Notes for cavite mutiny reading

The executioner made the sign of the cross and after a few minutes, the soul of Padre Burgos
departed this earth. When the people saw that the executioner knelt before Padre Burgos, they
also knelt and uttered their prayers for the soul of the dying. Many Spaniards, upon hearing the
prayers of the public, and fearing that it might be a notice of public rebellion, ran to the safety of
Intramuros. Those who saw them turned pale and followed the example, and as a result of the
panic, many were hurt. After a few minutes, the Governor General, Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez,
who was waiting at the presidio plaza for the end of the executions, appeared after a flourish of
trumpets at the scene of the garrote, heading his large estado mayor. He had just finished
inspecting the soldiers who were on the alert since the early morning hours."

It should be sufficient to extend to them representation in the Cortes and the rights enjoyed by
the Spaniards - i.e freedom to participate in government, freedom of worship and military
service. Because of the refusal of Spain to grant such rights, she has lost many of her colonies
since the beginning of this century. And Manila, "the pearl of the Orient," may also be lost to her
crown if the Flipinos would wish to be independent."

The Spanish version of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was written by the Spanish historian, Jose
Montero y Vidal, in his book entitled Historia General de Filipinas (page no. and vol.)

This narrative of Montero y Vidal, normally a good historian was so woefully based that Dr. T.
H. Pardo de Tavera commented that he, "in narrating the Cavite episode, does not speak as a
historian; he speaks as a Spaniard bent on perverting the facts at his pleasure; he is
mischievously partial."

Unsupported by positive documentary evidence, this Spanish historian exaggerated the mutiny of
a few disgruntled soldiers and laborers into a revolt to overthrow Spanish rule - a seditious
movement - and involved the innocent Filipino patriotic leaders including Fathers Gomez,
Burgos, and Zamora, and others.

Vidal's version of Cavite episode in 1872 in English translation follows:

The successor D. Rafael de Izquierdo, assumed control of the government on April 4, 1871. The
most eventful episode in his rule was the Cavite revolt of 1872.

(Vidal, despite his bias against Filipino people and Jesuits, was one of the most knowledegable
of the Spanish historians on the Philippines. Three of his major historical works are good
references on Philippine history.)

It is said that the abolition of the privileges enjoyed by the laborers of the Cavite arsenal of
exemption from the tribute was, according to some, the cause of the insurrection. There were,
however, other causes.

 The Spanish revolution which overthrew a secular throne

and who put into practice these ideas were the determining circumstances which gave rise,
among Filipinos, to the idea of attaining their independence. It was towards this goal that they
started to work, with the assistance of a certain section of native clergy, who out of spite toward
friars, made common cause with the enemies of the mother country.

At the beginning of 1872, the authorities received anon communications with the information
that a freat uprising would break out against the Spaniards, the minute the fleet at Cavite left for
the South, and that all would be assassinated, including the friars. But nobody gave importance
to these notices.

Principal leaders met either at the house of D. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, or Jacinto Zamora and
attended by the curate of Baccor with energetic char. and wealth.

The garrison of Manila, composed mostly of native soldiers, were involved in this conspiracy, as
well as a multitude of civilians. The plan was for soldiers to assassinate their officers, masters,
and the escort of Captain-General at Malacanang to dispose of governor himself.

The preconcerted signal was the firing of rockets from the walls of the city. It was agreed that the
uprising was to break out in the evening of the 20th of January, 1872. Various circumstances,
upset the plans and made the conspiracy a dismal failure.

On Sampaloc, the fiesta of the patron saint Vigin of Loreto was being celebrated. On the night of
20th, fireworks were displayed and rockets fired into the air. Those in Cavite mistook these
signal to revolt, and at 9:30 200 native soldiers under the leadership of Seargeant La Madrid rose
up arms, assassinated the commander of the fort and wounded his wife.

The military governor of Cavite dispatched 2 Spaniards to inform the Manila authorities of the
uprising but they were met with a group of natives who put them to death.

