The Cavite Mutiny and the Three Martyr Priests

Three Priests And A Mutiny

Governor dela Torre's rule over the Philippines brings liberal minds amongst our citizens. And when this new ideals were harassed and censored by his successors (Gov.-General Izquierdo), the dawn of the Filipino unity and revolution begins.

Governor Carlos Maria dela Torre was replaced by Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo on 1871. Izquierdo serve as the Governor-General from 1871 to 1873. He then return the implementation of the censorship in the whole country. He then abolish and refuses all the pleadings of the Filipinos who wanted a government reform such as their rights for political matters and the secularization of the parishes.

He becomes harsh and violent in his governance and that the Filipinos hated him. While the Spanish Priests loved him because of the way he handles the government and prefers the Monarchy System in the Philippines.

The people of Cavite were treated in a harsh manner under Izquierdo’s governance especially the workers and the Filipino soldiers because the government removed their privilege of not paying their taxes. The Caviteneous had rise-up and stood against the Spanish and seize the garrison in San Felipe on the night of January 20, 1872.

They gained victory and they occupy the arsenal in Cavite. The next day though, many Spanish soldiers coming from Manila attacked the seized garrisons in Cavite and they succeeded in taking it back. All the leaders were killed and the members captured were imprisoned.

Because of the Cavite Mutiny, the Spanish Priest had made the issue  big and told Izquierdo that the Filipinos were planning for a revolt to bring down the Spain’s power in the Philippines. This is in conflict to the true aspiration of simply having a “reform” to the government. They only wanted the reform in order to have a better life.

The Filipino Priests and Filipinos who supported them were dragged in the issue. Three Filipino Priests (Fr. Mariano Gomes, Fr. Jose Burgos, & Fr. Jacinto Zamora) were captured and were charged as supporters of the revolt. Some of the Spanish Priests hated the three priests because the three pushes the Secularization of the Parishes. They were charged as the leaders of the revolt. They were tried and was sentenced to be executed by means of gallows. The sentence was executed on February 17, 1872.

The death of the three priests awakens the nationalism of every Filipinos in the country. The Filipinos were angered to the execution of the three priest known today as Gom-Bur-Za. The Filipinos were unites and have a common understanding that the Spanish government were harsh, violent, abusing, and injustice.

From that day on, the three priest as Martyr because they died in defending the rights of the Filipinos. The spirit of patriotism in every Filipino slowly awaken and grows in their hearts and mind.

Author’s note: Another compiling story and history of my motherland and its citizens.