CAVITE MUTINY

LEILAHNIE F. DONES
SAN JUAN DE DIOS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC.

BENICIO EDGARDO GERONIMO III

STI COLLEGE ORTIGAS-CAINTA
• 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 Gomes, 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.
 SPANISH VERSION OF CAVITE MUTINY
OF 1872
 Historians have different versions on Cavite Mutiny of 1872.
a. Jose Montero y Vidal – a Spanish historian, wrote the book Historia General de Filipinas as
the Spanish version of Cavite Mutiny of 1872
b. Montero y Vidal narrated the Cavite episode, who was normally a good historian, and speaks
as a Spaniard bet on perverting the facts at his pleasure and is mischievously partial.
c. Jose Montero y Vidal, exaggerated the mutiny of a few disgruntled native soldiers and
laborers into a revolt to overthrow the Spanish rule despite of unsupported by documentary
evidence
 Carlos Maria de la Torre was relieved from his post with the establishment in Spain
of a government which was less radical;
 Rafael de Izquierdo assumed control of government;
 The abolition of the privileges enjoyed by the laborers of the Cavite Arsenal of
exemption from the tribute was the cause of the insurrection.
 IDEAS OF ATTAINING PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE

 The Spanish revolution overthrew a secular throne;

 The propaganda carried on by an unbridled press against
monarchial principles, attentatory of the most sacred respects
towards the dethroned majesty;
 The democratic and republican books and pamphlets;
 The speeches and preachings of the apostles of new ideas in Spain;
 The outbursts of the American publicists and the criminal policy of
the senseless Governor whom the Revolutionary government sent
to govern the Philippines and put into practice the ideas;
 IDEAS OF ATTAINING PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE
 Various anonymous communications were received with the information that
a great uprising would break out the Spaniards in the beginning of year 1872;
 Meetings were usually attended whose character and immense wealth enable
to exercise strong influence;
 The garrison of Manila, composed mostly of native soldiers and multitude of
civilians were involved in conspiracy;
 Various circumstances which considered providential, upset the plans and
made the conspiracy as dismal failure;
 Fireworks and rockets fired into the air during the fiesta in the district of
Sampaloc and Cavite mistook these for a signal to revolt;
 IDEAS OF ATTAINING PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE
 Official proclamation announced the suppression of the revolt. Several
Filipinos were arrested as a result of the declarations made;
 Death sentence and imprisonment in connection with the Cavite
uprising and sent to Manila to carry the news of uprising;
 Practice of law was suspended;
 A decree dissolved the native regiment of artillery and ordered the
creation of artillery force to be composed of Peninsulares.
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872

 According to Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, this was merely a mutiny of

native Filipino soldiers and laborers of 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 the annual
tribute and from rendering forced labor (polo).
 The loss of privileges resented by the soldiers and laborers
 Gen. Izquierdo made it clear that there were no change in the government
and he intended to govern the people with a crucifix in one hand and a
sword in the other.
 He established the school of arts and trades
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 Those who supported ex-Governor de la Torre were classed as persona
sospechosas (suspects) a term used to refuse to obey the wishes and
whims of the authorities.
 The peace of the colony was broken and culminated in the overthrow
of the Spanish sovereignty in the Philippine islands.
 Dissatisfaction and discontent with the government spread all over.
 Uprising, assassination in the entire garrison in Cavite was disaffected
 The uprising among the soldiers in Cavite was used as a powerful lever
by the Spanish residents and by the friars.
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 Filipinos had great hopes of an improvement in the affairs of their
country
 Friars feared that their power in the colony would soon be a thing of
the past.
 Many of the best known Filipinos were denounced to military
authorities and were persecuted and punished.
 Those who dared to oppose themselves to the friars were punished
with special severity.
 One of the results of the so-called revolution of Cavite was to
strengthen the power of the friars in the Philippines
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 The Madrid government was obliged to abandon its intention to
influence throughout the islands;
 There was no intention of secession from Spain;
 The only aspiration of the people was to secure the material and
educational advancement of the country;
 The Filipino people never blamed the Spanish nation for the backward
condition;
 No attempt was made to allay the ill-feeling which existed between the
Filipinos and the Spaniards caused by the mutiny in Cavite and the
cruel manner in which the punishment was meted out;
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 Governor Izquierdo blamed the mutiny on the native clergy, some
local residents, intellectuals even to El Eco Filipino, a Madrid-based
reformist newspaper;
 He called the mutiny as military mutiny, an insurrection, an uprising, a
revolution;
 The insurrection was motivated and prepared by the native clergy,
mestizos and native lawyers and by known abogadillos, some are
residents of Manila, Cavite and nearby provinces;
 The instigators protested against the injustice of the government;
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 They encouraged the rebellion by what they called the injustice of
having obliged the workers in Cavite arsenal to pay tribute and to
render personal service from which they formerly exempted;
 The instigators seduce the native troops, they resorted to
superstitions;
 Other superstitions were practiced during the rebellion such as
God is with them thus they will succeed;
 Indios offered wealth, employment and ranks in the army;
 FILIPINO VERSION OF THE CAVITE
MUTINY OF 1872
 Indios versus Spaniards uprising/revolution started;
 All Spaniards would be executed except for women. Belongings
will be confiscated;
 Loyalists who went to arrest the parish priests found vessels
loaded with arms, carbines and revolvers;
 Information, through El Eco Filipino, was vital where newspapers
of advanced ideas flourish.
 AFFIRMATIVE CONSTRUCTION

