CLERGY VS SECULAR CLERGY

Regular priests

Their main task was to spread Christianity. Belonged to religious orders:

• Dominicans

• Jesuits

• Franciscans

• Augustinians

Sometimes called as “religious” priests because they are following evangelical

counsels: chastity, poverty and obedience

Secular priests

Do not belong to any religious order. Product of diocesan seminaries. They were trained
specifically to run the parishes and were under the supervision of the bishops.
1872 Cavite Mutiny

Around 200 locally recruited colonial troops and laborers rose up in the belief that it
would elevate to a national uprising. The mutiny was unsuccessful, and government
soldiers executed many of the participants and began to crack down on a
burgeoning Philippines nationalist movement. Many scholars believe that the Cavite
Mutiny of 1872 was the beginning of Filipino nationalism that would eventually lead to
the Philippine Revolution of 1896.

Testimonies

Testimonies at the trials have one refrain: Burgos instigated the mutiny because he
wanted to become a “Rey Indio” or “President of the Republic”.

Fr. Zamora accused

When his house was searched, nothing incriminating was found except a note: “Big
gathering. Come without fail. The comrades will come well provided with bullets and
gunpowder (in the idiom of card players)

His only crime was being a curate of the Manila Cathedral.

Death of Jose Burgos

Burgos: I am innocent! So was Jesus Christ.

Executioner: Forgive me Father.

Burgos: My son, I forgive you. Do your duty.

• Burgos is called “The Precursor of Rizal” or Rizal as “the Succesor of Burgos”.

• Creoles’ prime fighting words “Hijos del Pais” was recognized by Katipunan and
used the militant Anak ng Bayan.