1872 Cavite Mutiny and GOMBURZA

• June 12th of every year since 1898 marks a very important occasion for Filipinos, celebrating the Philippines' Independence Day.
• The year 1898 is regarded as notably significant, on par with 1896, when the Philippine Revolution began due to Filipinos wanting liberation from Spanish regime abuses.
• 1872 was also a historic year.
• Two major events occurred in 1872: the Cavite Mutiny and the martyrdom of the three priests, Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA).
• Knowing the different perspectives of the Cavite Mutiny is important as it led to the execution of GOMBURZA and awakened Filipino nationalism.

1872 Cavite Mutiny: Spanish Perspective

• Spanish historian Jose Montero y Vidal documented it as an attempt by the Indios to overthrow the Spanish government.
• Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo's official report magnified the event and implicated the native clergy who were advocating for secularization.
• Both accounts, though corroborating, differed in spitefulness, with Izquierdo's report being more so.
• Initially, both Montero and Izquierdo cited the abolition of privileges enjoyed by Cavite arsenal workers (non-payment of tributes and exemption from forced labor) as reasons for the revolution.
• Other causes included the Spanish Revolution, proliferation of dirty propaganda through unrestrained press, democratic, liberal, and republican books and pamphlets, and the presence of native clergy.
• The native clergy allegedly conspired with and supported the rebels due to animosity against the Spanish friars.
• Izquierdo blamed the Spanish Press for "stockpiling" malicious propaganda consumed by Filipinos.
• The "rebels" allegedly wanted to overthrow the Spanish government and install a new "hari" akin to Fathers Burgos and Zamora.
• The native clergy enticed participants by promising divine support guaranteeing success, as well as rewards like employment, wealth, and military ranks.
• Izquierdo described the Indios as gullible with a propensity for stealing.

The Spanish Perspective

• Spaniards believed the 1872 event was a conspiracy involving educated leaders, mestizos, native lawyers, Manila and Cavite residents, and the native clergy.
• Conspirators planned to liquidate high-ranking Spanish officers followed by a massacre of friars.
• The signal was to be the firing of rockets from Intramuros' walls.
• On January 20, 1872, Sampaloc celebrated the feast of the Virgin of Loreto, with fireworks displays.
• Those in Cavite mistook the fireworks as the signal and 200 men led by Sergeant Lamadrid attacked Spanish officers and seized the arsenal.
• Gov. Izquierdo reinforced Spanish forces to quell the revolt which was easily crushed due to lack of reinforcement from Manila.
• Major instigators including Sergeant Lamadrid were killed, while GOMBURZA were court-martialed and sentenced to die by strangulation.
• Patriots like Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Ma. Regidor, Jose and Pio Basa were suspended from practicing law, arrested, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Marianas Islands.
• Gov. Izquierdo dissolved native artillery regiments and created an artillery force exclusively of Peninsulares.
• On February 17, 1872, the GOMBURZA were executed.

A Response to Injustice: The Filipino Version of the Incident

• Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and researcher, described the Cavite incident as a mutiny by Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite arsenal due to dissatisfaction with the abolition of their privileges.
• Tavera blamed Gov. Izquierdo's policies like abolishing worker privileges, native army member privileges, and prohibiting the founding of schools of arts and trades.
• On January 20, 1872, about 200 soldiers, laborers, and residents of Cavite led by Sergeant Lamadrid rose in arms, killing the commanding officer and Spanish officers.
• The insurgents expected support from the army but it did not happen.
• News of the mutiny caused Gen. Izquierdo to order reinforcement of Spanish troops and the mutiny was subdued after two days.
• Tavera believed the Spanish friars and Izquierdo magnified the Cavite Mutiny into a conspiracy involving the native army, residents of Cavite and Manila, and the native clergy to overthrow the Spanish government.
• The Central Government in Madrid intended to deprive the friars of powers of intervention in civil government and educational institutions.
• The friars were prompted to do something drastic to maintain power.
• The Central Government of Spain welcomed an educational decree authored by Segismundo Moret promoted to fuse sectarian schools into the Philippine Institute.
• The decree proposed to improve education by requiring competitive examinations for teaching positions.
• Most Filipinos received this warmly despite the native clergy’s zeal for secularization.
• The friars took advantage of the Cavite incident and presented it as a vast conspiracy aimed at destroying Spanish sovereignty, which the Madrid government believed.
• Educated men involved were sentenced to life imprisonment and members of the native clergy led by the GOMBURZA were executed.
• This episode sparked nationalism and led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
• French writer Edmund Plauchut's account supported Tavera's account, confirming the event was caused by discontentment of arsenal workers and soldiers in Cavite fort.

Unraveling the Truth

• There was dissatisfaction among the arsenal workers and native army members due to the withdrawal of their privileges.
• Gen. Izquierdo's rigid policies caused Filipinos to move away from the Spanish government.
• The Central Government relied on reports from Izquierdo and the friars without conducting a proper investigation.
• The friars' power was numbered when the Central Government decided to deprive them of power in government affairs and schools.
• The Filipino clergy actively participated in the secularization movement, making them targets of the friars.
• Filipinos actively participated and responded to perceived injustices.
• The execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder that fueled Filipino nationalism and inspired calls for reforms and independence.
• The 1872 Cavite Mutiny paved the way for a momentous 1898.