Father Jose Burgos : Champion of the Filipino Clergy

 Father Jose Burgos was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on February 9,1837. His father was a Spanish soldier and his mother was a Filipino-Spanish  mestiza. His father died when he was still a child . He was educated in Manila where he studied theology and philosophy at San Juan de Letran ,then at the University of Sto. Tomas where he finished priesthood. He served at the Cathedral and taught at the University of Sto. Tomas where he became an examiner for many years. He held many positions at the University. He was a temporary Canon Magistrate of the Cathedral. He initiated the attainment of equal rights between the Spanish and Filipino priests in the country. He wrote several articles and pamphlets defending the Filipino clergy. He advocated the secularization of the Filipino clergy and worked for the solution of the agrarian and agricultural land problems of the people. He also focused on finding solution to the uplift of the standard of living of his countrymen.

Together with Father Mariano Gomez, parish priest of Bacoor , Cavite, and Father Jacinto Zamora, curate at the Cathedral ,Father Burgos advocated reforms Their liberal ideas and ability to influence aroused jealousy of the friars. Being obsessed to keep the Filipinos unenlightened and preserve Spanish rule in the Philippines, the friars and Governor Izquierdo resented and suppressed the advocacy and movement for reforms of the Filipinos. When the Cavite Revolt sparked, they grabbed the opportunity to implicate the Filipino priests, primarily Father Burgos, Father Gomez and Father Zamora and accused them of disloyalty to Spain, and disobeying the laws of the church and the government.

Father Burgos , the parish priest of San Pedro, Manila, and a curate of the Cathedral who dedicated his time and value to the civic activities of the community, was accused as one of the leaders of the revolt and was planning to establish his own republic in Cavite. Death sentence was pronounced on February 15,1872. On the morning of February 17,1872, Father Mariano Gomez, Father Jacinto Zamora and Father Jose Burgos were executed by the garrote on the field of Bagumbayan The friars and Spanish officers ordered that Father Burgos will be garroted last in order to torture and bring him greater pain in witnessing the gruesome death of his dear friends , because they were so enraged and insulted by the fact that Father Burgos was a son of a Spaniard but his love and loyalty was with the "Indios" .

The Archbishop of Manila refused to unfrock the three priests before execution , which showed that he doubted their guilt. Their trial was shrouded with mystery. The government never public the proofs against them. For the Filipinos therefore ,they were victims of some underhand plot. They were acclaimed as martyrs and the cause which they advocated were henceforth championed by the people.

References : In the Grade School  : Brief History of the Philippines  The Philippines :a Unique Nation , Bulwagan ng mga Bayani