The Two Faces of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny

by Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay

National Historical Commission of the
Philippines- September 5, 2012
The Two Faces of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
by Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay
National Historical Commission of the
Philippines- September 5, 2012
The 12th of June of every year since 1898 is a very important
event for all the Filipinos. In this particular day, the entire
Filipino nation as well as Filipino communities alley the
world at ron an el brate the Philippines indepetas no Da Ye
year when the Philippine Revolution broke out owing to the
Filipinos desire to be free from the abuses of the Spanish
colonial regime. But we should be reminded that another year
is as historic as the two -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). However, 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 a major factor in the
awakening of nationalism among the Filipinos.
Jose Montero y Vidal, a prolific Spanish historian
documented the event and highlighted it as an attempt of the
Indios to overthrow the Spanish government in the
Philippines. Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo's official
report magnified the event and made use of it to implicate the
native clergy, which was then active in the call for
secularization.
The two accounts complimented and corroborated with one other, only that the
general's report was more spiteful. Initially, both Montero and Izquierdo scored
out that the abolition of privileges enjoyed by the workers of Cavite arsenal
such as non-payment of tributes and exemption from force labor were the main
reasons of the "revolution" as how Jose Montero y Vidal they called it,
however, other causes were enumerated by them including the Spanish
Revolution which overthrew the secular throne, dirty propagandas proliferated
by unrestrained press, democratic, liberal and republican books and pamphlets
reaching the Philippines, and most importantly, the presence of the native
clergy who out of animosity against the Spanish friars, "conspired and
supported" the rebels and enemies of Spain.
In particular, Izquierdo blamed the unruly Spanish Press for
"stockpiling" malicious propagandas grasped by the Filipinos. He
reported to the King of Spain that the "rebels" wanted to overthrow
the Spanish government to install a new "hari" in the likes of Fathers
Burgos and Zamora. The general even added that the native clergy
enticed other participants by giving them charismatic assurance that
their fight will not fail because God is with them coupled with
handsome promises of rewards such as employment, wealth, and
ranks in the army. Izquierdo, in his report lambasted the Indios as
gullible and possessed an innate propensity for stealing.
The two Spaniards deemed that the event of 1872 was planned
earlier and was thought of it as a big conspiracy among educated
leaders, mestizos, abogadillos or native lawyers, residents of Manila
and Cavite and the native clergy. They insinuated that the
conspirators of Manila and Cavite planned to liquidate high-ranking
Spanish officers to be followed by the massacre of the friars. The
alleged pre-concerted signal among the conspirators of Manila and
Cavite was the firing of rockets from the walls of Intramuros.
According to the accounts of the two, on 20 January 1872,
the district of Sampaloc celebrated the feast of the Virgin
Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo of Loreto, unfortunately
participants to the feast celebrated the occasion with the usual
fireworks displays. Allegedly, those in Cavite mistook the
fireworks as the sign for the attack, and just like what was
agreed upon, the 200-men contingent headed by Sergeant
Lamadrid launched an attack targeting Spanish officers at
sight and seized the arsenal.
When the news reached the iron-fisted Gov. Izquierdo, he
readily ordered the reinforcement of the Spanish forces in
Cavite to quell the revolt. The "revolution" was easily
crushed when the expected reinforcement from Manila did
not come ashore. Major instigators including Sergeant
Lamadrid were killed in the skirmish, while the
GOMBURZA were tried by a court-martial and were
sentenced to die by strangulation.
Patriots like Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Ma. Regidor,
Jose and Pio Basa and other abogadillos were suspended by
the Audencia (High Court) from the practice of law, arrested
and were suspenced with life imprisonment at the Marianas
Island, Furthermore, Gov. Izquierdo dissolved the native
regiments of artillery and ordered the creation of artillery
force to be composed exclusively of the Peninsulares.
On 17 February 1872 in an attempt of the Spanish
government and Frailocracia to instill fear among the
Filipinos so that they may never commit such daring
act again, the GOMBURZA were executed. This event
was tragic but served as one of the moving forces that
shaped Filipino nationalism.
Filipino Version: A Response to Injustice
Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and
researcher, wrote the Filipino version of the bloody incident in
Cavite. In his point of view, the incident was a mere mutiny by the
native Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite arsenal who turned
out to be dissatisfied with the abolition of their privileges. Indirectly,
Tavera blamed Gov. Izquierdo's cold-blooded policies such as the
abolition of privileges of the workers and native army members of
the arsenal and the prohibition of the founding of school of arts and
trades for the Filipinos, which the general believed as a cover-up for
the organization of a political club.
On 20 January 1872, about 200 men comprised of Trinidad
Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera soldiers, laborers of the arsenal, and
residents of Cavite headed by Sergeant Lamadrid rose in arms and
assassinated the commanding officer and Spanish officers in sight.
The insurgents were expecting support from the bulk of the army
unfortunately, that didn't happen. The news about the mutiny reached
authorities in Manila and Gen. Izquierdo immediately ordered the
reinforcement of Spanish troops in Cavite. After two days, the
mutiny was officially declared subdued.
Tavera believed that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite
Mutiny as a powerful lever by magnifying it as a full-blown
conspiracy involving not only the native army but also included
residents of Cavite and Manila, and more importantly the native
clergy to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines. It is
noteworthy that during the time, the Central Government in Madrid
announced its intention to deprive the friars of all the powers of
intervention in matters of civil government and the direction and
management of educational institutions.
This turnout of events was believed by Tavera,
prompted the friars to do something drastic in their dire
sedire to maintain power in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, in the intention of installing reforms, the
Central Government of Spain welcomed an educational
decree authored by Segismundo Moret promoted the
fusion of sectarian schools run by the friars into a
school called Philippine Institute.
The decree proposed to improve the standard of
education in the Philippines by requiring teaching
positions in such schools to be filled by competitive
examinations. This improvement was warmly received
by most Filipinos in spite of the native clergy's zest for
secularization.
The friars, fearing that their influence in the Philippines would be a
thing of the past, took advantage of the incident and presented it to
the Spanish Government as a vast conspiracy organized throughout
the archipelago with the object of destroying Spanish sovereignty.
Tavera sadly confirmed that the Madrid government came to believe
that the scheme was true without any attempt to investigate the real
facts or extent of the alleged "revolution" reported by Izquierdo and
the friars.
Convicted educated men who participated in the mutiny were
sentenced life imprisonment while members of the native clergy
headed by the GOMBURZA were tried and executed by garrote.
This episode leads to the awakening of nationalism and eventually to
the outbreak of Philippine Revolution of 1896. The French writer
Edmond Plauchut's account complimented Tavera's account by
confirming that the event happened due to discontentment of the
arsenal workers and soldiers in Cavite fort. The Frenchman,
however, dwelt more on the execution of the three martyr priests
which he actually witnessed.
Considering the four accounts of the 1872 Mutiny, there were some basic facts
that
First, there was dissatisfaction among the workers of the arsenal as well as the
members of the native army after their privileges were drawn back by Gen.
Izquierdo;

