Cry of Rebellion
Cry of Rebellion
The late nineteenth century was a period of revolution in the Philippines. During this era,
different movements and organizations were formed. One of the most notable groups who fought
against the Spaniards was the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan (KKK). The Katipunan was a revolutionary Filipino nationalist association founded by
Andres Bonifacio in 1892. They aimed to gain independence from the Spanish colonizers and
advocated violent and immediate measures against the Spaniards (Tucker, 2009).
The katipuneros worked in secrecy. However, the Spaniards discovered the organization
in August 19, 1896. Pedro Patiño, a katipunero, told his sister Honoria about the existence of their
revolutionary organization. Honoria was upset about this news and disclosed the information she
had to Mother Superior Sor Teresa de Jesus. She was the head of the orphanage in Mandaluyong
where Honoria was staying. One thing led to another and the news reached the Parish Priest of
Tondo, Father Mariano Gil. He then went to the location with several Spanish soldiers and
retrieved pieces of evidence that proved the existence of the Katipunan. Some katipuneros were
arrested (Paler, 2019). This sudden turn of events led to one of the most notable acts in Philippine
“Cry of Rebellion”. The term “Cry” was originally referred to the clash between the katipuneros
and the guardia civil. This momentous event happened on August 1896, northeast of Manila. It
was the turning point of standing up against the Spanish colonizers and overthrowing their regime.
However, controversies arise as to when and where this significant event took place. Teodoro
Agoncillo, considered one of the most important historians of our time and had been included in
the roster of the order of National Scientist in the Philippines by President Ferdinand E. Marcos
(GOVH, 2019), stated that the Cry started when Andres Bonifacio tore the community tax
certificates (cedula) before the katipuneros. On the other hand, others believed that it was when
Aguinaldo commissioned the “Himno de Balintawak” after the Pact of Biak-na-Bato failed.
A monument for the heroes of 1896 was built at the corner of Epifanio de los Santos
Avenue (EDSA) and in Bonifacio Drive-North diversion road. During that time until 1962 the cry
There are various sources who gave different dates and places regarding the Cry.
Lieutenant Olegario Diaz, a guardia civil, stated that it happened on August 25, 1896 in
Balintawak. Santiago Alvarez, a katipunero and the son of Mariano Alvarez, claimed that the Cry
happened on August 24, 1896 in Bahay Toro in Quezon City. Pio Valenzuela, another katipunero,
Filipino historians also have different claims. Teodoro Kalaw said that it happened on the
last week of August 1896 in Kangkong, Balintawak. Gregorio Zaide claimed it took place on
August 26, 1896 in Balintawak. On the other hand, Teodoro Agoncillo based his claims on Pio
Valenzuela’s statements. Milagros Guerrero, Manuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas claimed
that the event happened on August 24, 1896 in Tandang Sora’s barn located in Gulod, Barangay
Analysis of the Primary Sources of the “Cry of Rebellion” from the Perspectives of
There are two primary sources with different claims – Guillermo Masangkay and Pio
Valenzuela. They were both eye witnesses, but there is an obvious disagreement on their claims
Guillermo Masangkay was Andres Bonifacio’s friend and adviser. He was born on June
25, 1867 in Tondo, Manila. He was one of the first members of the Katipunan and had played a
key role on the Filipino-American War as revolutionary general (June, 2016). According to him,
the Cry took place on the 26th of August 1896. From then, the date and time stated by Guillermo
has been the official stance to when and where the even took place. He had testified that during
the event, a big meeting was conducted at the place of Apolonio Samson, cabeza of Balintawak,
Caloocan. Including Andres Bonifacio, important delegates had also attended the meeting. Emilio
Jacinto, Aguedo del Rsario, Tomas Regio, Briddio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique
Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They were the leaders of the Katipunan and Board Directors of
the organization. There were also delegates form Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and Morong.
The meeting was spearheaded by Andres Bonifacio and opened the discussion at about 9
o’clock in the morning while Emilio Jacinto acted as secretary. The primary agenda of the meeting
was the time of the uprising to be taken into action. Plata, Pantas, and Valenzuela opposed the
idea for it is too early for the rebellion for them. Amidst the discussion, Bonifacio went outside
and appealed to the people saying his speech, “You remember the fate of our country men who
were shot at Bagumbayan. Our organization has been discovered and we are marked men. If we
don’t start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway. What then you say?” The people
responded, “Revolt!”
Bonifacio asked the pledge of the people and told them that the sign of Spanish slavery to
Filipinos were the cedula. He said, “If it is true that you are ready to revolt, I want to see you
destroy your cedulas. It will be a sign that all of us have declared our severance from the
Spaniards.”
Pio Valenzuela was born on July 11, 1869. He was a Filipino physician and revolutionary
leader. He was the Vice-President of the Katipunan at the outbreak of the revolution and had been
In his statement, he stated several dates of the important events prior to the enactment of
the Cry. On August 19, 1896, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro
Plata and Aguedo del Rosario arrived at Balintawak. On August 20 of the same year, Pio
Valenzuela arrived on the place. On August 22, 1896, 500 katipuneros including Briccio Pantas,
Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others met at the house of Apolonio
Samson at Kangkong. On August 23, 1896, the debate to whether the uprising starts on August 29,
1896 or not was carried out in Pugad Lawin, in the yard of Juan Ramos, son of Malechora Aquino,
where 1000 katipuneros were gathered. After the meeting, many of those present had torn their
cedula and shouted, “Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!”
There is an inconsistency with Valenzuela’s claims. He once told a Spanish investigator
that the event took place in Balintawak on Wednesday, August 26, 1896. But later, declared that
it happened at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896 in his manuscript Memoirs of the Revolution.
Table 1. Shows comparison of the two primary sources of the “Cry of Rebellion.”
Author Guillermo Masangkay Pio Valenzuela
Title of the document The Cry of Balintawak The Cry of Pugad lawin
References:
Alporha, V. and Candelaria, J.L. (2018). Readings in Philippine history. Quezon City, Philippines:
Rex Book Store
Medina, M. (2016, June 24). Did you know: Guillermo Masangkay. Retrieved on October 14,
2019, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/792169/did-you-know-guillermo-masangkay
Official Gazette (2019). Teodoro A. Agoncillo. Retrieved on October 14, 2019, from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/teodoro-a-agoncillo/
Paler, J. (2019). The Philippine revolution: How katipunan became the catalyst. Retrieved on
October 16, 2019 from https://ideapod.com/how-katipunan-became-the-catalyst-that
-sparked-the-philippine-revolution/
Tucker, S. (2009). The encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars.
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC.