Cry of Balintawak

Controversy
Cry of Balintawak vs First Cry
Did Sigaw ng Pugad Lawing really happen in
Pugad Lawin?
Cry of Balintawak vs Cry of Pugad Lawin
vs Bahay Toro vs Kangkong vs Pasong
Tamo
When did it REALLY happen?
"Remains Unresolved up to this time"
Dr. Pio Valenzuela
Eyewitness On 1911, he averred that the meeting began on 22,
Second and later version of the first rally of the while the Cry took place on 23 at Apolonio
Katipunan Samson’s House in Balintawak
First version – Cry of Balintawak On 1928 to 1940 (La Opinion, 1928-1930) - Aug 24,
● Abandoned the revolutionary cause after its at the house of Tandang Sora at Pasong Tamo
outbreak – fled to Binan, Laguna for safety Road in Pugad Lawin
● Imprisoned in Fort Santiago after surrendering on On Memoirs of the Revolution:
September 3, 1896, he told the investigator that the cry ● Aug 19 1896 - First Five(Andres Bonifacio,
was staged at Balintawak on Wednesday, August 26, emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro
1896 Plata, Aguedo del Rosario) arrived on
Later, he wrote on his Memoirs of the Revolution that Balintawak
the Cry was held at Pugad lawin on August 23, 1896 ● Aug 20 - his arrival
Other Accounts: ● Aug 22 - 500 members met at the house of
As Cited on NCCA article (Guerero et al., 2003): Apolonio Samson at Kangkong, Caloocan
On Olive Court, 1896 – meetings on August 23 to 25 at ● Aug 23 - with over 1000 members at Pugad
Baintawak Lawin in the house, store house, and yard of
Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino
- Debate and discussion was carried out on whether or
not the revolution against the Spanish gov’t should be
started on Aug 29
- Teodoro Plata was the only one who protested and
fought against a war
- Tore their cedula certificate and shouted “Long live
the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!”
- Many prestigious historians repudiated this second
and later recollection except Teodoro Agoncillo in his
book, The Revolt of the Masses.
Santiago Alvarez Alvarez presents an account devoid of any dramatic
- He was not an eyewitness.
description as it is merely a narration of the events
- He was in Cavite.
that happened in Bahay Toro on August 24, 1896.
Santiago Alvarez's Account
● In 1927, a pre-World War II Tagalog weekly
The account:
● Sunday, August 23, 1896 - As early as 10 o'clock in
magazine named Sampaguita began publishing the
the morning, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora, at a
Katipunan memoirs of Gen. Santiago Virata Alvarez,
place called Sampalukan, barrio of Bahay Toro.
one of the leaders of the Cavite revolution. The series
About 500 Katipuneros arrived, ready and eager to
appeared in 36 parts. It told the story of the Philippine
join the "Supremo" Andres Bonifacio and his men.
Revolution starting in March 1896 until late 1897
interspersed with personal accounts and stories of
● Monday, August 24, 1896 - There were more
Katipuneros came and increased the number to more
events during the revolutiontaken from Alvarez's
than a thousand. The "Supremo" called a meeting at
notes. The series was later published as a book, titled
ten o'clock inside Cabesang Melchora's barn. It was
The Katipunan and the Revolution.
● The story of the First Cry is found in Chapter 6 of
12 o'clock noon when the meeting adjourned amidst
loud cries of "Long live the Sons of the Country!"
the memoirs. ·
(Mabuhay ang mga Anak ng Bayan)!
Gregoria De Jesus
● lakambini of katipunan ● the start of cry for freedom starts on august 15
● wife of supermo (andres bonifacio) 1896
● document keeper of katipunan ● when gregoria was on his parents he learns from
● base on her version intitled "cry" it says that the his friends that spaniards are comming to arrest her
first cry of balintawak happens near caloocan on ● at eleven oclock at night she fled to the rice field
august 25,1896 until la loma
● but no one accomodate her because every
● this was form his biography mga tala ng aking house that he go throgh has been severly pinished
buhay (manila,1932)on page 15 and some wre exiled
● when the movement of katipunan spreads and one of them was his uncle that she visited
through out the philiphines members of katipunan that night and later on died in excile
has been arested .
Guillermo Masangkay
● Said that the first cry happened in Balintawak on ● 9 o’clock in the morning, the board of directors
August 26,1896. held a meeting for the final date of uprising.
● This date is similar to what the government have ● Among those who attended, he remembered
consulted to the surviving katepuneros and prestigious Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario,
hirstorian at the time (early years of the American Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio
regime). Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco and Franciso
Role of Guillermo Masangkay Carreon as a board of directors of the
● Childhood friend of Bonifacio organization.
● Eyewitness of the historic event ● Teodora Plata, Briccio Pantas and Pio
● Founding member of Katipunan Valenzuela were all opposed to starting the
● A member who is guarding one of the passages in revolution too early due to lack of resources.
order to reach the meeting place of the katipuneros. ● Bonifacio went outside the hall and talked to the
In General Masangkay memoirs of the cry of people waiting outside. Asked the people to give
Balintawak. pledge that they were to revolt.
● The first cry of revolution happened in Balintawak, ● Cédulas were torn as a sign of severance against
at the house of Apolonio Samson, on August 26, 1896. the Spanish government.
Olegario Diaz BONIFACIO'S LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE
● Captain Diaz highlights Bonifacio's leadership
and persuasive abilities during the meeting.
Not eyewitness
INVESTIGATIVE ROLE OF CAPTAIN OLEGARIO DIAZ
● Bonifacio's role in shaping the decisions of the

