Secularization is based upon the following elements:

1. Separation between religious institutions and state institutions.

2. Freedom of individuals to practice their own beliefs.
3. Equality between individuals who practice religion and those
who do not.
-The secularization movement in the Philippines under Spanish colonial
administration from the 18th to late 19th century advocated for greater
rights for native Filipino Roman Catholic clergymen.

- The movement had significant implications to Filipino nationalism and

the Philippine Revolution.
- Charles III of Spain in 1759 instituted a policy which aimed to
subject the Catholic Church to the Spanish monarchy.

- The Spanish monarchy issued a royal decree in 1774 to fill

vacant clergy posts in parishes with seculars.
• They are two key groups among the Roman Catholic clergy in
the Philippines in relation to the secularization movement:

1. Seculars (seculares) – Clergymen who are not affiliated with a religious

order.
-They are mostly native Filipinos.
At the time, they are referred to as Indios .

2. Regulars (regulares) – Clergymen who are part of an established order.

-They are mostly Spaniards.
 Pedro Pelaez
 One of the native priests which led
the secularization movement

• He advocated the repeal order as

being unjust and discriminatory.
 Pedro Pelaez
• He founded and edited the
newspaper”Catolico Filipino” wherein he
discussed the religious question,always
taking care to champion the Filipino
cause.

• In another paper, La Generacion,

published in Spain, appeared many of his
articles likewise defending the cause of
Filipino clergy.
 Jose Burgos
• a student of Pelaez became involved in the
movement.

• He advocated for the rights of the secular

clergy who were not being allowed to
govern a parish due to their race.
• The movement culminated in 1872 with the execution of
the GOMBURZA, which consisted of three native priests
namely Burgos himself, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto
Zamora.

• Being prominent figures of the secularization movement,

they were accused of being involved in the 1872 Cavite
mutiny since they had inspired ethnic pride among
Filipinos due to their campaign for reform.
The Cavite Mutiny
• was an aim of the 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 at Fort San Felipe, such as exemption from
the tribute and forced labor (polo y servicio).
• The three priests incurred the hatred of the Spanish
authorities for leading the campaign against the abusive
Spanish friars and fighting for equal rights among priests.

• The Spanish prosecutors bribed a witness to testify against

the three priests who were charged with sedition and treason,
which led to their death by garrote.
Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora
(GOMBURZA)
• Their execution left a profound effect on many Filipinos, including Dr.
Jose Rizal, the national hero, who wrote El Filibusterismo in
dedication to the three martyred priests, expressing conviction that
their treatment and deaths at the hands of the Spanish authorities
was unjust.
• This inspired the Jesuit educated and National Hero Jose Rizal to
form the La Liga Filipina, to ask for reforms from Spain and
recognition of local clergy.
•The secularization movement also led to the
establishment of the Iglesia Filipina
Independiente by Isabelo de los Reyes and
Fr. Gregorio Aglipay.