Positive Stand
 Filipinos did not blame anyone for their backward condition;
 They were so patient in attaining peace without the need of
uprising/revolution;
 Dissent and dissatisfaction in the government run rampant among
the native communities.
 Negative Stand
 It is said that the uprising came from native residents, local friars,
etc.
 Filipinos lack artillery and other weapons to fight enemies.
 Misunderstanding was the major plot point of the Cavite Mutiny,
which was further cemented by the principle of divide et impera
(divide and conquer).
 NEGATIVE CONSTRUCTION
Positive Stand
 Historians have different opinions regarding the story of uprising
 Other forces fought the Spaniards such as Indios during the mutiny
 Filipinos had great hopes of an improvement in the affairs of their
country
 The only aspiration of the people was to secure the material and
educational advancement of the country.
 No attempt was made to allay the ill-feeling which existed between the
Filipinos and the Spaniards caused by the mutiny in Cavite and the
cruel manner in which the punishment was meted out.
 Negative Stand
 All Spaniards were executed except for women. Belongings
were confiscated.
 Those who dared to oppose themselves to the friars were
punished with special severity.
 One of the results of the so-called revolution of Cavite was to
strengthen the power of the friars in the Philippines, with the
aftermath being the disparate treatment between secular and
regular priests.
Rebuttal Speech
Positive Stand
 Peace education during mutiny is important
 Leaders of mutiny should have open communication
 Peaceful means should have been resorted
Negative stand
 Use of weapons and other artilleries should not have been used
 Leaders of mutiny should have treated equally all individuals
 Punishments should not have taken place during the mutiny
 SUMMATION AND CONCLUSION
Positive Stand
 The mutiny was about of the few disgruntled native soldiers and laborers
into a revolt to overthrow the Spanish rule despite of unsupported by
documentary evidence
 Enemies during the mutiny left the country
 No attempt was made to allay the ill-feeling which existed between the
Filipinos and the Spaniards caused by the mutiny in Cavite and the cruel
manner in which the punishment was meted out.
 The only aspiration of the people was to secure the material and educational
advancement of the country
• The road to independence was rough and tough, 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.”
 SUMMATION AND CONCLUSION

Negative Stand
 Death and other forms of punishment were meted out;
 Friars were superior against Filipinos;
 Many of the best known Filipinos were denounced to
military authorities and were persecuted and punished;
 Those who dared to oppose themselves to the friars
were punished with special severity.
 THE POSITION

BEN:
I think that Rafael Izquierdo's Official Report
demonstrates his will of returning the rule from a liberal
standpoint back into its “iron-fist” rule. Izquierdo's
approach, in my opinion, however, is harsher compared
to the other governor-generals before him. This, along
with the Spanish view on the mutiny, as ascribed by
Vidal, eschewed the sufferings of the natives.
 L. F. DONES

Bloody or non-bloody revolution in Cavite mutiny? I am

favorable that through non-bloody revolution, the following can
be gained:
• No life will be at stake;
• Use of pen/writing can be used;
• Cooperation can be easily achieved;
• Common goals and objectives are achievable;
• Democracy in governance can be practiced;
• Societal changes will be done;
• There will be no shedding of blood;
• Groups and organizations can be created as a support mechanism in attaining
the goals of the leadership;
• There will be no conflict of ideas between members
I am not in favor of bloody revolution because:
• There will be killings
• There will be loss of lives
• Use of weapons and arteries
• Dictatorial leadership
• Democracy is not achieved
• Conflict of goals and interests
• Political change is not clear
• Shedding of blood will be repeated
• Cooperation of leaders and members will difficult to achieve
• Several groups will be created
• Conflict of ideas and ideals among members and groups
• Threat will always be present
• No peace will be attained
References:

• Artigas, Manuel Cuervo. National Glories: The Events of 1872

(Corpuz, 0.0, Vol. 3, pp.67-101)
• De Tavera, Trinidad Pardo. Filipino Version of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872
(Zaide, 1990, Vol. 7, pp 274-280)
• Izquierdo, Rafael. Official Report on the Cavite Mutiny
(Zaide, 1990, Vol. 7, pp. 281-286)
• Montero, Jose Vidal. Spanish Version of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872
(Zaide 1990, Vol. 7, pp. 269-273)
• Guerrero, Milagros C., Schumacher, John SJ., Reform and Revolution, Asia Publishing Company Limited
pp 7-19