Burgos martyrdom cited in Vigan rites

By Freddie G. Lazaro

VIGAN CITY — Officials of this World Heritage City headed by Mayor Eva Marie Medina led the celebration Wednesday of the centennial establishment of the Plaza Burgos Monument here as a fitting tribute to the martyrdom of Rev. Fr. Jose Apolonio Burgos, a son of Vigan.

The rites coincided with the 138th anniversary of the execution of Fr. Burgos and the two other priests, Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez, in the middle of Bagumbayan field (now Rizal Park) on February 17, 1872.

The three martyrs are collectively called “Gomburza”.

Similar commemorations of the death anniversary of Fr. Burgos were also observed in several towns in the country named in his honor such as Burgos, Ilocos Sur; Burgos, Ilocos Norte; Burgos, La Union; Burgos, Pangasinan; Burgos, Surigao del Norte; Padre Burgos, Quezon; and Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.

Yjirty eight years after Burgos’ execution, or on February 17, 1910, the people of Vigan erected a monument and established Plaza Burgos in honor of his martyrdom.

“The Plaza Burgos monument is now one hundred years old and it is fitting for us to commemorate the centennial establishment of the Plaza Burgos Monument, which happened in our lifetime, as a testament to our undying love and commitment for our freedom as Filipinos, inspired by Father Jose Burgos,” Medina said.

The event was highlighted by a Mass offered at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, as well as a multi-sectoral parade involving students, barangay officials, Vigan City employees, members of the Knights of Columbus and other sectors. A floral offering at the monument of Fr. Burgos at the center of Plaza Burgos followed.

The historic Plaza Burgos is located beside the Cathedral or at the entrance to the Vigan Heritage Village.

“We remember and emphasize the sacrifices of Fr. Burgos to give inspiration and to inculcate the spirits of nationhood and patriotism to all Vigan residents particularly the young generations,” the mayor said.

Medina said Fr. Burgos was born in Vigan to a Spanish colonel, Jose Burgos, and Florencia Garcia, a Spanish mestiza, on February 9, 1837.

While still a student in Letran, Burgos led demonstrations against the friars and had issued a manifesto in 1864 in defense and in response to an attack to the Filipino clergy.

In 1864, he identified his people as “Filipino”, a term which was a new usage then to refer to a new group in the colonial population – a group to which belonged not just native but also Chinese mestizos, Spanish mestizos and even full-blooded Spaniards born in Filipinas.

Burgos obtained his doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1868 from the University of Santo Thomas and another doctorate in Canon Law in 1871.

He was falsely implicated and framed up in the Cavite mutiny together with Fathers Gomez and Zamora that led to their execution.

Burgos was a close friend and associate of Paciano Rizal, the older brother and mentor of national hero Jose Rizal.