Documentary Sources of Philippine History (AI)

In the book "Documentary Sources of Philippine History" by Gregorio F. Zaide and

Sonia M. Zaide, there are two different accounts of the events that occurred in the
Philippines in 1872, as recounted by two different authors: Pardo de Tavera and
Edmund Plauchut.

According to Pardo de Tavera's account, the events of 1872 were triggered by the
discovery of a plot by Filipino soldiers and civilians to overthrow Spanish rule in the
Philippines. The plotters were allegedly inspired by the ideas of the Propaganda
Movement, a group of Filipino intellectuals who sought greater representation and
autonomy for Filipinos within the Spanish colonial system. Pardo de Tavera claimed that
the plotters were arrested, tried, and executed, leading to a period of repression and
increased surveillance by Spanish authorities.

In contrast, Edmund Plauchut's account provides a different perspective on the events

of 1872. According to Plauchut, the uprising was not a spontaneous revolt, but rather a
response to years of economic and social oppression by the Spanish colonial
government. Plauchut argued that the Filipinos were justified in their rebellion, as they
were being denied basic human rights and were being exploited by Spanish officials
and merchants.

The differing accounts of the events of 1872 highlight the importance of

multiperspectivity in the study of history. Depending on the author's perspective,
different events and actions may be emphasized or downplayed. By considering
multiple perspectives, historians can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the
complex factors that shape historical events.

Moreover, the differing accounts of the events of 1872 also underscore the importance
of using primary sources in historical research. By examining firsthand accounts, letters,
and other primary sources, historians can avoid relying on biased or inaccurate
secondary sources. The Zaides' book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and
students of Philippine history, as it provides a wide range of primary sources that can
shed light on different perspectives on historical events.
Differing Accounts of the events of 1872 (AI)

Trinidad Hermenegildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and researcher, provides an

account of the events of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny that differs from the perspectives of
Spanish officials like Izquierdo and Montero. In his work "Filipino of the Cavite Mutiny,"
Pardo de Tavera presents a Filipino version of the incident.

According to Pardo de Tavera, the events of the Cavite Mutiny were not a spontaneous
revolt, but rather the culmination of years of oppression and mistreatment by Spanish
officials towards the Filipino people. The Filipinos were increasingly frustrated by the
lack of representation in the colonial government and the harsh working conditions
imposed upon them by Spanish officials and merchants.

In Pardo de Tavera's account, the Mutiny was planned by a group of Filipino soldiers
and civilians who were inspired by the ideas of the Propaganda Movement, a group of
Filipino intellectuals who sought greater representation and autonomy for the Filipino
people within the Spanish colonial system. The plotters were betrayed by a Spanish
friar and were subsequently arrested, tried, and executed. Pardo de Tavera argues that
the trial was biased and unjust, and that the Filipinos were not given a fair chance to
defend themselves.

Pardo de Tavera's account highlights the importance of multiperspectivity in the study of

history. Depending on the author's perspective, different events and actions may be
emphasized or downplayed. By considering multiple perspectives, historians can gain a
more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors that shape historical events.
The work of Pardo de Tavera, along with other primary sources, serves as a valuable
resource for scholars and students of Philippine history, as it provides different
perspectives on historical events.
Pardo de Tavera (RESEARCHED)

 is a Filipino scholar and researcher

 The incident was merely a mutiny by Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite
arsenal to the dissatisfaction arising from the draconian policies of Izquierdo
(abolition of privileges and prohibition pf the founding of the school of arts and
trades)
 Gov. Izquierdo’s cold blooded policies such as the abolition of privileges of the
workers and native army members of the arsenal and the prohibition of the
founding of school of arts and trades for the Filipinos, which the general believed
as a cover up for the organization of a political club.
 Tavera believed that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite Mutiny as
a powerful lever by magnifying it as a full blown conspiracy involving the native
army, residents of Cavite and Manila, and the native clergy to overthrow the
Spanish government in the Philippines.
 It is during the time, the Central Government in Madrid announced its intention to
deprive the friars of all the powers of intervention in matters of civil government
and the direction and management of educational institutions.
 This turnout of events was believed by Tavera, prompted the friars to do
something drastic in their dire to maintain power in the Philippines.
 The friars, fearing that their influence in the Philippines would be a thing of the
past, took advantage of the incident and presented it to the Spanish Government
as a vast conspiracy organized throughout the archipelago with the object of
destroying Spanish sovereignty.
 Tavera sadly confirmed that the Madrid government came to believe that the
scheme was true without any attempt to investigate the real facts or extent of the
alleged revolution reported by Izquierdo and the friars.
 Convicted educated men who participated in the mutiny were sentenced life
imprisonment while members of the native clergy headed by the GOMBURZA
were tied and executed by garrote.
  This episode leads to the awakening of nationalism and eventually to the
outbreak of Philippine Revolution of 1896.

Edmund Plauchut (RESEARCHED)

 is a French writer.
 Complemented Tavera’s account and analyzed the motivation of the 1872 Cavite
Mutiny.
 His account confirmed that the event happened due to discontentment of the
arsenal workers and soldiers in Cavite Fort.
 The event is just a simple mutiny since up to that time the Filipinos have no
intention of separation from Spain but only secure materials and education
advancements in the country.
 Also, in this time the central government deprived friars of the powers of
involvement in civil government and in governing and handling universities.
 This resulted in the friars afraid that their leverage in the Philippines would be a
thing in the past, took advantage of the mutiny and reported it to the Spanish
government as a broad conspiracy organized throughout the archipelago with the
object of abolishing Spanish sovereignty.
 He traced the immediate cause to a peremptory order from the governor,
Izquierdo, exacting personal taxes from the Filipino laborers in the engineering
and artillery corps in the Cavite arsenal, and requiring them to perform forced
labor like ordinary subjects.
 Until then, these workers in the arsenal had been enjoying exemptions from both
taxes and forced labor.
 January 20, the day of the revolt, was payday and the laborers found and the
amount of taxes as well as the corresponding fee in lieu of the forced labor
deducted from their pay envelopes.
 Forty infantry soldiers and twenty men from the artillery took over command of
the Fort San Felipe and fired cannonades to announce to the world their moment
of triumph.
  They had expected to be joined by their comrades in the 7 th infantry company
assigned to patrol the Cavite Plaza.
 However, when they beckoned to the 7 th infantry men from the ramparts of the
fort and their comrades did not make any move to join them.
 Instead, the company started attacking them.
 The rebels decided to bolt the gates and wait for morning when support from
manila was expected to come.
 He gave a dispassionate account of it and its causes in an article published in the
Revue des Deux Mondes in 1877.
 He traced that the primary cause of mutiny is believed to be an order from
Governor General Carlos to subject the soldiers of engineering and artillery corps
to personal taxes, from which they were previously exempt.
 The taxes required them to pay a monetary sum as well as to perform forced
labor called, polo y servicio.
 The mutiny was sparked on January 20, 1872 when the laborers received their
pay and realized the taxes as well as the falla, the fine one paid to be exempt
from forced labor, had been deducted from their salaries.

Differing Accounts of the events of 1872 (RESEARCHED)

Two other primary sources accounts exist that seem to counter the accounts of
Izquierdo and Montero. First, the account of Trinidad Hermengildo Pardo de Tavera,
Doctor and a Filipino scholar and researcher, and wrote a Filipino version of the bloody
incident in Cavite. Selections from Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, “Filipino of the Cavite
Mutiny,”.
Another version, this time by French writer Edmund Plauchut, supplemented
Tavera’s account and analyzed the motivations of the 1872 Cavity Mutiny.