● Captain Diaz is portrayed as the Spanish commander

Supreme Council and the Katipunan members
present.
of the Guardia Civil.
● It's crucial to scrutinize Diaz's motivations and
● Captain Diaz's portrayal of Bonifacio is neutral
or if there are indications of bias. The possibility
potential biases in presenting the investigation.
that Diaz might have sought to undermine or
DATE AND LOCATION OF THE CRY OF
downplay Bonifacio's role.
BALINTAWAK
● According to Captain Diaz's, the first Cry of
DECISION TO TAKE UP ARMS
Balintawak occurred on August 25, 1896, in the barrio of
Balintawak. This marks the beginning of the armed
● The report states that Bonifacio advocated
taking up arms immediately, a proposal that was
uprising against Spanish rule.
● they attacked the katipuneros on the 24th. Then on the
approved by an overwhelming majority.
● The internal dynamics of the Katipunan at this
25th, they held a meeting again with around 5000 in
point and the factors that may have contributed to
attendance who supported Bonifacio to pursue the
the members' willingness to engage in armed
revolution towards liberation.
conflict.
Historical Conext
●July 6, 1892, Arrest of Rizal before deportation to The term cry denotes many meanings that varies
Dapitan based on interpretation. “Some refer to it as the
●July 7, 1892, founding of Katipunan moment the katipuneros made a resolution or decision
●August 19, 1896, Spanish Government discovered to revolt. Others made an interpretation of the cry as
Katipunan the tearing of the cedula. For some, it was the first
● Bonifacio was immediately informed of the encounter between the Katipuneros and the Spanish
discovery by his spies. Civil Guards.” (NHCP, 2022)
● They left from Manila to Balintawak and The Cry’s is also regarded as the establishment of
Caloocan and instructed all leaders of Katipunan national insurgent government with Bonifacio as
be summoned to a general assembly. President or the birth of the Filipino Nation State.
(Guerero et al., 2003)
The Cry marked the beginning of the Philippine The constitution declared at Biak-na-bato(1897) stated
Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. that, in its introduction, the revolution started on the
The Venue and the exact date of the First Cry was 24th of August 1896.
a controversy. There were 5 different dates and 5
different Venues from different accounts.
Confusion arises because of the term cry.
First Cry Monument (1911) in Balintawak was
relocated in UP Diliman in 1968
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal via Proclamation No.
149, s. 1963, declared Aug 23 as celebration in
Quezon City of “Cry of Pugad Lawin”

Pres. Marcos Sr., Proclamation No. 1048, s. 1972,

Included Caloocan in the celebration
Key Personalities: Andres Bonifacio, Juan Ramos,
Melchora Aquino, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Emilio
Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata,
Aguedo del Rosario, Bricio Pantas, Enrique
Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Gen. Guillermo
Masangkay
Analysis
DR. PIO VALENZUELA

● Pío Valenzuela y Alejandrino ● Joined at the Katipunan in the age of 22.

● Born on July 11, 1869 in Polo, Bulacan (present day ● Became the Surgeon General of the movement.
Valenzuela City) ● Close friend of Bonifacio
● Died on April 6, 1956 ● In Sept. 6, 1899, became Municipal President of
● Married with Marciana Castro and had 7 children. Polo while in prison.
● His first schooling was in his home. ● Became the District Health Officer in 1917
● In 1880 he learned Latin and Spanish from Telesforo ● Governor of Bulacan in 1921
Evangelista in Quingua. ● Head member of Veteranos dela Revolucion,
● In 1884 he went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran. January 18, 1923.
● In 1888 he enrolled for Medicine at the University of
Sto. Tomas.
SANTIAGO ALVAREZ

● Santiago Alvarez y Virata ● Took up law at the Liceo de Manila.

