Create a table summarizing the version/ statements of the Katipunero witnesses regarding
the site of the first cry.
Name of the Katipunero Site of the first Cry Date of the first Cry according
to the witness
1. Santiago Alvarez The "Cry of Bahay Toro” August 23, 1896 the
Katipuneros met at the barn of
Kabesang Melchora Aquino. In
the village of Bahay Toro in a
spot called Sampalukan.
August 24, 1896 there were
approximately 1,000
kapituneros on the area. The
"Supremo" chose to have their
meeting in the large barn. The
meeting began at 10 o'clock in
the morning under his
leadership. The assembly was
adjourned at 12 o'clock
midday following cries of
"Long live the sons of the
country!" (Mabuhay ang mga
anak ng bayan).
2. Gregoria de Jesus Version of the First "Cry” Gregoria de Jesus was the wife
of Supremo Andres Bonifacio,
who played a role in the
Philippine Revolution of 1896.
She was the protector of the
Katipunan's secret documents,
seal, and weaponry. According
to her narrative, the first "Cry"
occurred on August 25, 1896,
at Caloocan. The revolt began
on August 25, 1896, with the
first cry for independence. As
stated in the Katipunan's
operations had spread to
practically every part of the
Philippine Archipelago, so
when its existence was
revealed and some of its
members were jailed, we
returned to Caloocan right
once. But, because we were
being closely observed by
Spanish officials, Andres
Bonifacio and the others
departed town after a few
days. I escaped town at eleven
o'clock at night, sneaking
across the rice fields to La
Loma and planning to return
to Manila.
3. Captain Olegario Diaz The Guardia Cavil’s Report on The Spanish commander of
the "Cry of Balintawak" Manila's Guardia Civil
Veterana, Captain Olegario
Diaz, who investigated the
discovery of the Katipunan
(see Document 371), included
findings on the site and date of
the Revolution's first raily in
his official report. The first
"Cry" occurred on August 25,
1896, near Balintawak,
according to his account.
Bonifacio and his companions
fled to the adjacent town of
Caloocan once the scheme was
discovered. Bonifacio and 200
men from Caloocan traveled to
the neighborhood of
Balintanac (Balintawak Z.) on
the 24th; on the borders of the
said town, they were assaulted
by the Guardia Civil, and they
fled to their hiding spots. The
Supreme Council convened a
large meeting for August 25 Z
the following day. More than
5,000 people gathered in the
above-mentioned
neighborhood of Balintawak -
Z. Some were willing to return
to Spain and surrender to the
Spanish authorities. Bonifacio
was adamantly opposed to this
and advocated for taking up
weapons right away. Orders
were immediately issued for
the Katipuneros to strike at
daybreak on Sunday, August
30th, in Manila, Cavite, Nueva
Ecija, and other provinces.
4. Guillermo Masangkay The "Cry of Balintawak'" According to this eyewitness
account of Katipunan General
Guillermo Masangkay,
Bonifacio's boyhood buddy,
the historic first rally of the
Philippine Revolution of 1896
took place on August 26, 1896
in the rural district of
Balintawak, a few kilometers
north of the metropolis of
Manila. Similarly. After
consulting with surviving
Katipuneros and famous
historians at the time, the
administration officially
selected this date and location
during the early years of the
American dictatorship. General
Masangkay describes the "Cry
of Balintawak" as follows in his
memoirs: A large conference
was convened in Balintawak
on August 26th, 1896 -Z.
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto,
Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas
Remigio, Teodoro Plata, Pio
Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco,
and Francisco Carreon were
among those who attended.
Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite,
and Morong delegates were
also in attendance.
5. Don Vicente Samson Another Eyewitness Account According to Don Vicente
of the "Cry of Balintawak" Samson, a Balintawak native,
General Masangkay's rendition
of the first "Cry" was true and
credible. Don Vicente, a 12-
year-old youngster at the time,
observed the occurrence with
his Katipuneros father and
elder brother. He also recalled
the revolution's first battle,
which took place in the
afternoon of the same day,
August 26, 1896. The following
was his corroborative
rendition of the "Cry of
Balintawak": Don Samson is
one of the few people who
survived the 1896 "Cry of
Balintawak" and observed the
first clash between the
Katipuneros and the Spaniards,
which signaled the
commencement of the
Philippine revolution. The old
guy stated that he was 12
years old at the time of the
incident, but that it is still fresh
in his recollection since he
wrote down the date. Don
Vicente Samson recalls that
everybody in Balintawak knew
that something was afoot as
Katipunan leaders and
members started converging
at the house of Apolonio
Samson in Bo. Kangkong a few
days before August 26. Don
Vicente saw Bonifacio stood
up on a platform and delivered
a short speech. He said it was
the prevailing sentiment that
the revolution would start
right away, but there were
some objections from some
members and these caused
verbal clashes. Shortly
however, It was agreed that
the revolution would start on
August 29. In the morning of
August 26, the discussion on
the revolution became more
intense and heated than usual.
1. State YOUR conclusion on the topic discussed.
2. Indicate which version do you think is more credible/ possible and Why?
3. What did you learn/ contribution to your understanding on this specific event in Philippine
History?
