Is the Cavite Rebellion a mutiny or just a protest? There are two points of view we are going to
tackle in this paper. The Spanish and the Filipino point of view. To make a simple and short
summary of this event in Philippine history. The Philippines became a territory of Spain in the
year 1565, which Spanish explorer Miquel Lopez de Legazpi conquered. However, during the
Spanish colonial rule, there were revolts way before the Cavite rebellion, the Silang revolt in
1762, and the Dagohoy revolt in 1744. Since the Spanish do not like these rebellions, they
employ Filipino soldiers to keep the peace. Fast forward to 1869, governor-general Carlo Maria
de la Torre was open-minded, and had made liberal reforms; however, Carlo Maria de la Torre
would be taken over by Rafel Izquierdo in 1871. Rafel Izquierdo was the opposite of the former
Governor-general, and his policies would be unpopular with the Filipinos, sparking a rebellion.
On January 20, 1872, led by Fernando La Madrid with, 200 soldiers and laborers were captured
in Fort San Felipe, which would cause the killing of Spanish and Filipino laborers and soldiers.
The captured injured Filipino soldiers would be taken advantage of by the Spanish friars and
execute the famous three priests known as the Gomburza. This event would result to Philippine
Revolution of 1896.
From this point of view, two accounts are coming from the Spanish historian Jose Montero y
Vidal and the Governor-general Rafael Izquierdo during the Cavite Rebellion. The historian and
the governor-general mentioned in their accounts that the Cavite rebellion was an undertake to
dethrone the Spanish government in the Philippines. The governor-general knows that removing
the privileges of Filipino soldiers and laborers in the arsenal has sparked the rebellion more so;
the Spanish friars consider that the uprising was also planned by the famous three priests, the
Gomburza. Additionally, the Governor-general believes that these priests would be the new
leaders or "Hari" by the Filipinos.
While in the Philippine point of view, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera is a Filipino historian, and
Edmund Plauchut is a French journalist. In their accounts, the Philippines does not plan to
separate itself from the Spanish government. What the Filipino laborers and soldiers wanted
was the liberal reforms built by the former governor-general before Rafael Izquierdo which; this
governor general has removed the privileges and rights, which turned into rebellion since the
Filipinos did not like the policies he created.
Both accounts are essential to examine what really happened in history. Based on my research,
a mutiny is a rebellion against the authorities who abused their power in this country. So, for me,
this would be a mutiny and not just a protest. Also, Philippine accounts would be more
believable since they are the oppressed. Colonizers' statements would be more biased on their
end. So, my answer to this question Philippine statement is more reliable and mutiny is what
happen in the Cavite Rebellion.