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 Father
Jose Burgos was the youngest of the three martyrs. He
was born on February 9,1837 in Vigan, llocos Sur. His
father was Don Jose Tiburcio, Burgos and his mother was
Florencia Garcia. Antonia and Maria were his younger
sisters.
He dreamt to be a priest while still a child. Since he
was orphaned at an early age he was forced to stay with
a relative in Manila. He enrolled at San Juan de Letran
on August 11, 1847.
At age 17, he finished his Bachiller en Filosopia on
February 11,1855 with the highest honors. He likewise
achieved the highest honors when he completed his
degree, Bachiller en Teologia, on January 21,1859.
A year after, he was ordained on August 1, 1860.
He took his master's degree at the University of Sto.
Tomas. At the same time, Father Burgos taught Latin in
the same university. One of his students was Jose Rizal.
It is why Rizal dedicated to him his novel El
Filibusterismo.
He completed his master's degree, Licenciado en Teologia,
on February 21, 1866 and his Bachiller en Canones on
February 8, 1866.
His thirst for knowledge never ends. He continued his
studies and on April 14, 1868, he completed his Doctor
en Teologia and Licenciado en Canones on October
29,1868. |
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On April 1871, Father Burgos was also able to complete
his Doctor en Canones, the highest degree one can attain
in priesthood.
His first mass was celebrated at Intramuros. He became
the parish priest of Sagrario de Intramuros. He could
not help but to be at odds with some senior priests
because of his liberal ideas.
He also became the parish priest of the Parish of St.
Peter, second parish priest in the Cathedral, Master of
the Claustral Ceremony at UST, ecclesiastical fiscal at
Sagragrio de Intramuros and canonical magistrate at the
Manila Cathedral. The highest position assigned to him
was Ecclesiastical Court Fiscal.
In spite of the good positions given to him, Father
Burgos was never contented because he was witness to the
cruelty of the Spanish friars to his fellowmen. With
Father Gomez and Father Zamora, they fought for reforms
in the government.
Almost simultaneous with this was the outbreak of the
Cavite Mutiny on January 20,1872. The Spanish friars
took advantage of the situation. They took hold of the
three Filipino priests and accused them of conniving
with the rebels. An unjust trial followed and on
February 16, 1872 they were sentenced to die by garrote.
The three priests, popularly known as Gomburza, faced
their Creator on February 17, 1872. |
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