The employee of the arsenal, D. Domingo Mijares, left Cavite to Manila and informed the
commandant of what happened, and relayed to Governor Izquierdo.

Early the next morning 2 regiments under D. Felipe Ginoves, demanded rendition and waited the
whole day of 21st for the rebels to surrender. Ginoves launched an assault against the latter's
position, early in the morning of 22nd, killing others and arresting the rest. The same day, an
official proclamation announced suppression of revolt.

As a result of the declarations made by some of the prisoners in which several individual were
pointed out as instigators, Don Burgos, Zamora, Gomez, and other priests and Filipinos were
arrested.
The council of war passed the sentence of death on forty-one of the rebels. On 27th of January
the Captain-General fixed his "cumplase" on the sentence. On Feb 6, 11 more were sentenced to
death, but Governor General, by decree of the day following, commuted this sentence to life
imprisonment. On 8th, the sentence of death was pronounced on Camerino and ten years
imprisonment of eleven individuals of the famous "Guias de la Torre" for the assasination of
news delivery Spaniards.

On 15th of February, sentenced to die by strangulation the Filipino priests, Burgos, Zamora, and
Gomez. 10 years of imprisonment to others. Early in the morning of Feb 17th, an immense
multitude appeared on the field of Bagumbayan to witness the execution. The attending force
was composed of Filipino troops, and the batteries of the fort were aimed at the place of
execution, ready to fire upon the least sign of uprising.

The execution was ordered Gomes → Zamora → Burgos → Saldua.

On April 3rd 1872, Audiencia suspended from the practice of law some men.

Izquierdo had requested sending to Manila of Spanish troops for the defense of the fort as most
of these found here were natives. In pursuance of Izquierdo's request, on April 4, 1872, dissolved
the native regiment and ordered the creation of artillery to be composed only of Peninsulares.

They arrived in Manila July 1872. On the arrival of troops, the Sto. Domingo Church celebrated
a special mass with high officials of government.

Filipino Version of the Cavite Mutiny on 1872

by Dr. T.H. Pardo de Tavera

Written by Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Filipino scholar, scientist, and historical researcher.
According to him, this incident was merely a mutiny by the native Filipino soldiers and laborers
of the Cavite arsenal against the harsh policy of despotic Governor and Captain General Rafael
de Izquierdo which abolished their old-time privileges of exemption from paying annual tribute
and from redering the polo.

The loss of these privileges was resented by soldiers and laborers, some of them, impelled by
Volcanic wrath, rose up in arms on January 20 1872, and killed the commanding officer of the
Cavite arsenal and other Spanish Officers. This was easily suppressed by the Spanish troops
which were rushed from Manila.

This incident which was magnified by the Spanish officials and friars into a revolt for Philippine
Independence, narrated by Pardo de Tavera, as follows:

The arrival of General Izquierdo (1871-1873) was the signal for change. The new governor
announced that he intended to rule with "a crucifix in one hand and a sword in the other".
His first official act was to prohibit the founding of school of arts and trades, which was being
organized by the efforts and funds raised by the natives but the founding did not tally with the
views of the religious orders.

Izquierdo believed that the establishment of the new school was merely a pretext for the
organization of a political club. He did not only allow it to be opened but made a public
statement accusing the Filipinos who had charge of the movement.

Those who had offerred their support to ex-Governor La Torre were classed as personas
sospechosas (suspects), a term to designate any person who refused to servilely obey the wishes
and whims of authorities.

The peace of the colony was broken by a certain incident which, though unimportant in itself,
was probably the origin of the political agitation which, constantly growing for thirty years,
culminated in the overthrow of the Spanish sovereignty in the Philippine Islands.

General Izquierdo abolished their privileges of being exempt from payment of tribute tax and
obligation to work on certain days each year on public improvements. They were dissatisfied so
the men employed in the arsenal went on the strike, but yielding to the pressure and threats of
authorities, subsequently returned to their labors.

