Dylan E.

Angeles
BSCE-2C

Position Paper on the 1872 Cavite Munity :

Governor-General Izquierdo’s Account

This position paper will discuss the events that happened in the Philippines in 1872.
This position paper will also discuss my stand as to why Governor-General Rafael
Izquierdo’s account is the most reliable primary source of the events that happened
in Cavite in 1872. What happened in Cavite in 1872? In 1872, in the Philippines, an
unprising of Filipino military personnel of Fort San Felipe, the Spanish arsenal in
Cavite, Philippines on the 20th of January 1872. 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 believed that the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was the
beginning of Filipino nationalism that would eventually lead to the Philippine
Revolution of 1896. As to what was the cause of the uprising of the Filipinos, there
were multiple accounts of the historical event from different individuals, and I do
believe that Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo’s account is the most reliable
primary source out of all the accounts that were examined. In General Izquierdo’s
account, he states that the mutiny is stimulated and prepared by the native clergy,
mestizos and lawyers as a signal of objection against the injustices of the
government such as not paying provinces for tobacco crops, pay tribute and
rendering of forced labor. It is not clearly identified if Indios planned to inaugurate a
monarchy or a republic because they don't have a word in their own language to
describe this different form of government, whose leader in Filipino would be called
"hari". However, it turned out that they would set at the supreme of the government
a priest, that the leader selected would be Jose Burgos or Jacinto Zamora which is
the plan of the rebels who guided them, and the means they counted upon its
realization. General Izquierdo’s account states that the mutiny was planned by the
native clergy with the intent to overthrow the Spanish government and not just for
their rights. If the uprising was done successfully, its either Jose Burgos or Jacinto
Zamora would be selected as the leader. I stand by this account from General
Izquierdo and believe that this is the most reliable primary source, after all he is the
governor general of the Spanish government - the opposition, every information
that is classified goes through him first. In other accounts, it says that the Filipinos
motive for the uprising is to fight for their rights. Yes, that may be the reason but it
is not the Spanish government’s fault that many people died in their hands, they
were simply defending themselves and honor for their country, also, Filipinos at that
time can not rule themselves yet, they were simply weak. About the death of the
three priests which are Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora also
known as GomBurZa, The Spanish government decided to execute them not only
because they were priests that might rule the Philippines if they were overthrown
but also to send a message to whoever tries to try to make them step down as ruler
or the Filipinos. The Governor General simply took action to stop those who are
trying to defeat them. If you were the ruler of a kingdom, you would also do
everything to defend your honor and your position as the superior leader. In
conclusion, the mutiny in Cavite was lead and prepared by the native clergy,
mestizos, and lawyers in the hopes to get what they want for all filipinos and fight
for their rights. This lead to the execution of GomBurZa and the deaths of
thousands that forced exile many of the Philippine liberals to different places.