Philippine E-Journals

Father Jose Burgos: A Man for the Troubled Seventies?

Marcelino A. Foronda Jr.

Discipline: Social Science, History

 

Abstract:

When Father Jose Burgos ascended the scaffold, and calmly faced his executioner, did he perhaps realize that in death he would inspire generations of Filipinos, including Rizal and Bonifacio, who looked up to him as a martyr and, therefore, as one who merits the accolade of national hero from his grateful countrymen? Yet to be truthful about it, Burgos and his two co-martyrs Gomez and Zamora, have become vague shadows in some distant past, phantoms who by their martyrdom still haunt the racial memory at least during their death anniversary. Indeed, in this materialistic age many have raised questions as to whether or not priests - and Burgos, Gomez and Zamora were men of the cloth - are still relevant to this time and age.