The workmen in the Cavite arsenal were all natives of that town and of the neighboring town of
San Roque. In a short while, the dissatisfaction and discontent with the governement spread all
over that section and even the entire troops became disaffected.

On the night of January 20, 1872, there was an uprising among the soldiers in San Felipe fort, in
Cavite, and the commanding officer and other Spanish officers were assassinated.

disaffected = dissatisfied in authority

40 marines attached to the arsenal and 22 artillerymen under Sergeant La Madrid took part in this
uprising, and it was believe that the entire garrison in Cavite was disaffected and probably
implicated. But if the few soldiers who precipitated the attack believed they would be supported
by the bulk of the army and that a general rebellion against Spain would be declared, they were
deceived.

When the news of uprising was received, General Izquierdo sent the commanding general to
Cavite, who reinforced the native troops, took possession of the fort, and put the rebels to the
sword. Some were captured and taken to Manila, and there was no further disturbance of the
peace or insubordination of any kind.

This uprising among the soldiers in Cavite was used as a powerful lever by the Spanish residents
and by the friars. During the time that General La Torre was chief executive, the Filipinos did
not hesitate to announce their hostility to the religious orders, and the Central Government in
Madrid had announced its intention to deprive the friars in these islands of all powers of
intervention in matters of civil government and management of university.
Moret, the colonial minister, had drawn up a scheme of reforms by which he proposed to make a
radical change in the government which was to harmonize with the principles for which the
revolution in Spain had been fought.

It was due to this facts and promises that Filipinos had great hopes for their country while friars
feared that their power would soon be completely a thing of the past.

The mutiny in Cavite gave the conservative element - that is, those who favored a continuation
of colonial modus vivendi - an opportunity to represent the Spanish Government that a vast
conspiracy was afoot and organized throughout the archipelago with the object of destroying the
Spanish sovereignty.

They stated that the Spanish Govenment in Madrid was to blame for the propagation of
pernicious doctrines and for the hopes that had been held out from Madrid to the Filipino people.

The fall of the new rulers in Spain within a few days, as well as other occurences, seemed to
accentuate the claims made by the conservative element in the Philippine Islands regarding the
peril which threatened Spanish sovereignty in the islands; it appeared as though the prophecies
were about to be fulfilled.

The authorities were not able to combat public opinion, no opportunity was given nor time taken
to make investigation of real facts or extent of alleged revolution, the conservative element
painted the local condition of affairs in sober tints; and the Madrid Government came to believe
or suspect that a scheme was being made to shake off Spanish sovereignty.

Consistent with the precedents of their colonial rule, the repressive measures adopted to quell the
supposed insurrection were strict and sudden. No attempt appears to made to ascertain their
"guilty" and only end sought appeared to be to inspire terror in the minds of all by making
examples of a certain number, so that none in the future should attempt nor dream of any attempt
at secession.

Many known Filipinos, mixed bloods, as well as Indians, were persecuted and punished without
distinction by military authorities.

Those who dared to oppose themselves to the friars were punished with special severity; among
others may be mentioned the priests Burgos, Zamora, Gomez, and others who opposed the friars.

The priests were condemed to death by a military court martial. (insert lot of names here) The
government thus secured its object of terrorizing the Filipino people, but the punishments were
not only unjust but unnecessary, as there had not been the remote intention on the part of anyone
to overthrow Spanish sovereignty.

A careful study of history and documents of that time brings to light which the religious orders
played in that drama. One of the results of the so-called revolution was to strengthen the power
of the friars in the Philippine Islands in such a manner that the Madrid Government, which
contemplated reducing the power of religious orders, was obliged to place yet a greater measure
of offical influences at the service of friars.
The influence was felt throughout the Islands, and not only were the friars taken into the
confidence of Government, but the Filipino people looked upon religious orders as the
representatives of the powerful Spanish Kingdom.

But there were other results following the unfortunate policy adopted by Izquierdo.

