Cavite

• Jose Montero y Vidal: 'There is one past, but many histories.'
• The Three (3) Versions of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872

  
• 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 Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA)
• Not all of us 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 was a major factor in the awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos
• On January 20, 1872, about 200 Filipino troops and workers of Fort San Felipe Arsenal in Cavite, Philippines staged a mutiny against the Spanish Government

  
• Cavite Mutiny


  The 1872 Cavite Mutiny was an outcome of the removal of the personal benefits of the workers such as tribute (the payment of taxes) and polo (the forced labor) exemptions - an order from the Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo
• Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo


  He imposed his iron-fist rule over the Filipino troops and workers and was remembered for his cruelty to the Filipinos and the barbaric execution of the three martyr-priests blamed for the mutiny: Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora known as the "GOMBURZA"
• The death of the three priests ignited the fire in the patriotic spirit of the Filipino and led the way to the Philippine Revolution in 1896
• Two arguments


  • Cavite Mutiny is a grand conspiracy
  • Cavite Mutiny is not a grand conspiracy but merely a labor issue
• Spanish revolution which overthrew a secular throne

  Gave rise among certain Filipinos to the idea of attaining their independence
• Vidal claimed the conspiracy had been going on since the days of La Torre with utmost secrecy, with examples of secret meetings in the house of D. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Jacinto Zamora and D. Mariano Gomez
• Izquierdo claimed the insurrection was motivated and prepared by the native clergy, mestizos, native lawyers, and abogadillos, some of whom were residents of Manila, Cavite and nearby provinces
• Izquierdo claimed the instigators of the Cavite Mutiny were inspired by Madrid, newspapers of advanced ideas (El Eco Filipino), and subscription

  
• Tavera claimed the Cavite Mutiny was not a grand conspiracy but merely a labor issue, caused by Gen. Izquierdo's first official act to abolish the exemption privilege particularly from force labor and tribute, which caused dissatisfaction and discontent of the workmen in the arsenal
• Tavera claimed the government's repressive measures, including prohibition of the founding of school of arts and trades and persecution of "personas sospechosas" (persons who refused to servilely obey the whims of the authorities), broke the peace of the colony and was the origin of the political agitation which culminated in the overthrow of Spanish sovereignty
• Tavera claimed the Cavite Mutiny was a powerful lever used by the Spanish residents and the friars for colonial modus vivendi, secession, and threat to Spanish sovereignty

  
• Tavera claimed the punishments meted out were unjust and unnecessary, and persecution served as a stimulus and an educational force which nursed the rebellion in secret and the passive resistance to the abuses became greater day by day