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February 9, 1837 – February 17, 1872
BiographyBurgos.mp3
Jose Apolonio Burgos y Garcia (1837-1872)
On February 9, 1837 Jose Apolonio Burgos y Garcia was born in the town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Captaincy General of the Philippines. He was baptized on the 12th of the same month. Burgos' Christian name was Jose Apolonio, but when he grew up, he usually signed his name as Jose Burgos and nicknamed Pepe.
Don Jose Tiburcio Burgos, a Spanish lieutenant in the Spanish militia of the Ilocos was his father and his mother was Florencia Garcia, a Filipina mestiza and a native of Vigan. Pepe was the youngest in the family with two sisters, Antonia, and Maria.
He received his first education from his mother, herself a woman of education and fine qualities. Since early childhood, he wanted to become a priest which was contrary to his mother's wish because she wanted him to become a lawyer. In his early teens he was sent to Manila to study in San Juan de Letran College. He received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy on February 11, 1855 and Bachelor of Theology on January 21, 1859, graduating at the top of the class.
Sagrario de Intramuros
(Manila Cathedral)
After finishing his course for the Priesthood, he sang his first Mass in Intramuros. He eventually became a parish priest of the Sagrario de Intramuros or the Manila Cathedral, and soon found himself in trouble with his superiors because of his liberal ideas. Later, on August 11, 1860 more than a year after his ordination he went to the University of Santo Tomas, where with his unusually brilliant intellect, he made a good impression on his professors. Because of his experience with the Spanish students who looked down on the Filipino whom they called Indios, it was only natural for Burgos to prove that the Filipinos were as good as the white men, if the Spaniards, he thought, could see that a creole could excel in advanced studies, they would begin to respect the Filipinos.
Burgos finished his master's degree, Licentiate in Philosophy in 1860, Licentiate in Theology on February 21, 1862 and his Bachelor of Canon Law on February 8, 1866. He continued his studies and obtained Doctor of Theology on April 14, 1868, and a Licentiate in Canon Law on October 29, 1868. He went on studying until he obtained the Doctor of Canon Law degree on April, 1871. This was the highest academic degree he could obtain as a priest. He received these degrees while acting as a curate of the Parish of St. Peter which comprised the Walled City. Having taken all these courses, he became a member of the examining board for priests.
His studies finished and having passed a competitive examination to secure an office in the Manila Cathedral, he was ordained second priest of the Cathedral, Fiscal of the Ecclesiastical Court, and Professor and Master of Ceremonies of the University of Santo Tomas.
Young Filipinos studied serving mustering ground for national unity in the schools in the city of Manila. They are the one who encouraged the spread of education which led to the formation of an intelligent middle class. Sooner, these Filipinos became the leaders of the movement for the reform and greater participation in the government. In that time there were two group of leaders: the laymen and the priests. The laymen were composed of businessmen, lawyers, physicians, and proprietors where in, they desired to end all legislation that discriminated the Filipinos. While the priests, they bonded together so as to achieve reforms.
Father Jose Burgos was the leader of the Filipino priests with his associates Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jacinto Zamora, Agustin Mendoza, Simon Ramirez, and Mariano Sevilla. The laymen leaders were Dr. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera , Jose Gonzales Esquivel, Antonio Maria Regidor, Jose Bonifacio Roxas, Jose Maria Basa, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Manuel Genato, Maximo Paterno, Mariano Moreno, Angel and Andres Garchitorena, and Mamerto Natividad
The overall demand for reform at the time had its religious just as its political aspects, and under the initiative of Father Burgos, the local church started to demand their equitable rights and to demand that duly trained secular priests, the greater part of whom were locals and who were oppressed by the religious authorities, be again allowed to hold areas, a right they had once delighted in, yet which had been removed. Father Burgos thusly made ground-breaking adversaries among the friars.
As a beholder to the evil treatment and apathy manifested by the Spanish clerical authorities to his comrades, Burgos felt oppressed. In spite of his enviable positions, he was neither substance nor glad. To battle the injustice, he turned into a resolute and incredible backer for changes in the nation and a solid crusader for the rights and government assistance of the mainstream pastorate. He wrote in La Verdad on Jury 27, 1864 in a manifesto, Burgos clarified his perspectives and liberal thoughts and lauded the capacity of the Filipinos.
The Cavite Mutiny broke out on January 20, 1872, during the stature of the secularization debate when Burgos had gotten generally known as the overwhelming champion of the reason for the Filipino pastorate. The episode of the rebellion managed the cost of the Spanish authorities and the religious authorities an excellent occasion to dispose of him. Along these lines, through the impact and ruse of the ministers, Burgos, along with Father Mariano Gomez and Father Jacinto Zamora were ensnared in the uprising. They were arrested and accused of scheming against the state and organizing the revolt in Cavite on the evening of January 20.
The three ministers were officially attempted by the military court headed by Col. Francisco Moscoso on February 15, 1872. As the individuals from the court were every one of their foes, the three ministers were denied a reasonable preliminary. After the prosecutors had introduced the charges and their evidence, Jose Arrieta, counsel for Burgos, offered no protection for his client. Rather he expressed that Burgos had admitted his blame. Protesting the action of his lawyer, Burgos rose up to confront the Council of War, and stated, "I have not confessed any guilt and I am not guilty; that is not my defense; that gentleman had changed it. I deny all the charges against me. They have no foundation in fact or in law."
On February 16, 1872, the priests were assembled at the guardroom at Fort Santiago and there Major Boscasa read their sentence: death by garrote. The other day, at dawn of that decisive day, February 17,1872, the three priests met their demise at Bagumbayan. Before their execution, Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo mentioned the Archbishop of Manila to debase the three ministers by eliminating their clerical propensities. His Grace, Gregorio Meliton Martinet, who was then the Archbishop of Manila, adamantly declined this unholy solicitation, for he was slanted to accept that the three condemned priests were blameless. They were along these lines permitted to wear their propensities.
Of the three priests, Burgos was the last to be executed. As he climbed the stairs, his glance met that of Major Boscasa. Fr. Burgos halted some time and stated: "I forgive you, and may God forgive you as I have forgiven you," He proceeded and sat down on the execution bench. Suddenly he got up and spoke in a loud voice: "But what wrong have I done? Shall I die without reason? My God, is there no justice at all on earth?"
The executioner approached Burgos, "Father" he said, "forgive me for what I am about to do." "I forgive you my son," was the quiet reply. "Do what is your duty."
At that point, he turned to the people who were present and who were down on their knees. Father Burgos then extended his hands and gave them his blessings. As he was being strangulated, Father Burgos implored: "My Lord Father of mine, get into Your Bosom, the spirit of an inno..." Death cut short his last prayer. Burgos died at 8:00 a.m. on February 17, 1872, as a patriot and martyr for the cause of the Filipinos.
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