Fr. Jose Burgos

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

FEBRUARY 9, 1837

Fr. Jose Burgos (February 9, 1837 - February 17, 1872), born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, was a secular priest and a staunch advocate for the secularization of the clergy throughout his ecclesiastical career. 

He was one of the brilliant Filipinos in his time who earned a doctorate in theology and canon law. 

Aside from being a priest at the Manila Cathedral, he was a professor who taught in seminaries. 

He was considered a threat by the Spanish friars who are opposed to the idea of the Church being led by Filipinos. I

In 1872, Spanish authorities implicated him, together with Fr. Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora as among those involved in the 1872 Cavite Mutiny. 

The three of them, known as GOMBURZA, were arrested, tried and executed at Bagumbayan Field (now the Luneta). 

Dr. Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo was dedicated to the Gomburza priests.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

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