The Cavite

Mutiny and
the
GOMBURZA
Execution
Prepared by:
Frenzy Picasales
 The Cavite mutiny of 1872 was an uprising of
Filipino military personnel of Fort San Felipe,
the Spanish arsenal in Cavite, Philippine
Islands (then also known as part of the Spanish
East Indies) on January 20, 1872. Around 200
locally recruited colonial troops and laborers
rose up in the belief that it would elevate to a
national uprising.
 Theprimary cause of the mutiny is believed to
be an order from Governor-General Rafael de
Izquierdo to subject the soldiers of the
Engineering and Artillery Corps to personal
taxes, from which they were previously exempt.
The taxes required them to pay a monetary
sum as well as to perform forced
labor called, polo y servicio.
 Filipinoswanted to overthrow the Spanish
Government to install new kings in the likes of
the three priests Fr. Mariano Gomez, Fr. Jose
Burgos, and Fr. Jacinto Zamora (i.e.,
GOMBURZA)

 These priests enticed participants by giving

them charismatic assurance that their fight will
not fail because God is with them coupled with
promises of rewards such as employment,
wealth, and ranks in the army.
 In the evening of January 20, 1872, fireworks
were displayed and rockets fired into the air to
celebrate the feast.

 The conspirators in Cavite mistook these for the

signal to revolt. Hence, at 9:30 pm of that day
200 native soldiers under the leadership of
Sergeant La Madrid rose up in arms,
assassinated the commander of the fort and
wounded his wife.
 The mutineers thought that fellow Filipino
indigenous soldiers in Manila would join them
in a concerted uprising, the signal being the
firing of rockets from the city walls on that
night. Unfortunately, what they thought to be
the signal was actually a burst of fireworks in
celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Loreto,
the patron of Sampaloc.
 The Spanish authorities feared for a massive
Filipino uprising. The next day, a regiment led
by General Felipe Ginovés besieged the fort
until the mutineers surrendered. Ginovés then
ordered his troops to fire at those who
surrendered, including La Madrid. The rebels
were formed in a line, when Colonel Sabas
asked who would not cry out, "Viva España",
and shot the one man who stepped forward.
The rest were imprisoned.
 On February 28, 1872, in an attempt of the
Spanish government 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.