138th Death Anniversary of GOMBURZA

Manila – The National Historical Institute, City Government of Manila and the  National Parks Development Committee will lead the commemoration of the  138th Death Anniversary of martyred priests Frs. Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomes and Jacinto Zamora on February 17, 2010.

The program will begin at 7:00 a.m. at the GOMBURZA Execution Site, Rizal Park, Manila. Flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies will be participated in by NHI Executive Director Ludovico D. Badoy, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, NPDC Deputy Executive Director Salome T. Habal, DepEd Asst. Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya and Superintendent of the Division of City Schools in Manila, Dr. Ponciano Menguito.

They will be joined by the principals from the Elementary Schools of Gomes, Burgos and Zamora in Manila, officials from the Kaanak ng mga Bayaning Pilipino, Inc., Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Knights of Columbus Gomburza Assemblies and the Philippine Historical Association.


A memorial mass and blessing of the tomb of the three martyred priests immediately follows at the Paco Park Cemetery, Manila to be officiated by Rev. Fr.Renato Ruelos, CM.

On February 17, 1872, Father Mariano Gomes (born in Sta. Cruz, Manila on August 2, 1799), Padre Jose Burgos (born in Vigan, Ilocos on February 9, 1837), Padre Jacinto Zamora (born in Pandacan, Manila on August 19, 1835) were executed by means of garrote at Bagumbayan Field.  The three martyred priests were charged with sedition and treason arising from the Cavite Mutiny.

They joined Rev. Fr. Pedro Pelaez to fight the secularization movement by the Spanish government.  They believed that the Filipino clergy were competent enough to administer their respective parishes and should not be replaced by Spanish friars. Resolutions and published articles were sent to the Spanish civil and clerical authorities but their pleas were ignored.

The execution of Fathers Gomes, Burgos and Zamora and the rising abuses of the Spanish friars paved the way for the beginning of the conflict between the Filipinos and the Spaniards which led to a revolution.

The NHI is a national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine historical heritage through research, information dissemination, conservation, including the marking of historic sites and structures, and the maintenance and administration of national shrines and landmarks.

For more information, contact the NHI-Historic Sites Education Division, tel. 523-1019.