Second, Gen. Izquierdo introduced rigid and strict policies that made the
Filipinos move and turn away from Spanish government out of disgust;

Third, the Central Government failed to conduct an investigation on what truly

transpired but relied on reports of Izquierdo and the friars and the opinion of
the public;
Fourth, the happy days of the friars were already numbered in 1872 when the Central
Government in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to intervene in government
affairs as well as in the direction and management of schools prompting them to commit
frantic moves to extend their stay and power;

Fifth, the Filipino clergy members actively participated in the secularization movement in
order to allow Filipino priests to take hold of the parishes in the country making them prey
to the rage of the friars;

Sixth, Filipinos during the time were active participants, and responded to what they
deemed as injustices; and

Lastly, the execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of the Spanish
Fourth, the happy days of the friars were already numbered in 1872 when the Central
Government in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to intervene in government
affairs as well as in the direction and management of schools prompting them to commit
frantic moves to extend their stay and power;

Fifth, the Filipino clergy members actively participated in the secularization movement in
order to allow Filipino priests to take hold of the parishes in the country making them prey
to the rage of the friars;

Sixth, Filipinos during the time were active participants, and responded to what they
deemed as injustices; and

Lastly, the execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of the Spanish
Spanish government, for the action severed the ill-feelings of
the Filipinos and the event inspired Filipino patriots to call
for reforms and eventually independence. There may be
different versions of the event, but one thing is certain, the
1872 Cavite Mutiny paved way for a momentous 1898.
The road to independence was rough and tough to toddle,
many patriots named and unnamed shed their bloods to attain
reforms and achieve independence. 12 June 1898 may be a
glorious event for us, but we should not forget that before we
came across to victory, our forefathers suffered enough. As
we enjoy our freedom, may we be more historically aware of
our past to have a better future ahead of us. And just like
what Elias said in Noli me Tangere, may we "not forget those
who fell during the night." (Piedad-Pugay, 2012)
The road to independence was rough and tough to toddle,
many patriots named and unnamed shed their bloods to attain
reforms and achieve independence. 12 June 1898 may be a
glorious event for us, but we should not forget that before we
came across to victory, our forefathers suffered enough. As
we enjoy our freedom, may we be more historically aware of
our past to have a better future ahead of us. And just like
what Elias said in Noli me Tangere, may we "not forget those
who fell during the night." (Piedad-Pugay, 2012)