Jose Burgos on Philippine Stamps

JOSE APOLONIO BURGOS

9 February 1837 to 17 February 1872

Jose Burgos was part of the Gomburza trio who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities. He was placed in a mock trial and summarily executed in Manila along with two other clergymen.

Jose Burgos was a Criollo secular priest, born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to a Spanish officer and a mestiza mother.

Burgos' liberal and nationalist views, codified in editorial essays, championing political and ecclesiastic reforms in favour of empowering more native clergy, made him a target of opposition by Roman Catholic authorities. Burgos established a reputation as a defender of the native clergy.

Burgos penned several signed articles later in his life, in response to a series of anonymous written attacks on the Filipino clergy. Though Burgos offered few new ideas, his name caught the attention of Spanish authorities, who would report that the native clergy was becoming liberal and separatist. This reputation would eventually cause Burgos to be implicated in a mutiny in Cavite, for which he was later executed.

Definitive and Official #595 and O59, 1 Apr 1955

Definitive and Official #858 and O66, 24 Mar 1963

Centenary of Martyrdom of Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora #1155 and 1116, 3 Apr 1972

Gomburza Trio The Gomburza trio (an acronym of the surnames of Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora) who were accused of treason, sedition, and taking active part in the Cavite mutiny of 1872. The three men went through a tribunal of drummed up charges and false witnesses, and where their own lawyers betrayed them to the court. They were sentenced to death and on 17 February 1872, they were garrotted at Fort Santiago in the middle of Bagumbayan field (now Luneta Park).

ASEANPEX 96, International Philatelic Exhibition Manila #2449b, 15 Dec 1996

part of se-tenant block of 4

The death of the Gomburza trio inspired Jose Rizal to write his second novel ‘El Filibusterismo and compelled him to plunge into the independence movement.

Definitive #2456b, 20 Dec 1996

part of se-tenant strip of 3

Independence Day - Gomburza Martyrdom, 150th Anniversary #xxx, 12 June 2022

Souvenir sheet of 8

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JOSE APOLONIO BURGOS

9 February 1837 to 17 February 1872