The
Martyrdom
of
GomBurZa
Filipino Catholic priest, who was falsely accused of
mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the
Philippines in the 19th century.
Submitted by: Mark Vince Ivan L. Torre
H133
February 17, 1872,
Filipino clergy Fathers
Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos
and Jacinto Zamora (also
known as GOMBURZA)
were executed at
Bagumbayan through garrote
or strangulation.
The Spanish Colonial Government charged them by a court-martial and
were sentenced to death. They were convicted of false treason and
sedition and for “supporting” the Cavite mutiny.
CAVITE MUTINY
January 20, 1872, about 200
Colonial Filipino military
personnel of Fort San Felipe
Arsenal in Cavite, Philippines.
Main Objective: The 1872 Cavite Mutiny attempted to remove and
overthrow the Spanish Colonizer in the Philippines . The Cavite Mutiny
was led by Fernando la Madrid a mestizo sergeant with his second in
command Jaerel Brent Senior, a moreno.
Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo
The mutiny was quickly crushed, but the
Spanish regime under the reactionary GovernorGeneral 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.
GOMBURZA
Father Mariano Gomez was born on August
2, 1799 in Santa Cruz, Manila. He was a
mestizo, born in mixed native (Filipino) ,
Chinese and Spanish ancestries . His parents
were Alejandro Francisco Gómez and Martina
Custodia. After studying in the Colegio de San
Juan de Letran, he took theology in
the University of Santo Tomás. He was a
student preparing for the priesthood in the
Seminary of Manila.
On June 2, 1824, he was designated as the head priest of Bacoor, Cavite.
He Fought for the Filipino priests' rights against abuses, getting the fire
of Spanish friars who eventually ordered his arrest and incarceration.
Father Jose Burgos was born on
February 9, 1837, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Phil.
to a Spanish officer, Don José Tiburcio
Burgos, and a Filipino mestiza mother named
Florencia García studied at San Juan de
Letran College and the University of Santo
Tomás in Manila, earning a doctorate of
philosophy and a licentiate in canon law with two master's degrees and
two doctorate degrees. He was the leader of the secularization
movement, referring to the full incorporation of Filipino priests into the
Catholic hierarchy of the Philippines, then dominated by Spanish friars.
With his Achievements and abilities it enables him to rise quickly within
the Philippine hierarchy, serving both in the university cathedral at
Manila and as university chaplain. He also published the newspaper “ La
Verdad” it contains about the bad condition of the Philippines during the
Spanish Colony. He was a good friend of Paciano Rizal, Jose Rizal’s
older brother.
He appealed for reform and a greater measure of self-determination
for the Filipinos and attacked the power and privilege of the church.
When 200 Filipino soldiers and workers mutinied at Cavite, a town
across the bay from Manila, the Spanish authorities, as a retaliatory
measure, arrested Burgos, although he was in no way associated with the
revolt. On Feb. 17, 1872, he and two other priests, Mariano Gómez and
Jacinto Zamora, were publicly executed in Manila.
Burgos’ death convinced many Filipino that the Spanish rule was
evil. 24 years later Jose Rizal created a novel “ El Filibusterismo”
dedicating the acknowledgement for Burgos’ contribution to the
Philippines.
Father Jacinto Zamora was born on August
14, 1835 to Venancio Zamora and Hilaria del
Rosario. He started studying in Pandacan, Manila
before entering the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
He earned a Bachelor of Laws in Canon and Civil
Law in 1858 at the University of Santo Tomas. He
oversees several parishes in Marikina, Pasig, and
Batangas.
On January 20, 1872, about 200 soldiers and
workers in the armory in Cavite revolted.The Spaniards quickly
suppressed the uprising and used it as an excuse to suppress the Filipino
patriots and demand government reform. The three priests now known
as Gomburza were implicated. There was an issue that Father Zamora
loves to play cards and because of that issue Father Zamora then he was
implicated in the rebellion because of the invitation from his friends that
became an evidence gathered by the Spaniards saying “ Bring Powder
and Munition”. Their real goal is Burgos, who has long been hottempered by the Spaniards because of his liberal views, the promotion of
priestly secularization, and the defense of the rights of Filipino priests.
Gomez and Zamora are close to Burgos, and the three are united in the
pursuit of secularization. They were sentenced to death after a brief and
suspicious trial. On February 17, 1872, three priests were executed
through garrote or stangulation in front of the public in Bagumbayan.
About the text:
In the study of history about the accusition and execution of
GomBurZa was an intentional trial because the GomBurZa we’re a local
native Filipino priests and they we’re in the pursuit of secularization
specially Padre Burgos who defended the rights of Filipino priests in 19th
century. The Spaniards only used The Cavite Munity as a reason to
implicate the GomBurZa into the rebellion.
The history only shows how Spaniards treats Filipino back then. The
law is only siding the Peninsulares (Pure blooded spanish born in Spain)
not us the Indios (Filipinos).
The History of GomBurZa’s importance today is the rights that we
developed right now not only in the Catholic churches for any priests but
for who we are right now. We now have a rights to say what we want to
say and what we want to right. The story of Filipinos’ lives in the hand
of Spaniards is a big lesson to us, because as of today Filipinos are ready
defend our Mother Land and won’t be easily colonize by any other
countries.
The story of GomBurZa holds the history of how Filipinos defend
for what is right.
SOURCES:
- http://malacanang.gov.ph/7695-the-martyrdom-of-the-gomburza/?
fbclid=IwAR20zTPKC8BYFjhdCpx_WJEjz1eSy6K3LaYHXaM7R5in4B7eckWTGB7QX0
https://www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp/ijcc/wp/cimac/mendoza.html#:~:text=In
%20the%20Philippine%20context%2C%20%22secularization,education
%2C%20progress%2C%20and%20freedom.
- https://filipinojournal.com/the-1872-cavite-mutiny/?fbclid=IwAR1EMq0ifVjQYbAH-SN8OGiGyKFa6UdjqnamcX6JQ5gXy_h214WwxO8iE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmxSixXroxw&t=196s
- https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1256/today-in-philippinehistory-august-2-1799-father-mariano-gomez-was-born-in-sta-cruzmanila