Filipino Martyr: BONIFACIO S. OCTAVO

 BONIFACIO S. OCTAVO

Suspected Cavite Mutiny Leader

Bonifacio Octavo Y Samson was a Chinese mestizo. He was implicated by the Spanish

colonial authorities as one of the leaders of the Cavite Mutiny in 1872. He was a second sergeant of

the First Infantry Regiment in the fort of Cavite when he was tried for complicity in the rebellion.

The record of Octavo’s trial gives interesting details about the mutiny in January 1872. His

statement, although it sounds unbelievable, is important because he was a participant observer of

the event. It provides direct knowledge of the conspiracy angle of the revolt and how it was

hatched.

Octavo testified that he deserted in the early afternoon of January 20 and sailed to Cavite

Viejo, and then proceeded to Imus. He went back to Cavite Viejo and sailed to Bataan, where he

took refuge in the mountains and barrios until his capture in the second week of September. The

Spanish military court tried him for 10 days. He confessed that in November or December 1871, a

marine infantry corporal, Pedro Manonson, showed him a paper exhorting all the native troops to

rebel against the Spaniards. He met a certain sergeant Madrid, a clerk in the Cavite arsenal, and

Vicente Generoso, Francisco Saldua, an unnamed artillery corporal, another corporal of the marine

infantry, a retired sergeant, and many more in Manonson’s house on the main street of Cavite in

the afternoon of October 1871. Generoso presented to the group a piece of paper which listed an

estimate of forces ready for the rebellion. Octavo said that Saldua told the group that the forces

were for Fathers Burgos, Gomes, Zamora, and Guevara and other leaders who would direct the

rebellion.

Octavo was sentenced to serve 10 years imprisonment in Cartagena, Spain. He was also

ordered chained for life.

The record of his trial has not given incontestable proofs of guilt. The verdict of the

Spanish military tribunals was not based on authentic proofs.

The documents about his life and service to the Spanish government have been made

unavailable.

References:

Boncan, Celestina P. Remembering the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 Manila: Geronimo Berenguer de

Los Reyes, Jr. Foundation, Inc., 1995 A booklet, 14 pages.

Corpuz, O.D. The Roots of the Filipino Nation Volume 2. Quezon City: AKLAHI Foundation, Inc.,

1989.

Manuel, E. Arsenio. Dictionary of Philippine Biography Volume I. Quezon City: Filipiniana

Publications, 1955.

Montero, Jose y Vidal, Historia General de Filipinas Volume 3. Madrid, 1895.

Roces, Alfredo ed. Filipino Heritage: The Making of a Nation Volume 7. Lahing Pilipino

Publishing, Inc., 1978.

Zaide, Gregorio F. Documentary Sources of Philippine History Volume 7. Manila: National

Bookstore, Inc., 1990