Early Philippine Resistance and Religious Movements
📌 Pre-1872 revolts against Spanish colonialism, such as those led by Gabriela Silang and the Palaris Revolt, were ununited, leading to their defeat.
✝️ Early resistance often had a religious orientation, citing 17th-century revolts like Bancao and Sumuroy, often led by original religious figures like babaylans.
💔 The Cofradia de San Jose, led by Hermano Pule in 1841, was brutally suppressed by the Spanish government, which involved Pule's beheading and dismemberment.
🗣️ Hermano Pule's struggle for self-empowerment was historically linked to the secularization movement, pioneered by Fr. Pedro Pelaez.

Liberalism and Political Climate in the 19th Century
📈 Liberal ideas from Europe, fueled by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the end of the Galleon Trade in 1815, entered the Philippines, challenging Spanish authority.
🏛️ The brief administration of liberal Governor-General Carlos Maria de la Torre (1869-1871) introduced changes, contrasting sharply with the strict rule of his successor, Rafael de Izquierdo.
💰 The abolition of the Galleon Trade and the opening to world trade in 1834 allowed some natives to gain financial power, though they still faced racial discrimination ("Indios").
⚖️ Friars maintained significant political and financial power through land ownership (haciendas) and by staying in parishes for decades, in contrast to the short terms of civil officials.

The Secularization Movement and the Gomburza
👨‍🏫 The secularization movement, championed by Fr. Pedro Pelaez, fought for secular (diocesan) priests to take over parishes from regular (friar) priests, who were typically full-blooded Spaniards.
⚔️ A major conflict existed between regulars (friars), who answered to their religious order, and seculars, who answered to the bishop.
💥 The expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768 due to a conflict between the King of Spain and the Pope temporarily benefited secular priests by giving them parishes, but this shifted back when Jesuits returned in 1859.
🧐 The primary resistance to secularization was rooted in racism (Spanish belief in "purity of blood") and suspicion that native secular priests might instigate revolution, similar to Mexico’s independence movement led by a priest.

The Cavite Mutiny and Martyrdom of Gomburza
✊ A student movement in 1869 at UST, involving future Propaganda figures like Paciano Rizal, challenged the insults from Spanish professors, highlighting Filipino capability despite discrimination.
🛠️ The Cavite Mutiny on January 20, 1872, was triggered by the stripping of privileges for Filipino soldiers at the arsenal, though Spanish authorities framed it as a wider conspiracy.
🤥 The mutiny trial was swift and questionable; the key witness, Francisco Zaldua, implicated Fr. Jose Burgos to save himself, leading to the conviction of Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora (Gomburza).
🕯️ The execution by garrote on February 17, 1872, was a deeply traumatic event; Archbishop Meliton Martinez refused to cooperate with Governor Izquierdo, tolling the bells in respect for the priests.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Pre-1872 revolts failed due to a lack of unity among various regional uprisings.
➡️ The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 rapidly facilitated the entry of liberal European ideas into the Philippines.
➡️ Fr. Mariano Gomes was highly involved in community development, acting like a "one-man non-governmental organization" in Bacoor, providing capital for local industries.
➡️ Fr. Jose Burgos was an intellectual powerhouse with seven degrees (two doctorates by age 35) and famously encouraged future Filipinos to "go to the museums and libraries in other countries, so you will know who your ancestors are."
➡️ The martyrdom of Gomburza served as the catalyst for Filipino nationalism, bridging the gap between regional identities and the concept of being "Filipino," inspiring the Propaganda Movement and later the Katipunan.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Oct 10, 2025, 11:04 UTC