Father Burgos was born on February 9, 1837 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to a Spanish lieutenant, Don Jose Tiburcio Burgos, and a mestiza mother named Florencia Garcia. 
He studied at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the University of Santo Tomas where he became a student of Fr. Mariano Garcia. He obtained doctorate degrees in theology and canon law.