ROMMEL D.

RECTO
BSHM – 104
READINGS IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY

CAVITE MUTINY

Cavite Mutiny, (January 20,

1872), brief uprising of 200
Filipino troops and workers at the
Cavite arsenal, which became the
excuse for Spanish repression of
the embryonic Philippine
nationalist movement. A number
of Filipino intellectuals were
seized and accused of complicity
with the mutineers.

The Cavite Mutiny is an aim of

natives to get rid of the Spanish government in the Philippines, due to the
removal of privileges enjoyed by the laborers of the Cavite arsenal such as
exemption from the tribute and forced labor. 1872 Cavite Mutiny could have
been avoided if Cavite workers were not deprived of their privileges to non-
payment of tributes, and forced labor. Therefore, the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
had caused a skirmish due to the abolition of the privileges of workers. The
primary cause of the mutiny is believed to be an order from Governor-
General Rafael de Izquierdo to subject the soldiers of the Engineering and
Artillery Corps to personal taxes, from which they were previously exempt.

The mutiny was quickly crushed, but the Spanish regime under the

reactionary governor Rafael de Izquierdo magnified the incident and used it
as an excuse to clamp down on those Filipinos who had been calling for
governmental reform. A number of Filipino intellectuals were seized and
accused of complicity with the mutineers. After a brief trial, three priests
José Burgos, Jacinto Zamora, and Mariano Gómez were publicly executed.
The three subsequently became martyrs to the cause of Philippine
independence.

We all know that the execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of
the Spanish Government, and this action severed the ill feelings and
encouraged Filipino patriots to call for change and finally independence. There
may be various accounts of the incident, but one thing is clear, the 1872
Cavite Mutiny paved the way for the 1898 revolution.

It is a year marked by two significant events: which are the 1872 Cavite
Mutiny and the agony or death of GOMBURZA, dubbed the Martyrdom'. On
January 18, 1872, the Cavite Munity was formed. Around 200 individuals
consisted of soldiers, arsenal workmen, and Cavite civilians attacked Fort San
Felipe in Cavite. The revolution's leaders were assassinated, while some
suspected of involvement were thrown in Guam and others were hanged. Men
convicted of mutiny were sentenced to life in jail. The three Filipino Catholic
priests, Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were executed by
garrote because of the false accusations that happened on February 17, 1872
in Bagumbayan, Philippines by Spanish colonial authorities.

The Cavite Mutiny became one of the most controversial events in the past.
The uprising of our fellow Filipinos during the reign of Spanish colonization
impacted several lives. There were even 3 versions of the story; one from
Spain's point of view, the other from the Philippines' point of view, and the
defense of General Izquierdo from the said happening. All of these gave
reasons to the realization of the mutiny. The 1872 Cavite Mutiny was indeed
the "catalyst" event of our history. There will never be 1896 Philippine
Revolution without this uprising. The death of the three martyr priests were
never put in vain as such became the motivating force of the people to
overthrew the Spanish government. Indeed, it was the Cavite Mutiny which
taught people how to fight and be free. It was the Cavite Mutiny which woke
the suppressed Filipinos to be awaken. It was the Cavite Mutiny which
provoked every Filipino towards revolution.