Overview
This lecture discusses the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, its causes, main events, consequences, and differing Spanish and Filipino accounts, highlighting its role in fueling Filipino nationalism and the execution of GOMBURZA.
Background and Causes
- The Cavite Mutiny occurred in 1872, involving about 200 Filipino soldiers and workers at the Cavite arsenal.
- Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo imposed personal taxes and forced labor (polo y servicio) on workers who were previously exempt.
- The mutiny was triggered by resentment over loss of privileges, reduced wages, and forced labor policies.
- Spanish authorities and friars exploited the mutiny to suppress demands for reform and strengthen colonial control.
Key Events of the Mutiny
- Led by Sergeant Fernando La Madrid, the mutineers seized Fort San Felipe on January 20, 1872, killing 11 Spanish officers.
- Mutineers believed they would be joined by soldiers in Manila, mistaking festival fireworks as a signal for a wider uprising.
- Spanish forces under General Felipe Ginoves quickly suppressed the mutiny, resulting in deaths and arrests among the rebels.
Outcomes and Consequences
- Surviving soldiers were disarmed and deported to Mindanao; suspected supporters were executed or exiled.
- Spanish authorities used the mutiny as grounds to prosecute and execute the Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA).
- The public execution of GOMBURZA intensified Filipino nationalist sentiments and inspired the 1896 Philippine Revolution.
Accounts and Interpretations
- Spanish accounts (Montero y Vidal, Izquierdo) claim the mutiny was a premeditated, widespread conspiracy led by educated Filipinos and native clergy.
- Filipino scholars (Pardo de Tavera) argue the mutiny arose from grievances against new policies and loss of privileges, not a broad revolutionary plot.
- The role of Spanish friars and colonial authorities in exaggerating the mutiny was to maintain their power and influence in the Philippines.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cavite Mutiny — 1872 revolt by Filipino soldiers and workers at the Cavite arsenal against Spanish colonial policies.
- GOMBURZA — Acronym for priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, executed after the mutiny.
- Polo y servicio — Forced labor system imposed by Spanish authorities.
- Friars (Frailocracia) — Spanish religious leaders who wielded significant power over colonial administration.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the contrasting Spanish and Filipino interpretations of the mutiny.
- Study the significance of GOMBURZA's execution in Philippine history.