Almost every educated Filipino know who the GOMBURZA was, what happened to them,

but very few knew what exactly happened on that unfortunate day, Feb. 17, 1872. Let me
describe what happened based from an account of a French eyewitness named Edmond
Plauchut, "Burgos cried like a child, but managed to greet with a shake of his head all his
friends whom he recognized in the huge crowd. Zamora was like one dazed
and unconscious of what was going on. But Padre Gomez, with eyes open and with
furrowed brow, blessed the multitude who knelt at his feet as he passed by." Actually, there
four men executed that day, the first was Saldua who expected a pardon after implicating
the 3 priests. Well, no pardon ever came. The second one was Fr. Gomez, who had a calm
resignation proceeding from a clear conscience and trust in God's mercy, his famous last
words were, " I very well know that not a single leaf cam move except at the will of the
Divine Creator. Since it is His will I die at this place, may His will be done." Zamora who had
lost his will was technically dead even before he was physically dead. He was the third one
to be executed. The last one was Burgos who publicly forgave someone who did him
wrong as he ascended the scaffold. He sat on the garrote and everyone started to pray
fervently when he stood up and shouted, "What crime have I committed? Shall I die in this
manner? Is there no justice in this world?" In answer to his questions, 12 friars rushed and
pushed him back into the garrote. He shouted "But I am innocent!" One friar responded,
"Even Jesus Christ was without sin." Hearing that, he forgave his executioner and gave up
his spirit. When the crowd saw the executioner kneel infront of Burgos to recieve his
blessing, everyone knelt and a sudden silence hushed. Indeed they were really inspiration
of the nation

GOMBURZA: Ang Tatlong Paring Martir

Ang salitang Gomburza ay nabuo mula sa pangalan ng tatlong pari, na sina
Padre Jose Burgos, Padre Jacinto Zamora, at Padre Mariano Gomez, na binitay
noong 17 Pebrero 1873 ng mga Espanyol dahil sa pagbibintang sa kanila sa kaso ng
subersyon at pag-uugnay sa kanila sa nangyaring rebelyon sa Cavite noong 1872.
Dahil sa kanilang hindi makatarungang kamatayan, sumiklab ang damdamin ng mga
Pilipino at nag-iwan ito ng matinding epekto, lalong-lalo na kay Jose Rizal. At dahil
dito, inialay ni Rizal ang El Filibusterismo sa kanila.

Padre Mariano Gomez

Ipinanganak noong 2 Agosto 1799 sa Santa Cruz, Maynila, si Mariano Gomez ang
nauna na binitay sa Bagumbayan at ang pinakamatanda sa tatlong martir. Siya ay
nagtapos sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas at nagsilbi bilang pari ng parokya sa
Bacoor, Cavite. Itinatag niya rin ang pahayagan na La Verdad (The Truth) kung saan
ipinapakita nito ang hindi magandang kondisyon ng bansa. Inilimbag din sa
pahayagang ito ang mga liberal na artikulo ni Burgos.
Ang kanyang pamosong huling mga salita ay, “Let us go where the leaves never
move without the will of God.”
Padre Jose Burgos
Si Jose Burgos, ipinanganak noong 9 Pebrero sa Vigan, Ilocos Sur, ang huling
binitay sa tatlong paring martir. Siya ang pinakanatatangi sa tatllong pari dahil sa siya
ay nagtamo ng dalawang titulo sa pagkadoktor, isa sa teolohiya at isa pa sa canon
law. Isa rin siyang prolipikong manunulat at konektado sa Manila Cathedral.
Ang kanyang kamatayan ang pinakamadula sa lahat. Isa sa mga detalye ng kanyang
kamatayan ay nang siya ay tumayo at sumigaw na, “Wala akong ginawang anumang
kasalanan!” (“But I haven't committed any crime!)
Padre Jacinto Zamora
Ipinanganak noong 14 Agosto 1835 sa Pandacan. Iniugnay siya sa rebelyon sa
Cavite noong 1872 dahil sa kanyang imbitasyon na may nakasaad na,“Grand
Reunion... our friends are well provided with powder and ammunition.” Ang mga
pahayag na ito ay maaaring mangahulugan ng pagrerebelde, ngunit ito ay isa lamang
paanyaya ni Zamora sa kanyang mga kaibigan na sila ay maglaro ng panguigui, isang
kilalang laro sa baraha, at ang salitang powder and ammunition ay mga simbolo
lamang na sila ay may sapat na salapi upang maglaro buong magdamag.