CAVITE

MUTINY
Cavite Mutiny was the First Major Events happened in 1872. Cavite Mutiny in Filipinos
version, Mutiny a rebellion against authority , comes from an old verb, “mutine” which
means “revolt”. Cavite Mutiny, (Jan. 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.
The Martyrdom of the three priest (GOMBURZA) which is the collective name of the
three martyred priest, tagged as the masterminds of the Cavite mutiny.
The (GOMBURZA) were prominent Filipino priest charge with treason and sedition.
The Spanish clergy connected the priest to the mutiny as part of a conspiracy to stifle
the movement of secular priest who desired to have their own parishes instead of
being assistants to the regular friars. There are two versions of the Cavite Mutiny the
Spanish and Filipino Version. The accounts of Dr.Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera and the
account of Jose Montero y Vidal. The perspectives of the two historians created an
controversy, Is Cavite mutiny an grand The accounts of Dr.Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera
and the account of Jose Montero y Vidal. The perspectives of the two historians
created an controversy, Is Cavite mutiny an grand conspiracy an attempt in
overthrowing the Spanish government in the Philippines or Cavite Mutiny is not a
grand conspiracy but merely a labor issue.
 INTRODUCTION

Studying history is important because it allows us to understand our past, which in turn
allows us to understand our present. If we want to know how and why our world is the way
it is today, we have to look to history for answers. This position paper will discuss about the
two major events happened in 1872. First was the 1872 Cavite Mutiny, and the other was
the martyrdom of the three martyr priests in the persons of Fathers Mariano Gomes, Jose
Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA). However, not everyone knew that there were
different accounts in reference to the said event.

All Filipinos must know the different sides of the story since this event led to another tragic
yet meaningful part of our history ,the execution of GOMBURZA which in effect a major
factor in the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos.
 SIDES OF THE CONTROVERSY

Spanish Version of Cavite Mutiny

Jose Montero y Vidal was a Spanish historian who wrote the

book Historia General de Filipinas as the Spanish version of
Cavite Mutiny of 1872. Monteros account centered on how the
event was an attempt in overthrowing the Spanish government
in the Philippines. His account on mutiny was criticized as
woefully biased. Carlos Maria de la Torre was relieved from his
post with the establishment in Spain of a government which was less radical. Rafael
de Izquierdo assumed control of government. The abolition of the privileges enjoyed by
the laborers of the Cavite Arsenal of exemption from the tribute was the cause of the
insurrection. Underscore the reason for the revolution, abolition of privileges enjoyed by
the workers of Cavite Arsenal such as exemption from payment of tribute and being
employed in Polos Y Servicios (Force Labor). The presence of the native clergy, against
the Spanish friars conspired and supported the rebels.
Filipino Version of Cavite Mutiny

 According to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, this was merely

a mutiny of native Filipino soldiers and laborers of Cavite
arsenal against the harsh policy of despotic Governor and
Captain-General Rafael de Izquierdo which abolished their old-
time privileges of exemption from paying the annual tribute and
from rendering forced labor (polo). Filipinos had great hopes of an improvement in the
affairs of their country. The loss of privileges resented by the soldiers and laborers was
the primary cause of the revolt. Dissatisfaction and discontent with the government
spread all over. Gen. Izquierdo made it clear that there will be no changes in the
government and intended to govern the people with a crucifix in one hand and a sword
in the other. He also established the school of arts and trades in the country. Those who
supported ex-Governor de la Torre were classed as persona sospechosas (suspects) a
term used to refuse to obey the wishes and whims of the authorities. The peace of the
colony was broken and culminated in the overthrow of the Spanish sovereignty in the
Philippine islands. Uprisings and assassinations in the entire garrison in Cavite were
disaffected. The uprising among the soldiers in Cavite was used as a powerful lever by
the Spanish residents and by the friars.
 The Stand

By the evidences that been stated by the different sides, I will

side into the Spanish
version of the Cavite Mutiny written by Jose Montero y Vidal
which I believe that Cavite
Mutiny is a Grand Conspiracy
 POSITIVE STAND
I believe that Cavite Mutiny is a Grand Conspiracy which deals with the Spanish version
or Spanish perspective. Even though I know that the abolition of the privileges enjoyed
by the laborers of the Cavite Arsenal of exemption from the tribute was the cause of the
insurrection but if we analyze or review it carefully we must look to the bigger views of
contents we must not focus on just only one argument that Cavite mutiny is just
because of labor issue it is just a simple and weak argument that leads to a widespread
uprising of the Filipinos. Also the Polos Y Servicios was mentiond a another reason why
Cavite Mutiny happened, but is there a theory that the Polos Y Servicios was there
before the Spaniards arrived here?. And lastly the GOMBURZA was not executed
because of the labor issue, they were executed because GOMBURZA was blamed for
being the masterminds of the Cavite Mutiny. It is a grand conspiracy because when the
GOMBURZA was being the defendants they were convicted guilty by the fiscal.
However the prosecutor used the interpretations of Gov. Izquierdo base on the report of
Izquierdo the three priest was the cause of the widespread uprising because of the
circulation of the events. That why the Cavite Mutiny was blamed to GOMBURZA so if
we analyze it the labor issue is not a strong argument that caused the Cavite Mutiny to
happen or occur.
 NEGATIVE STAND

I oppose to the perspective or the Version of Dr.

Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera,
because as I say we must look into the bigger side
of the controversy not just focus on
one argument that the Cavite Mutiny was only
because of the Labor Issues of the
Filipinos that caused an widespread uprising
 FINAL STAND

I firmly believed that the Cavite Mutiny an

event of the history is a Grand Conspiracy
and not a merely labor issue because of the
gathered and shown evidences and also
because of satisfactory impact of the
evidences that was given in the argument.
 GROUP 8
JESSCOHN BAYUCOT
DARYLL CUSTODIO
RONAN GADUYON
MA. XYRISH NADINE PACIS
RICGER TOLENTINO