The Cry of Rebellion

Case Study 4: Where did the Cry of Rebellion Happen?
Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late nineteenth century, including
the Philippines. Journalists of the time referred to the phrase "El Grito de Rebellion" or "Cry of
Rebellion" to mark the start of these revolutionary events, identifying the places where it
happened. In the Philippines, this happened in August 1896, northeast of Manila, wher they
declared rebellion against the Spanish colonial government. These events are important markers
in the history of colonies that struggled for their independence against their colonizers.
The controversy regarding this event stems from the identification of the date and place
where the Cry happened. Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncilo emphasizes the event
when Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the Katipuneros who also did the same. Some
writers identified the first military event with the Spaniards as the moment of the Cry, for which,
Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned a "Himno de Balintawak" to inspire the renewed struggle after the
Pact of the Biak-na-Bato failed. A monument to the Heroes of 1896 was erected in what is now
the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue and Andres Bonifacio Drive-North
Diversion road, and from then on until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was celebrated every 26th of
August. The site of the monument was chosen for an unknown reason.
Different Dates and Places of the Cry
Various accounts of the Cry give different dates and places. A guardia civil, Lt. Olegario
Diaz, identified the Cry to have happened in Balintawak on 25 August 1896.Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino
historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896.
Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang faction in
Cavite, put the Cry in Bahay Toro in Quezon City on 24 August 1896. Pio Valenzuela, known
Katipunero and privy too many events concerning the Katipunan stated that the Cry happened in
Pugad Lawin on 23 August 18. Historian Gregorio Zaide identified the Cry to have happened in
Balintawak on 26 August 1896, while Teodoro Agoncillo put it at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896,
according to statements by Pio Valenzuel. Research by historians Milagros Guerrero, Emmanuel
Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas claimed that the event took place in Tandang Sora's barn in
Gulod, Barangay Banlat, Quezon City, on 24 August 1896.
Primary Sourc: Accounts of the Cry
Guillermo Masangkay
Source: Guillermo Masangkay, "Cry of Balintawak" in Gregorio Zaide and Zonia Zaide,
Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: National Book Store, 1990), 307-
309.
On August 26th, a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio Samson,
then cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remegio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela,
Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They were all leaders of the Katipunan and composed
the board of directors of the organization. Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and
Morong were also present.
At about nine o'clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres
Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary. The purpose was to discuss when the
uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Pio Valenzuela were as opposed to
starting the revolution too early... Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose in the discussion
then, left the session hall and talked to the people, who were waiting outside for the result of the
meeting of the leaders. He told the people that the leaders were arguing against starting the
revolution early, and appealed to them in a fiery speech in which he said: "You remember the fate
of our countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return now to the towns, the
Spaniards will only shoot us? Our organization has been discovered and we are all marked men. If
we don't start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway. What then, do you say?"
"Revolt" the people shouted as one.
Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge that they were to revolt. He told them that the
sign of slavery of the Filipinos were (sic) the cedula tax charged each citizen. "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
Source: Pio Valenzuela, "Cry of Pugad Lawin", in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide, Documentary
Sources of Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: Natinal Book Store, 1990), 301-302.
The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro
Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and myself was Balintawak, the first five arriving there on August 19,
and I, on August 20, 1896. The first place where some 500 members of the Katipunan met on
August 22, 1896, was the house and yard of Apolonio Samson at Kangkong. Aside from the persons
mentioned above, among those who were there was Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon
Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others. Here, views were only exchanged, and no resolution was
debated or adopted. It was at Pugad Lawin, the house, store-house, and yard of Juan Ramos, son
of Melchora Aquino, where over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met and carried out
considerable debate and discussion on August 23, 1896. The discussion was on whether or not the
revolution against the Spanish government should be started on August 29, 1896... After the
tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted “Long live
the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!
From the eyewitness accounts presented, there is indeed marked disagreement among historical
witnesses as to the place and time of the occurrence of the Cry. Using primary and secondary
sources, four places have been identified: Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin, and Bahay Toro,
while the dates vary: 23, 24, 25, or 26 August 1896.
Valenzuela's account should be read with caution: He once told a Spanish investigator that the
"Cry" happened in Balintawak on Wednesday, 26 August 1896. Much later, he wrote in his
Memoirs of the Revolution that it happened at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896. Such
inconsistencies in accounts should always be seen as a red flag when dealing with primary sources.
According to Guerrero, Encarnacion, and Villegas, all these places are in Balintawak, then part of
Caloocan, now in Quezon City. As for the dates, Bonifacio and his troops may have been moving
from one place to another to avoid being located by the Spanish government, which could explain
why there are several accounts of the Cry.

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Case Study 4: Where did the Cry of Rebellion Happen?

Different Dates and Places of the Cry

Primary Sourc: Accounts of the Cry

"Revolt" the people shouted as one.

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