Mariano Gomez (priest)
Mariano Gómes de los Ángeles[1] (Spanish: [ˈmaˈɾjano ˈɣomes]; August 2, 1799 – February 17, 1872), often known by his birth name Mariano Gómez y Custodio or Mariano Gomez in modern orthography,[2] was a Filipino Catholic priest who was falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. He was placed in a mock trial and summarily executed in Manila along with two other clergymen collectively known as the Gomburza. Gomez was the oldest of the three priests and spent his life writing about abuses against Filipino priests.
Mariano Gómes | |
|---|---|
 An engraving imagining Gomez (center), the leader, with him are mestizo Jacinto Zamora on the left, and mestizo José Burgos seated on the right. | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mariano Gómez y Custodio August 2, 1799 |
| Died | February 17, 1872 (aged 72) Bagumbayan, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Francisco Gómez Martina Gómez (née Custodio) |
Early life
Gomez was born on August 2, 1799, in the suburb of Santa Cruz, Manila. He was a tornatrás, one born of mixed Austronesian, Chinese and Spanish ancestries. His parents were Alejandro Francisco Gómez and Martina Custodio. After studying in the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, he took theology in the University of Santo Tomás. He was a student preparing for the priesthood in the Seminary of Manila.
He was also the uncle of ilustrado nationalist and labor leader Dominador Gómez.[3]
Assignment in Cavite
On June 2, 1824, he was designated as the head priest of Bacoor, Cavite. Aside from taking care of the spiritual necessities of the town and the church, he also taught agriculture and cottage industries. Gomez also helped in maintaining a harmonious relationship among his other priests. He fought for equal rights for native priests against the abuses of their Spanish counterparts.
Name change from Gómez to Gómes
When Gomez took up parochial work, he discovered that he shared the name "Mariano Gómez" with a Spanish friar in Cavite and a priest from Cabuyao, Laguna. So he changed his last name from Gómez to Gómes, with the change from the letter "z" to the letter "s" meant to reflect his being Tagalista, meaning he was proficient in the Tagalog language. He also appended the honorific "de los Ángeles" ("of the Angels") to his surname.[2]
As such, his name formally became "Mariano Gómes de los Ángeles," and he signed his name "Mar Gómes de los Ángeles." This was the name he officially signed in his last will and testament.[1]
Death
Gomez was accused of treason, sedition, and taking active part in the Cavite mutiny of 1872 and sentenced to death by garrote in a military court. He was sent to jail along with Joaquín Pardo de Tavera, Máximo Paterno, and the friars José Burgos and Jacinto Zamora. The three friars were executed on February 17, 1872, at Bagumbayan field; and have been known since then by the acronym composed of their collective surnames – Gomburza.
Before his death, Gomez was active in the publication of the newspaper La Verdad (Spanish: "The Truth"). At the age of 72, he was the oldest of the three priests.
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Victor Aliwalas in the official music video of GMA Network's production of Lupang Hinirang in 2010.
- Portrayed by Rommel Padilla in the 2014 film, Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo.
- Portrayed by Dante Rivero in the 2023 film, GomBurZa.[4]
See also
References
- Santiago, Luciano P.R., The Last Will of Padre Mariano Gomes. Philippine Studies Vol. 30, No. 3. Ateneo de Manila University
- Gwekoh, Solomon Hilario (1974). Burgos-Gomes-Zamora : a first centennial biography Secular martyrs of Filipinism. Manila: National Book Store.
"When Gomes took up parochial work he became known by the name Mariano Gomes de los Angeles. This he did purposely in order to distinguish him from both a Spanish friar in Cavite and a priest from Cabuyao, Laguna, who were named Mariano Gomez. However, he signed his name as Mar Gomes de los Angeles. He chose to use the letter s in his family name isteaed of the Spanish letter "z" for being a Tagalista (an individual proficient in the Tagalog dialect [sic])"
- Raquel A. G. Reyes (2008). Love, Passion and Patriotism: Sexuality and the Philippine propaganda movement, 1882-1892. NUS Press. p. 263. ISBN 9789971693565.
- "Producer of historical film GomBurZa unveils cast". Manila Bulletin. February 16, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.
- Ignacio, Josefina O. (1979). Biographies of Filipino Heroes. Merriam-Webster, Inc.