Cavite Mutiny: Spanish Version vs.

Filipino Version

Every story has two sides and it depends on us what to believe. Every event in the past is
a great turning point to take us on where we are in the present. The Cavite Mutiny is a very great
example of the story that has two sides: first is the version of the Spaniards and the second one is
the version of the Filipinos.

I am not being biased but after reading and researching about this event, I stand with the
version of the Filipinos. Actually, I read the version of the Spaniards first before reading and
knowing the side of our fellow Filipinos [to avoid bias] but whatever view point I take I can see
that our ancestors were just trying to fight for their rights. The Spaniards were afraid of losing
power and control over the Filipinos.

According to my analysis on the accounts of the National Historical Commission of the

Philippines regarding this event, (1) the privileges of the Filipinos were taken away by the
Spaniards who took over our own land, (2) the Spanish Government was threatened that
Filipinos would take them down and gain power; hence, they captured and killed the famous
GOMBURZA priests that were accused of leading a rebellion against the Spanish Government,
and (3) Filipinos wanted to be heard.

Going back to my first point, the privileges of the Filipino people were taken away from
them and aside from that, they were forced to do labor for the Spaniards. Who doesn’t get angry
when what you really deserve is being taken away from you? The privileges of the Filipino
people were drawn back by Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquerdo because of the fear that they may be
taken out of power. How so are their privileges taken away? First is the non-payment of tributes,
second is their withdrawal of exemption from force-labor [which the Spanish Government
believed that caused the revolution] and the prohibition of the founding of school of arts and
trades for the the Filipinos [which Gov. Gen. Izquerdo believed to be a cover-up for a political
club]. These reasons were clearly stated in both of the versions. Hence, I agree that it was a mere
mutiny of native Filipino soldiers and laborers who were dissatisfied with the abolition of their
privileges. We can see up to this day that those whose privileges are taken away is fighting for
what they deserve.
 We believe that justice will always be served to those who deserve it. However, life is
sometimes cruel. Which ever perspective you look at it is clear how the Spanish Government
were threatened about the GOMBURZA priests for fighting and trying to lead their own
parishes. Henceforth, they were accused of leading the Cavitenos a rebellion and was killed in
public to show how powerful the Spaniards are. However, as what they described in the accounts
of NHCP – “This event was tragic but served as one of the moving forces that shaped Filipino
nationalism.” Going back to the Spanish version of this historical event, it is stated that the
Spanish Government didn’t really investigated what was really happening in Cavite; they only
listened to Gov. Gen. Izquerdo. Nevertheless, if they could’ve investigated even further and
didn’t just rely on Gov. Gen. Izquerdo’s accounts, could it have changed anything? Well from
my perspective, no. They were greedy, they were after our riches and once we knew of our
worth, it could end them. The rebellion was a threat to them. Thus, I agree with the accounts of
Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera that the Spanish Government was threatened that we
could really overpower them.

Lastly, the people just wanted to be heard. The Spanish Government were afraid; they
were afraid that we would finally gain what is ours. Why would people rally? Why would they
go against a government that is actually serving the people? Media was very powerful back then
but it was controlled. All the riots that happened has reasons; hence the saying “Everything
happens for a reason.” If you look deeper into both of the accounts, they actually favor both the
Filipinos but the difference is the lay out of their reasons. It wasn’t about the way of writing but
the way of giving their sides. If we connect things up, it is true that the people was trying to take
down and overpower the government [which is the reason as stated in the Spanish version] but
this was because the Filipinos were full of the government’s unjustified actions [which was the
point of the Filipino version]. For the Filipinos, it wasn’t about having the power, it was about
having their rights as natives of their own land who was ruled and colonized by greedy
foreigners. Well, who would ever get angry if given the right they deserve? No one.

The Cavite Mutiny which composed of 200 Filipinos who fought for their rights was the
start for the fight of our own independence long after we were colonized for more than three
hundred years ago by Spaniards. This event in the past was the start of the fight for our own
independence. I stand and agree with the Filipino version because not only of the facts being
proven but because of realizations after reading both versions – let’s not settle for less from what
we really deserve.