Taun-taon ay ginugunita tuwing Pebrero 17 ang papel sa kasaysayan ng Gomburza. May programa at pag-aalay ng mga bulaklak na isinagawa sa Luneta kung saan daw umano ginarote ang tatlong paring martir (malapit sa Chinese Garden at sa pinagbarilan kay Rizal).
Paglalarawan ni Ambeth Ocampo: "badly designed, squat, white obelisk that marks the spot where the three priests were executed"
Pansinin ang dalawang itim na marker, muli sabi ni Ocampo: "these are two flawed markers, installed about a decade ago, that should be replaced immediately. These markers go beyond history and play on the reader’s emotions rather than simply providing the facts. Both markers are wrong to state that the garrote killed by strangulation."
Bilang mga kinatawan ng Philippine Historian Association, kami ni Xiao Chua ng De La Salle University (Vice president siya ng PHA) ang nag-alay ng bulaklak bilang pagpupugay sa alaala ng Gomburza at sa kanilang naging papel sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.
Kasama namin sina: Mrs. Juliet Villages (Executive Director ng National Parks Development Committee); Mayor Alfredo Lim; Mr. Ludovico Badoy (National Historical Commission); Mr. Joe Lad Santos (Acting Chairman ng NCCA); Ms Ester Azurin (Pangulo ng Kaanak at descendant ni Gen Paciano Rizal), at mga opisyal ng DepEd Manila.
"akala ko eembalsamuhin mo na kami" eh, patawang hirit ni Mayor Lim matapos banggitin ang pangalan ko upang kilalanin ang aking pakikibahagi sa programa at bilang kinatawan ng Philippine Historical Association. Unang beses na gawing patawa in public ang apelyido ko. Pero ok lang dahil natawa naman ang mga tao sa biro ni Mayor Lim. Nakapagpasaya ng tao ang apelyido ko. Okay na iyon.
Ano ba ang nangyari noong February 17, 1892? Ito ang kuwento ni Ambeth Ocampo:
"...on Feb. 17, 1872, four men — not three — were executed in Bagumbayan. Saldua was the man who implicated the three priests in the Cavite Mutiny in exchange for pardon. On the walk up the scaffold Burgos was said to be crying like a child, while Gomez and Zamora were rather recollected. Saldua walked happily, confident that the governor’s messenger would arrive at the scene on a horse carrying his pardon. When Saldua stood on the platform, he looked around vainly for the messenger that never came, and he got what he deserved and was killed first.
Gomez, at 73, was the oldest of the three priests. He blessed people on the way and is quoted to have said, “Not a single leaf can move except at the will of the Divine Creator. Since it is His will that I die at this place, may His will be done.”
Zamora ascended the platform without a word. This was not courage or calm in the face of death; he had suffered a nervous breakdown two days earlier. It could be said that he was already dead even before the garrote did him in.
Burgos was executed last and, having witnessed three deaths ahead, his was the most difficult death. After he sat on the garrote, he stood up and shouted, “What crime have I committed to die in this manner? Is there no justice on earth?”
Twelve friars then came and pushed him back into the seat. But after a bit of a struggle, he managed to stand up again and shouted, “But I am innocent. I have not committed any crime.”
One of the friars hissed, “Even Jesus Christ was without sin.”
That did the trick. Burgos then sat and accepted the inevitable.
Before the hood was placed on Burgos’ head, the executioner knelt before him and asked his forgiveness. Burgos blessed him saying, “I forgive you, my son. Perform your duty.”
So moved was the crowd that they too knelt on the ground and crossed themselves. Then when all were executed, a tension in the air caused some Spaniards to worry about a rebellion. They ran toward Intramuros for safety and a minor stampede occurred, leaving many injured. The commotion stopped when the governor-general emerged from Intramuros with trumpet fanfare, followed by soldiers who had been put on alert that morning expecting a rebellion.
"The Execution of Gomburza" by Ambeth Ocampo. Philippine Daily Inquirer: 02/18/2009
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