● Born on July 25, 1872 at Noveleta, Cavite ● Became the directorate president of the
● Died on October 30, 1930 in San Pablo City. Nacionalista Party.
● Became the author of Katipunan and the
● Only child of General Mariano Alvarez and Revolution Memoirs of a General.
Nocolasa Virata.
● Known as Gen. Apoy or kidlat ng Apoy ● Attended the event in Tejeros Convention on
● Hero of Battle of Dalahican. March 23, 1879.
● In 1902, he presided over the Great Council of
● Studied Tutelage of Antonio Dacon at Imus the Peace Commission
Cavite, and then transferred to Tondo.
● Entered at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST),
and later on transferred to San Juan De Letran to
finish his Bachelor of Arts Degree.
GREGORIA DE JESUS

● Gregoria de Jesus y Alvarez ● Founder and Vice President of women's chapter

● Also known as Oriang of the Katipunan.
● Born on May 9, 1875 in Caloocan ● Custodian of the documents and seal of the
● Died on March 15, 1945 Katipunan.
● Married to Gat. Andres Bonifacio ● Lakambini of the Katipunan
● A brave and patriotic woman who played a ● She also sewed the first flag of the Katipunan
heroic role in the Philippine Revolution. alongside Benita Javier.
● Attended the local public elementary school and
finished the first grades of instruction.
● 1st Filipino woman joined in Katipunan.
GUILLERMO MASANGKAY

● Guillermo Masangkay y Rafael ● He was also a General in the Philippines-American

● Born on June 25, 1867 in Tondo, Manila War.
● Died on May 30, 1963 ● Joined that underground society when he was only
● Wife of Romana Noriel and had 12 children 17
● A bangkero, or boatman, also he became fluent in ● His competence was demonstrated in the
Spanish and deeply aware of the political and social memorable battle against the American forces on
conditions Zapote Bridge in Las Piñas Rizal.
● Friend and adviser of Andres Bonifacio.
● Was the Supremo’s personal counselor.
● First member of Katipunan
● No formal education
CAPTAIN OLEGARIO DIAZ

● Spanish commander of the Guardia Civil

Veterana of Manila.

● Investigated the discovery of the

Katipunan
Position on how reliable
Pio Valenzuela’s account: Santiago Alvarez’s account:
Ø Although he is eyewitness, his statements were Ø He is not eyewitness so his accounts are of lesser
inconsistent. weight.
Ø His accounts were supported by some attendees Ø He says that he based his accounts on records
of the assembly. (Pantas and Pacheco) entrusted to him by Katipunan’s first Leaders
Ø His accounts were repudiated by many particular to Ramon Bernardo of
acclaimed historians(e.g. Guerrero et al., Zaide, Pandacan(participant).
Schrumacher) but Agoncillo which has great
influence.
Ø His fading memory makes his memoirs of less
credence.
Gregoria de Jesus’ biography: General Guillermo Masangkay’s memoirs:
Ø She is not also present and on the run during the Ø He is an eyewitness and his accounts are in line
event. On her account, the cry is not given enough with the first version of Valenzuela’s. His claims are
detail and not in focus but her journey that took corroborated by many eyewitnesses who were
off during the events of the Cry. photographed in 1917, when the earliest 23 August
Ø Although not directly, she supported the claim on marker was installed.
24th based on a photograph of La Opinion(1928) Ø As per Jim Richardson’s Notes on the “Cry” of
resulting in inconsistency. August 1896 (Rev. Nov. 2023), Masangkay gave
inconsistent accounts which involves different
Captain Olegario Diaz’s Report: dates( 23, 24, 26) but remains that the “decision”
Ø He is not involved in Katipunan and did not happened in Kangkong in Balintawak.
directly witness the event. His report is based on
their own investigations and some details are not in
line with established data.
Group’s Position
When did the Cry happened?
August 24, 1896
Whether the Cry is pertaining to the decision of armed revolution, the tearing of cedula, or the first encounter
(battle), sources supports that all of this has happened on this date.
Guerrero et al. (2003) refers to it as the birth of Filipino nation state.
Official documents and written evidences also backed this up (Emilio Jacinto’s Borador, Biak-na-Bato
Constitution(1897), etc.) as cited by Richarson(2023) on his notes.(*on decision)
Bonifacios’ letter to Aguinaldo also stated this date. (*decision)
The first marker of the Cry(1903) erected in Tondo mentioned this date as the first battle Cry
against tyranny.
Richarson(2023) wrote that Valenzuela’s claim on the tearing of cedulas being on 23rd is wrong
because the leading revolutionists just left Kangkong early on 24th . He suggested that there could
be different days of the tearing.
On 24th also, based on Diaz, an encounter happened between the Katipuneros and Guardia Civil.
-Although we give more weighing on the position that the Cry pertains to the decision to start the revolution,
it is noteworthy that based on the above-mentioned sources, the three interpretations of the cry falls on this
date.
Where did the Cry take place?
Balintawak
Pugad Lawin is not on any map before Second World War. Appeared only in historiography in 1928.
(Guerrero et al.2003)
While Isagani Medina(1993) claims that Pugad Lawin is in Bahay Toro which still stands today, his evidences
failed to prove it.(Richardson, 2023)
Many veterans agreed that it happened in a place called Kangkong, but it is never seen on historic maps
appearing in that years although mentioned in some revolutionary sources.(Guerrero)
These places are within the boundary of Balintawak that was used to be the shorthand for general area to
the east of Caloocan población. (Geurrero et al., 2003, & Richardson, 2023)
-Based on the above sources, it is more accurate for it to be in Balintawak.
Other sources that cited Balintawak: Masangkay(1932), Diaz(1896), Zaide(1990), Aguinaldo(1964, 1948
*unpublished)