Biography of Father José Burgos

José Apolonio Burgos was a religious and Filipino patriot, born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on February 9.1837
and died in Manila on February 17,1872 at the age of 35. He's one of the three Filipino Martyr Priests of
the revolt of 1872, along with Mariano Gómez and Jacinto Zamora collectively called GOMBURZA , they
we're publicly executed to death by garrote.

His father was Jose Burgos, a Spanish lieutenant in the Spanish militia of the Ilocos and his mother was
Florencia Garcia, a native of Vigan. He received his first education from his mother, a woman of
education and fine qualities. He finished his primary schooling in Vigan but his higher studies were
completed in Colegio San Juan de Letran and the University of Santo Tomas, where he studied
priesthood. In his unusually brilliant intellect, he made a good impression on his professors. He received
the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1855, Bachelor of Theology in 1859, Licentiate in Philosophy in
1860, Licentiate in Theology in 1862, and Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Canon Law in 1868. He
showed remarkable characteristics even as a young student; and as a young priest fought with quiet
courage for equal rights for the Filipino clergy. His studies finished, and having passed a competitive
examination to secure an office in the Manila Cathedral, he was ordained second priest of the Cathedral,
Fiscal of the Ecclesiastical Court, and Professor and Master of Ceremonies of the University of Santo
Tomas.

He began to write articles in which denounced the situation, with vehemence and brilliant
arguments writings who enjoyed certain permissiveness to be broadcast during the liberal interlude of
1869-1871. However, his spirited defense of the native clergy on the controversial issue of the
Secularization of the clergy earned him furious enmity of regular Spanish friars, so after the Cavite
mutiny (January 20, 1872) was designated as one of the instigators of the insurgency. Arrested along
with Mariano Gómez and Jacinto Zamora, was immediately tried and found guilty of the charges despite
the lack of evidence against him, in a process plagued with irregularities: false testimony, pressure from
the authorities, partiality of the Court and failure to use sentence to death, since the Governor himself
confirmed that the execution would take place only two days later.

José Burgos was executed by the method of garrote in Bagumbayan field on the morning of 17
February, and according to the chronicles his last words were: "Father, receives the soul of an innocent in
your womb".