The

CAVITE
MUTINY
TWO VERSIONS

Spanish Version Filipino Version

 HISTORICAL
TIMELINE
1871 January 20, 1872 1896
Governor General Rafael de Philippine Revolution
Izquierdo replaced Carlos Maria
The Cavite Mutiny occured.
de la Torre

1871 February 17. 1872

Removal of the personal benefits
of the workers. Barbaric execution of
GOMBURZA
Spanish Version
Jose Montero y Vidal
 ACCORDING TO MONTERO Y
VIDAL:
Cavite Mutiny is considered as an insurrection and conspiracy influenced by the Spanish Revoltion.
The abolotion of the priveleges enjoyed by the laborers of the Cavite arsenal of exemption from tribute was, according to
some, the cause of the insurrection. There were, however other causes.
At the beginning of the year 1872, authories received anonymous communications with the information that a great
uprising woud break out against the Spaniards, the minute the fleet at Cavite left for the South, and would be
assassinated, including the friars. But nobody give importance to these notices, since the conspiracy has been gong on
since the days of La Torre with utmost secrecy.

Principal leaders met either at the house of D. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera or Jacinto Zamora. Meetings are usually attended
by the curate of Bacoor (Cavite).

The garrison of Manila, composed of native soldiers, were involved in this conspiracy, as well as a multitude of civillians.
 ACCORDING TO MONTERO Y
VIDAL:
The plan was for the soldiers to assasinate their officers, servants, masters and the escorts of the Captain-General in
Malacanang to dsipose the governor himself. The friars and other Spaniards were later to have their turn.

The preconcerted signal among the conspirators of Cavite and Manila was the firing of rockets from the city's walls.
Everything had been arranged, and it was agreed that the uprising would break out on the evening of the 20th of January,
1872.
The Cavite mutiny failed due to the Fiesta fireworks display in one of the towns in Manila. They mistook it as a signal
from their co-mutineers in Manila to start the rebellion.
The GOMBURZA were executed on the 17th of February, 1872, in an attempt by the Spanish government and
Frailocracia (rule of the friars) to instill dread among Filipinos so they would never do such a daring deed again. This sad
tragedy was one of the driving causes that produced Filipino nationalism.
Spanish Version
Governor General Rafael Izquierdo
 ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR
IZQUIERDO:
Rafael Gerónimo Cayetano Izquierdo y Gutiérrez, a Governor General who claimed in a report he sent to the Spanish
Minister that the Cavite Mutiny was a criminal endeavor. He described it as an "insurrection," "uprising," and a
"revolution."

Izquierdo was renowned for his "Iron Fist" style of rule, which was in opposition to the liberal administration of his
predecessor. He served as the governor-general during the Cavite rebellion of 1872, which resulted in the death of 41
rebels, including the GOMBURZA victims.

On his account, he insisted on blaming the native clergy, scholars, and some residents as an instigator of the Cavite
Mutiny as a signal of objection against the government's injustices of obliging the workers in the Cavite arsenal to pay
tribute and to render personal services. He saw how the people fought for their principles, views, and perspectives
towards how the government governed the people despite knowing the risk of what happened to them after their
revolution.
 ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR
IZQUIERDO:
He clearly stated that the uprising was well-planned and aimed at establishing either a monarchy or a republic. However,
it is unclear whether the natives intended to do so because they lacked a word in their native language to designate this
new form of government, whose head would be known as "hari" in the Filipino language. As a result, it turned out that
the rebels who led them had planned to impose a priest as the head of state and that José Burgos or Jacinto Zamora would
be chosen as their commander. They also had methods in place to ensure the success of their plan.

According to Izquierdo's account of the Cavite Mutiny, since the local pastorates indoctrinated the Indios, they should be
held accountable for the insurrection.
Filipino Version
Dr. Trinidad Hermenegildo Pardo de Tavera
 ACCORDING TO PARDO DE
TAVERA:
During the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines, there was a man named Captain General Rafael De Izquierdo. He
arrived in the Philippines around (1871 – 1973), and he was the new governor then

He was the signal for a complete change in the aspect of affairs. The new Governor soon made it clear that his views
were different from those of La Torre (La Torre is the Ex-Governor), that there would be no change in the established
form of government, and announced that he would govern the people “with a crucifix in one hand and a sword in the
other.”

His official act prohibited founding a school of arts and trades organized through the efforts and funds raised by natives
of good standing in the community. Still, the founders did not tally with the views of the religious orders.

The Governor believed establishing the new school was merely a pretext for organizing a political club. He did not allow
it to be opened but made a public statement accusing the Filipinos in charge of the movement.
 ACCORDING TO PARDO DE
TAVERA:
All those who offered their support to ex-Governor La Torre were classed as personas sospechosas (suspects), a term that
since that time has been used in the Philippine Islands to designate any person who refused to servilely obey the wishes
and whims of the government.
After that, the conservative element in the islands now directed governmental policy, and the educated Filipinos fell
increasingly under the displeasure and suspicion of the Governor.The peace of the colony was broken by a particular
incident; the workmen in the arsenal at Cavite and in the barracks of the artillery and engineer corps had been exempt
from paying the tribute tax and the obligation to work for specific days each year on public improvements.

But the Governor believed that time was opportune for abolishing these privileges and ordered that all such workmen in
the future should pay tribute and labor on public improvements.
 ACCORDING TO PARDO DE
TAVERA:
This produced great dissatisfaction among the workmen affected. Men employed in the arsenal at Cavite went on a strike
but yielded because of the pressure and threats made by the authorities and returned to labor. The dissatisfaction and
discontent with the government spread all over that section, and even the entire troops became disaffected.

On the night of January 20, 1872, there was an uprising among the soldiers in the San Felipe fort in Cavite. The
commanding officer and other Spanish officers in the fort were assassinated. Forty marines were attached to the arsenal,
and 22 artillerymen under Sergeant La Madrid participated in this uprising. The entire garrison in Cavite was believed to
be disaffected and probably implicated.

When the uprising news was received in Manila, General Izquierdo sent the commanding general to Cavite, who
reinforced native troops, took possession of the fort, and put the rebels to the sword. A few rebels were captured and
taken to Manila, and there was no further disturbance of the peace or insubordination.
So according to the Filipino perspective told by Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, the Cavite mutiny
was a mutiny orchestrated by native soldiers and laborers who reacted to the harsh policy of the
new governor-general, Rafael de Izquierdo, who whimsically terminated the old-time privileges
such as exempting them from paying annual tribute and from rendering forced labor or polo. As
reported, it is made clear that the mutiny was blown up by the Spanish officials and friars into a
revolt as a way for Filipinos to gain independence from the Spanish monarchy.