‘GomBurZa’ a tribute to the martyred priests
MOST of the time, when Filipinos think of heroes, they think of people who are courageous, resilient, influential and forever remembered.
Some iconic examples are the idealistic Jose Rizal, the revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, the brave Gabriela Silang and the intelligent Apolinario Mabini.
Many other Filipino “heroes,” however, are forgotten or easily overlooked in history, though their roles are very significant.
Some of these “unsung heroes” are the historic trio Gomburza or GomBurZa: Fr. Mariano Gomes, Fr. José Burgos and Fr. Jacinto Zamora.
The “GomBurZa” movie, an entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), clearly pictured the ordinary lives of the three priests.
During the Spanish colonization, locals were looked down upon as poor and uneducated.
Filipinos were discriminated against because of their identity as Indios, as the Spaniards called the natives, and the three priests were not in favor of this.
Although they were of Spanish blood, born in Las Islas Filipinas, they peacefully advocated for their compatriots’ equality.
Things were going fine for them, but all changed when they were suddenly arrested and accused of being the masterminds of the Cavite mutiny of 1872.
Though they argued their innocence, they were unjustly martyred via garrote or guillotine in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) on Feb. 17, 1872.
That tragic day ironically ignited the Philippines’ journey as a free country.
What seemed like an unlikely death set a passionate fire in the hearts of the Filipinos to begin fighting for independence and equality.
It also inspired national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to write “El Filibusterismo” in honor of GomBurZa. That book inspired Filipinos in the mid-1890s to organize the Philippine Revolution, which led to the country’s eventual independence.
GomBurZa’s character, advocacy, unjust martyrdom, and all the unlikely events that followed made them heroes.
Even though all this happened 152 years ago, it still impacts Filipinos today.
An important lesson from the movie “GomBurZa” is that people should never turn a blind eye to evil and injustice.
Even if it will cost their lives, people should fight for what is right. Furthermore, making sure not to judge anyone for what they look or where they are from and respecting them for who they are promotes equality, like what the three martyr priests advocated for.
Being kind and generous to others also helps in making an impact. There is no need to do something dramatic to be considered “heroes.” Sometimes, the simple, unknown, yet powerful things done to others make one a hero.
Heroes are everywhere; they are just not honored in the same dramatic ways historical icons are usually esteemed.
So please appreciate “heroes,” wherever they may be. They could be just as great as the three priests advocating equality in the workplace or in society.
Janae Hannah Orante is a Grade 8 homeschooler under the Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow-Home Education Program. The essay was originally submitted as a Social Studies third-quarter project.