Up to that time there had been no intention of secession from Spain, and the only aspiration of
the people was to secure material and educational advancement of country. The Filipinos never
blamed the Spaniards for the backward condition of the islands nor the injustices commited by
officials.

It was the custom to lay the blame on the individual officers guilty of maladministration.

The fear which the people felt of the friars was exceeeded only by the admiration which the
Filipinos had for those who did not hesitate to stand up for the rights of country. In this manner,
the persecution served as a stimulus and educative force, and from that time rebellion was nursed
in secret and the passive resistance to abuses of official power become greater day by day.

Many years would have been necessary to heal the wounds felt by the large number of families
whose members were made the victims of the unjust sentences of the military court martial. The
Government continually reminded the Filipinos about these occurences to what they had to
expect; but the only thing accomplished was to increase popular discontent.

Document 303

Official Report of Governor Izquierdo on the Cavite Mutiny of 1872

Governor General Rafael Izquierdo reported to the Spanish Minister of War, dated Manila,
January 23, 1872, blaming the Cavite Munity on the native clergy, some local residents,
intellectuals, and even El Eco Filipino, a Madrid-based reformist newspaper.

Significantly, he calls the military mutiny an "insurrection", "uprising", and a "revolution", The
text of the report is as follows:

From the summary of information received, it seems definite that the insurrection was motivated
and prepared by the native clergy. Some are residents of Manila, others from Cavite, and some
from nearby provinces.

The instigators, protested against the injustice of the government in not paying the provinces for
their tobacco crop, and against the usury that some officials practics in handling documents that
the Finance department gives crop owners who have to sell them at a loss. They encouraged the
rebellion by protesting what they call injustice of having obliged the workers to pay tribute and
to render personal service, from which they were formerly exempted.

To seduce the native troops, they resorted to superstitions, persuading them that the Chief of the
State would be an ecclesiastic and the rest or the clergy who backed the uprising would celebrate
daily for its success. Thus the rebellion could not fail because God was with theml and those who
would not revolt, they would kill immediately.

They offered to those who revolted, the welath of the Spaniards and of the regular clergy,
employment and ranks in the army; and to this effect they said that fifteen native batallions
would be created, in which the soldiers who revolted would have jobs as officers and chiefs. The
lawyers would direct the affairs of government.

Up to now it has not been clearly determined if they planned to established a monarchy or a
republic, because the Indios have no word in their language to describe this different form of
government, whose head in Tagalog would be called hari; but it turns out that they would place a
priest and there were great probabilities that the head would be D. Jose Burgos, or D. Jacinto
Zamora, parish priests of S. Pedro of Manila.

All the Spaniards including friars would be executed except for the women, and their belongings
confiscated. Foreigners would be respected.

To start the revolution, they planned to set fire to the district of Tondo. Once the authorities were
busy putting it out, the regiment of artillery with the help of infantry would seize Fort Santiago
of this Capital then fire cannons to inform rebels of their success.

The rebels made the signals agreed upon by means of lanterns, but the native civilians in Bacoor
although they tried it, failed because of the vigilance of the Spanish navy that had placed their
armed vessels.

Loyalists who went to arrest the parish priest of Bacoor (Camerino) found an abandoned bessel
loaded with arms, including carbines and revolvers.

The uprising should have started in Manila at midnight abetted by those in Cavite, but the rebels
of this city went ahead of their time. The military governor of Cavite and the commanders of
Regiment 7 took very timely precautions and behaved with valor and gallantry, obliging the
rebels to take refuge in the fort of San Felipe.

Such is your Excellency, the plan of the rebels, those who guided them, and the means they
counted upon for its realization.

As in the case of my worthy predecessor, I have continously received anonymous letters, but
because I was confident that I could put down and punish any uprising, I gave no credit to these
reports in order not to cause alarm; and instead continued a vigilant watch wherever possible
within the limited means at my command. I had everything ready, taking into account the limited
peninsular force which composes the army.

(Info about El Eco Filipino)

(The Court Martial Document on Gom-Bur-Za)