CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872: A Local Protest that Sparked Nationalism
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement in RPH 202 (Readings in Philippine
History)
Members
Casipit, Daniela
Cruz, John Edison
De Guia, Janna Marie Rose Raza
Delos Reyes, Althea Sulit
Esperidion, Dhainnielle Pirante
Fabillan, Dane Rainielle Sayo
Galario, Charles Vincent Navarro
Gopela, Andrea Kris De Vera
Himpisalla, Sophia Caede Larano
Readings in Philippine History Professor
Ms. Merlyn Villar
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CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
Introduction
The Cavite Mutiny of January 20, 1872, is regarded as a pivotal
moment in Philippine history because of its lasting political and social
consequences. Taking place at the Cavite Arsenal, the mutiny involved Filipino
soldiers, workers, and laborers who revolted after the Spanish colonial
government revoked their long-standing exemptions from tribute and forced
labor. While the event itself was small in scale, its interpretation became the
subject of conflicting historical narratives.
Spanish officials, led by Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo, portrayed
the incident as part of a grand nationalist conspiracy aimed at overthrowing
colonial authority, implicating secular Filipino priests such as Fathers Mariano
Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (collectively known as Gomburza).
This version justified the execution of Gomburza and the repression of
reformist voices.
On the other hand, Filipino scholars and eyewitnesses such as Trinidad
Pardo de Tavera argued that the mutiny was not a revolutionary conspiracy
but a localized protest rooted in economic grievances and abuses of power.
This interpretation reflects the broader struggles of Filipinos under colonial
rule, where economic exploitation and social inequality often led to resistance.
Regardless of its true nature, the Cavite Mutiny became a turning point
in Philippine history. The execution of Gomburza served as a catalyst for the
rise of Filipino nationalism, inspiring future leaders like José Rizal and fueling
the eventual Philippine Revolution of 1896.
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CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
Primary Sources Used in the Case Study
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 is one of the most debated historical events
in the Philippines, and historians have drawn from different primary sources to
understand its true nature. This case study highlights two notable accounts
that represent opposing perspectives.
Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo’s official report serves as one of the
primary sources. As a colonial administrative document, it reflects the Spanish
authorities’ version of events, portraying the mutiny as a planned nationalist
conspiracy aimed at overthrowing Spanish rule. Izquierdo emphasized the
involvement of Filipino clergy, particularly Fathers Gómez, Burgos, and
Zamora, using this interpretation to justify their execution and to suppress
reformist movements.
On the other hand, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera’s account offers a Filipino
perspective that directly challenges the Spanish narrative. His written work is
considered a nationalist interpretation, describing the mutiny as a localized
protest against the loss of privileges by arsenal workers and soldiers rather
than a coordinated revolution. Tavera’s testimony highlights the social and
economic grievances of the time, portraying the event as a product of colonial
injustice rather than a grand conspiracy.
Arguments
● Supporting:
Spanish Version (Large-scale Conspiracy) 1872
a. Governor Izquierdo exaggerated the Cavite Mutiny in his report
by implicating the native clergy. He claimed that priests like
Burgos and Zamora were involved in plotting to overthrow the
Spanish government and replace it with a Filipino-led leadership.
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CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
b. Spanish authorities used the trial and execution of Fathers
Gómez, Burgos, and Zamora (Gomburza) as supposed evidence
of the clergy’s role in the mutiny. Their deaths were meant to
confirm the Spanish version of a conspiracy and to serve as a
warning to Filipinos.
c. Spanish accounts, especially Izquierdo’s, described the mutiny as
part of a larger conspiracy involving leaders from both Manila and
Cavite. They claimed the conspirators had planned
assassinations of Spanish officials, the killing of friars, and even
had a coordinated signal (rockets from Intramuros) to launch the
uprising.
● Opposing:
Filipino Version through Tavera, Filipino
1. Filipino historians argued the mutiny was caused by local
grievances, particularly the loss and removal of benefits,
privileges, and taxation burden on workers and soldiers.
2. There was no solid evidence proving Gomburza’s direct
involvement. Some historians even argue that the supposed
evidence was fabricated by Spanish authorities and that the
documents were either lost or never existed at all. Moreover, the
colonial government failed to conduct an impartial investigation,
relying mainly on the testimonies of friars.
Indicate which argument you find more convincing and explain why in
4-5 sentences.
The Filipino/local grievance interpretation of the Cavite Mutiny is more
convincing because it is rooted in real social and economic issues, such as
the loss of privileges. In contrast, the Spanish version relied on unverified
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CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
conspiracy claims and lacked solid evidence, especially against Gomburza.
The absence of an impartial investigation and the reliance on friar reports
further weaken the Spanish narrative. It appears that the mutiny was a
localized protest that colonial authorities exaggerated into a nationalist
conspiracy to justify repression. Overall, the nationalist view offers a more
accurate and historically grounded explanation of the mutiny.
Based on the sources, write a one-paragraph summary stating the most
likely version of the event.
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was most likely a small-scale uprising driven by
local grievances, particularly the removal of privileges for arsenal workers and
soldiers who had previously been exempt from tribute and forced labor. Rather
than being a coordinated revolution, it was essentially a protest against
economic injustice that reflected the growing resentment toward colonial rule.
However, Spanish authorities exaggerated the event into a nationalist
conspiracy to justify harsh crackdowns, including the execution of Fathers
Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora. Dr. Jose Rizal dedicated
El Filibusterismo to them and a symbol of sacrifice demonstrating the lengths
to which Filipinos would go to resist oppression. Although the evidence
against them was weak, their martyrdom became a turning point in Philippine
history, sparking nationalist sentiments that would later fuel the struggle for
independence and the Philippine Revolution.
Summary
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was a small but significant uprising involving
Filipino soldiers and workers in the Cavite arsenal, triggered by the removal of
their long-standing privileges such as exemption from tribute and forced labor.
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CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
Dalubhasaan ng Lungsod ng Calamba
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY CLUB ON HUMANISTIC
EDUCATION
While the Spanish authorities portrayed the event as a large-scale conspiracy
led by reformist clergy to justify harsh punishments, Filipino accounts
emphasized that it was a localized protest against economic injustice and
colonial abuses. The execution of Fathers Gómez, Burgos, and Zamora
(Gomburza), despite weak or fabricated evidence, intensified resentment
against Spanish rule. The mutiny itself may have been localized, but its
aftermath became a turning point in Philippine history, sparking nationalist
consciousness that would inspire later revolutionary movements.
Conclusion
The most likely version of the Cavite Mutiny is that it was not a grand
conspiracy, but rather a localized labor and military protest that Spanish
officials exaggerated into a nationalist rebellion. This misrepresentation served
as a pretext for silencing reformist voices and maintaining colonial control.
However, the martyrdom of Gomburza transformed the event into a catalyst
for nationalism, inspiring future leaders and movements that ultimately led to
the Philippine Revolution. In this sense, the Cavite Mutiny—though small in
scale—had a lasting impact on the nation’s struggle for independence.
References
● Official Report of Governor Izquierdo
https://www.studocu.com/ph/n/26711181?sid=222842021758600967
● Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Filipino Version of The Cavite Mutiny of 1872
https://www.scribd.com/document/528275999/1-Trinidad-Pardo-de-Tavera-Filipino-Ve
rsion-of-the-Cavite-Mutiny-of-1872-Zaide-1990-vol-7-pp-274-280
● Excerpt: https://www.scribd.com/document/477291688/CAVITE-MUTINY
● The Two Faces of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny
https://nhcp.gov.ph/the-two-faces-of-the-1872-cavite-mutiny/?utm_source=chatgpt.co
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