Cajes, Arabel S.

GEC History, 5:30-6:30 PM MWF

BSA 1 December 13, 2023

ONE PAST MANY HISTORY

Cavite Mutiny

The Main Issue:

Is Cavite Mutiny, a mere mutiny or a grand conspiracy?

Background of the issue / incident:

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. Ironically, the harsh
reaction of the Spanish authorities served ultimately to promote the nationalist cause.

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.

Supporting evidences

Was the uprising in 1872 at the Fort of San Felipe in Was the uprising in 1872 at the Fort of San Felipe in
Cavite, a mere mutiny? Cavite, a grand conspiracy to overthrow the
Spanish government?
According to Dr. Trinidad Tavera, on January 20, 1872, According to Izquierdo, the incident was motivated and
a group of about 200 soldiers, arsenal laborers, and planned by the native clergy, mestizos, native lawyers,
Cavite residents led by Sergeant Lamadrid rose up in and abogadillos.The instigators protested against the
arms and assassinated the commanding officer and all injustice of the government. To start the revolution, they
Spanish officers in the area. The incident occurred as a planned to set fire to the district of Tondo. Since 1869,
result of the imposition of taxes on workers and a group that had left behind plans for an uprising, but
soldiers, as well as the provision of polo y servicio, or was not carried out because of the earthquake of 1862.
forced labor, by which they were formerly exempted, or
in other words, it is a labor issue.
The Spanish friars rebuke that the masterminds of the Said by Montero, the Spanish revolution which
revolt were the three martyred secular priests Padre overthrew a secular throne; the propaganda carried on
Mariano Gomez, Padre Jose Burgos and Padre Jacinto by an unbridled press against monarchical principles,
Zamora or better known as Gomburza. And the truth is attentatory of the most sacred respects towards the
they were not the mastermind of the Cavite revolt in dethroned majesty; the demo- cratic and republican
1872 because what they intend or promote is the books and pamphlets; the speeches and preachings of
Secularization Movement. the apostles of these new ideas in Spain; the outbursts
of the American publicists and the criminal policy of the
senseless Governor whom the Revolutionary
government sent to govern the Philippines.
Announced by the Central Government itself of Madrid According to Montero, the garrison of Manila,
that they intended to remove the power of the friars composed mostly of native soldiers, were involved in
intervene in civil government and management of this conspiracy, as well as a multitude of civilians. The
educational institutions which prompted the friars to plan was for the soldiers to assassinate their officers,
resort to violent methods so that they can maintain their the servants, their masters, and the escort of the
power in the Philippines. Captain-General at Malacañang, todispose of the
governor himself.

The construction of the said school did not proceed
because according to Dr. Trinidad Tavera, the Spanish
friars and the Governor-General Izquierdo frightened,
that Filipinos should have wisdom and knowledge that
they may also lose power so they take action to prevent
it.
The Spanish Historian in narrating the Cavite episode
does not speak as a historian but as a Spaniard bent
on perverting the facts at his pleasure, unsupported by
documentary evidences, and exaggerated the mutiny of
a few disgruntled soldiers into a revolt to overthrow
Spanish rule and involved innocent patriotic leaders.
The friars and other Spaniards were later to have their
turn, concerted signal among the conspirators of Cavite
and Manila was the firing of rockets from the walls of
the city.
The incident was planned and thought to be a big
conspiracy among the educated leaders, mestizos,
abogadillos or native lawyers, residents of Manila and
Cavite, and the native clergy. Indios were offered great
benefits.

Personal Judgment

Based on the evidence presented and my personal view on the issue, I would argue that the uprising in 1872 at
the Fort of San Felipe in Cavite was indeed more of a mutiny rather than a grand conspiracy to overthrow the
Spanish government. I believe that the uprising was primarily a mutiny driven by socio-economic grievances
rather than a grand plot against Spanish rule. To further discuss my stand, there are some points I want to
emphasize.

● According to Dr. Trinidad Tavera, the mutiny arose due to the imposition of taxes on workers and soldiers
and the enforcement of forced labor (polo y servicio). This reflects a clear labor issue rather than a
coordinated conspiracy.
● The Spanish friars blamed the secular priest Gomburza for masterminding the revolt, but evidence
suggests their involvement was rooted in the Secularization Movement, not rebellion against the
government.
● The Central Government in Madrid had announced its intention to limit the power of friars in civil
government and education. This move threatened the friars' dominance, leading to their desperate
measures to maintain control.
● The planned construction of a school was halted by the friars and Governor-General Izquierdo, fearing
that knowledge among Filipinos would erode their authority. This suggests a defensive stance rather than
a response to a grand conspiracy.
● The Spanish historian's biased narration, as pointed out by Dr. Trinidad Tavera, distorted the mutiny into a
larger revolt, emphasizing the need to critically assess historical accounts tainted by personal biases.

In conclusion, the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 appears to be rooted in genuine grievances, particularly labor issues
and the threat to the friars' authority. The evidence provided indicates that the uprising was a spontaneous
reaction rather than a well-coordinated grand conspiracy to overthrow the Spanish government. Understanding
the socio-economic context is crucial in evaluating historical events, and in this case, it supports the perspective
that the Cavite Mutiny was a mere mutiny.