Cavite Mutiny
Philippine Revolution
Death of GomBurZa – one of the reasons why Filipinos started to
rebel against Spanish rule
1521
- Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led an expedition to find
the spice island by going west; on their route they encountered the
Philippine Archipelago
April 27, 1521
- Magellan died in the battle of Mactan
After Magellan died the remaining members of the expedition
returned to Spain, Spaniards sent expedition to explore and conquer
the island.
1565
- Majority of the parts of the Philippines was conquered by the
Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and established the
colony of Spain
Philippines were named after the King of Spain Philip II of Spain.
As Spaniards rule the Philippines there were many revolutions that
arise
- Silang Revolt, 1762
- Dagohoy Revolt, 1744
The revolts caused troubled to Spanish, they employed local
soldiers to keep peace.
1869
- New liberal ideas spread throughout the world
- Peace liberal ideas reach the Philippines under the new Governor
General Carlos Mari de la Torre (he was a liberal)
Laws de la Torre passed:
1. Relaxed Media Censorship
- Allows Filipinos to have accessed to Filipino literature
2. Established the Guardia Civil
Guardia Civil – civil guards in the Philippines like a police but part of
the army
- Joining guardia civil benefits: tax exemption and exemption to
force labor
3. Began Securalization (the education system)
- Removing the power of Spanish friars to control the schools and
giving priests control of their own churches
- Disliked by Spanish priests, but liked by native priests
1871 – Period of Liberalization ended when Governor de la Torre
was replaced by Governor General Rafael Izquierdo
- New technologies (steamship and telegraph)
- Iron fist typed of government
- Disliked the liberal reforms of de la Torre and worked against
them, argue for the increased censorship of the press, removed the
priveleges of guardia civil (these changes are unpopular to Filipinos
especially to guardia civil)
January 20, 1872
- Because of privileges revoked and pay reduced, around 200
soldiers and laborers led by Sergeant Fernando La Madrid captured
Fort San Felipe in Cavite killing Spanish officers
- Mutineers hoped that other soldiers would join from the nearby
infantry company, but they refused and attacked the mutineers and
stayed in the fort
- The fighting reached Manila, the seat of the colonial government;
Governor General Izquierdo quickly dispatched men under the
command of General Espinar to recapture the fort
- The mutineers were being kept at bay by the loyalist infantry
- The arrivals of reinforcements from Manila sealed their fate – the
muting was crushed
- Many including Sergeant La Madrid was killed; survivors was
arrested
Cavite Mutiny by its own was not significant
The significant is how the colonial government responded
Official investigation to mutiny was made, colonial government
reported that mutineers were part of a plot to cause a revolution and
overthrow the government
Prominent Filipinos were accused of being supporters of the plot:
- Leaders
- Lawyers
- Influential residents of Manila and Cavite
With the advice of Spanish Friars, Governor Izquierdo emphasized
the role of native priests in the quote – unquote revolution saying
they supported the rebels and were enemies of Spain
3 Native Priests Well-known figures of the secularization
movement which wanted to reduced Friar’s
powers; made them the prime targets for Spanish
- Mariano Gomez
- Jose Burgos
- Jacinto Zamora
They were pointed as the masterminds behind the Cavite Mutiny
There was a little evidence to support the claims but still found guilty
and convicted
70 Death sentences were given and later reduced to life in prison or
exile to remote islands (Marianas or Guam)
Executed:
Mariano Gomez
Jose Burgos
Jacinto Zamora
Soldier Francisco Saldua – main witnessed who testified against the
3 priests and claimed they were behind the mutiny; promised a
pardon in exchange for his testimony, but executed along with
others
February 17, 1872
- 3 priests were brought to Bagumbayan field, executed by garot -
device that tightens an iron collar around the person’s neck until
they are killed
- 3 priests are remembered as GomBurZa
- 3 priests were made martyrs
The death of GomBurZa is seen by many as the start of Filipino
Nationalism immediately after their trial and execution as seen as
grave injustice
Those who were exiled to Marianas and Guam eventually escape to
Europe where they started the propaganda movement
Publish newspapers (La Solidaridad) and pamphlets advocated for
reforms in the Philippines
Propaganda movement’s future members, Dr. Jose Rizal dedicated
his 2nd novel “El Filibusterismo” to martyred priests, “I have the right
to dedicate my work to you as victims of evil which I undertake to
combat”
December 30, 1896
- Dr. Jose Rizal was executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan,
charges connection to the on-going revolution