The abolition of the privileges of Filipino soldiers, such as
exemption from polo y servicio (forced labor) and the right to
The mutiny was a protest against the abuses of the Spanish
colonial government and the native clergy. Acuerdos de la Junta de Oficiales (Agreements of the Board
The mutineers had a number of grievances of Officers) by Mariano Alvarez
Del Rosario wrote that the mutineers had no intention of
overthrowing Spanish rule. They simply wanted to address their
grievances and to be treated with respect.
Memorias de un ex-insurgente (Memoirs of an Ex-Insurgent)
The mutiny was a spontaneous event that was not planned in by Vicente del Rosario
advance. The mutineers were simply fed up with the abuses of
the Spanish colonial government and the native clergy.
the Filipinos were no longer willing to tolerate the abuses of the
Spanish colonial government.
the mutiny was not a well-organized event, and that the
mutineers did not have a clear plan for what to do after they had
La revolución filipina (The Philippine Revolution) by
taken control of the Cavite arsenal. This lack of planning
Apolinario Mabini
ultimately led to the failure of the mutiny.
John Schumacher, American historian: "The Cavite Mutiny was a
watershed event in Philippine history. It served to radicalize the
Filipino people and to convince them that the only way to
achieve their goals was through revolution."
Emilio Aguinaldo, first president of the Philippines: "The Cavite
Mutiny was a watershed event in Philippine history. It showed us
that the Spanish colonial government was oppressive and that
we needed to fight for our independence."
The Cavite Mutiny led to a Spanish crackdown on Filipino
dissent. Hundreds of Filipinos were arrested and executed, and
the government imposed strict restrictions on freedom of speech
and assembly. This marked the end of the reform movement and
the beginning of the revolutionary movement in the Philippines.
Teodoro Agoncillo, John Schumacher, Gregorio Zaide
David Steinberg, Zaide Gregorio - Filipino historian: The Cavite
Mutiny was the spark that ignited the Philippine Revolution.
Teodoro Agoncillo, Filipino historian: "The Cavite Mutiny was a
turning point in Philippine history. It marked the end of the reform
movement and the beginning of the revolutionary movement."
The Cavite Mutiny radicalized the Filipino people, led to the
The death of the GOMBURZA in the development of
growth of the nationalist movement, and showed Filipinos that
they were capable of organizing and resisting Spanish colonial
Filipino nationalism
rule.
Teodoro Agoncillo, John Schumacher, Renato Constantino
The publication of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo:
Jose Rizal was deeply affected by the execution of the
GOMBURZA. He wrote Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo as a way to expose the injustices of Spanish
colonialism and inspire his countrymen to fight for freedom.
The founding of the Katipunan: Andres Bonifacio, the founder
of the Katipunan, saw them as martyrs who had sacrificed
their lives for the Filipino people. The Katipunan was a secret
society that played a key role in the Philippine Revolution of
1896.
The Philippine Revolution of 1896: It was a direct result of the
growing nationalist sentiment in the Philippines. The
execution of the GOMBURZA was one of the many events
that contributed to this sentiment.
Testimony of Mariano Álvarez
PRIMARY SOURCES
Joaquin Pardo de Tavera - La algarada caviteña de 1872 (The
Cavite Mutiny of 1872)
Nature of the mutiny
John N. Schumacher, S.J. Father José Burgos, Priest and
What causes the mutiny
Nationalist.
Reynaldo C. Ileto's "The Causes of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872: A
Filipino Perspective" .
SECONDARY SOURCES
Zaide Gregorio's "History of the Philippines"
The Cavite Mutiny
(FIlipino Perspective)
Teodoro Agoncillo's "Revolt of the Masses"
John Schumacher's "The Propaganda Movement: 1880-1895"
Teodoro Agoncillo's "Revolt of the Masses"
The role of the GOMBURZA
Gerónimo de los Reyes, "The Cavite Mutiny of 1872" (1997)
Teodoro Agoncillo, Revolt of the Masses (1956)
Renato Constantino, The Making of a Filipino Nation (1969)
James A. LeRoy, Philippine Life in Town and Country (1906)
Teodoro Agoncillo, Revolt of the Masses (1956)
Renato Constantino, The Making of a Filipino Nation (1969)
James A. LeRoy, Philippine Life in Town and Country (1906)
carry firearms.
The abuses of the Spanish officers, who often treated the Filipino
soldiers with contempt.
The abuses of the native clergy, who were often corrupt and
lived lavish lifestyles while the Filipino people struggled in
poverty.
The economic and social grievances of the Filipino people.
The growing Filipino nationalist movement.
The abuses of the Spanish colonial government.
The spread of subversive ideas and propaganda.
"The abuses of the Spanish friars, particularly those of the parish
priest of Cavite, Mariano Zaldua, were a major cause of the
mutiny. Zaldua was known for his cruelty and his demands for
excessive fees. He also discriminated against Filipinos and
favored Spaniards. His abuses were a source of great
resentment among the Filipino soldiers and arsenal workers."
"The Cavite Mutiny was a complex event with multiple causes.
However, at its heart, it was a protest against the abuses of the
Spanish colonial government and the native clergy. The Filipino
people were demanding reforms, such as exemption from polo y
servicio and the right to carry firearms. They were also protesting
the abuses of the Spanish officers, who often treated the Filipino
people with contempt. And they were protesting the abuses of
the native clergy, who were often corrupt and lived lavish
lifestyles while the Filipino people struggled in poverty."
"The Cavite Mutiny was the result of the deep-seated discontent
of the Filipino people against the Spanish colonial government.
The Filipinos were resentful of the abuses of the Spanish
officials, the corruption of the friars, and the economic hardships
they were suffering. The abolition of their privileges, such as
exemption from polo y servicio and the right to carry firearms,
served as the spark that ignited the mutiny."
Agoncillo argues that the Spanish colonial government had a
motive to fabricate the claim against Burgos. The Spanish
colonial government was concerned about the growing Filipino
nationalist movement, and they saw Burgos as a leader of this
movement. By discrediting and executing Burgos, the Spanish
colonial government hoped to weaken the Filipino nationalist
movement.
The evidence is overwhelming that Jose Burgos was innocent of
the charges against him and that he was executed by the
Spanish colonial government as a scapegoat for the Cavite
Mutiny.
Agoncillo argues that the Spanish colonial government had a
motive to fabricate the claim against Burgos. The Spanish
colonial government was concerned about the growing Filipino
nationalist movement, and they saw Burgos as a leader of this
movement. By discrediting and executing Burgos, the Spanish
colonial government hoped to weaken the Filipino nationalist
movement.
Inocencio, de los Reyes, and Paraiso were all seen meeting with
other Filipino soldiers and civilians in the days leading up to the
mutiny. This suggests that they were involved in planning the
mutiny.
Lamadrid was a known sympathizer of the Filipino nationalist
movement. He had been involved in several previous uprisings
against the Spanish colonial government.
Lamadrid and Zaldua were both seen meeting with other Filipino
soldiers and civilians in the days leading up to the mutiny. This
suggests that they were involved in planning the mutiny.
Lamadrid and Zaldua were both among the first to fire their
weapons when the mutiny began. This suggests that they were
the leaders of the mutiny.