WHERE DID THE CRY OF REBELLION HAPPEN?

 The term “Cry” is translated from the Spanish el grito de rebellion (cry of rebellion) or el grito
for short.
 Strictly refers to a decision or call to revolt.
 In the Philippines, this happened in August 1896, northeast of Manila, where they declared
rebellion against the Spanish colonial government.
 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 an “Himno de Balintawak” to inspired the renewed struggle
afer 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 to 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 Valenzuela. 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.

Different Versions Of The Cry

-PIO Valenzuela’s Controversial “Cry of Pugadlawin”

- The “Cry of Bahay Toro”

-Gregoria De Jesus’ Version of the first ”Cry”

- The “Cry of Balintawak”

Source: Pio Valenzuela, “Cry of Pugad Lawin”, in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide, Documentary Sources
Of Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: National Book Store, 1990), 301-302.

 “Cry of Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by no other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela who happened to
be the eyewitness himself of the event.
 Born on July 11, 1869 in Polo, Bulacan,Valenzuela and was studying medicine in University of
Sto. Tomas when he joined Bonifacio’s Katipunan.
 In his first version, he told that the prime staging point of the Cry was in Balintawak on
Wednesday of August 26, 1896.
 On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his Memoirs of the
Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine Revolution and claimed
that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896.

{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… Afer 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.}
PIO VALENZUELA’S ACCOUNT

 August 21, 1896 – Bonifacio changed the alphabetical code of the Katipuneros to a numerical
one.
 500 members left Balintawak for Kangkong, where Apolonio Samson, a Katipunero gave them
food and shelter.
 August 22, 1896 – they proceeded to Pugadlawin
 August 23, 1896 – 1000 members of Katipunan met and carried out considerable debate and
discussion in Juan A. Ramos (son of Melchora Aquino) store-house and yard.
 Teodoro Plata – only one man who protested and fought against a war.
 After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted
“LONG LIVE THE PHILIPPINES”.

The “CRY OF BAHAY TORO”

 August 24, 1896 – date of the “Cry”

SANTIAGO ALVAREZ ACCOUNT

 SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1896- As early as 10 o’clock in the morning, at the barn of Kabesang
Melchora, at a place called Sampalukan, barrio of Bahay Toro, Katipuneros met together. About
500 of these arrived, ready and eager to join the “Supremo” Andres Bonifacio and his men…
 MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1896- There were about 1,000 Katipuneros…. The “Supremo” decided to
hold a meeting inside the big barn. Under his leadership, the meeting began at 10 o’clock in the
morning. It was 12 o’clock noon when the meeting adjourned amidst loud cries of “Long live the
sons of the Country” (Mabuhay ang mga anak ng Bayan)!

GREGORIA DE JESUS’ VERSION OF THE FIRST “CRY”

 August 25, 1896 – the first “Cry” happened near Caloocan

THE “CRY OF BALINTAWAK”

 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.
 This version is written by the Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay.
 An eyewitness of the historic event and a childhood friend of Bonifacio
 August 26, 1896 – the first rally of the Philippine Revolution in Balintawak
{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 al opposed to starting the revolution
too early… Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose in the discussion then, lef 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.”}

 Apolonio Samson – the cabeza of one of the barrio of Caloocan where the big meeting was held.
 He is also the owner of the house.

Leaders and Board of Directors of Katipunan

 Andres Bonifacio
 Emilio Jacinto
 Aguedo del Rosario
 Tomas Remigio
 Briccio Pantas
 Teodoro Plata
 Pio Valenzuela
 Enrique Pachew
 Francisco Carreon

At about 9:00 in the morning on August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres Bonifacio presiding
and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary.

Cedula Tax – the sign of slavery of the Filipinos.