Lesson 3: The Views on the Date and Site of “The First Cry of the Revolution”

The primary sources 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of Unit 3 are accounts pertaining to the first cry for
freedom that has either took place in Bahay Toro, Pugad Lawin or Biyak na Bato. The sources present
different versions that would give light to, not only where such first cry took place, but equally
important is to the realization of the struggle of the men and women of the Katipunan and their resolve
to put an end to oppression and injustice. The sources also highlight the primary contribution of the
hero and revolutionary leader Supremo Andres Bonifacio of starting the fight against the Spanish
colonial masters.

3.8. Pio Valenzuela, Cry of Pugadlawin, (Zaide 8, pp.301-302)

3.9. Santiago Alvarez, Cry of Bahay Toro, (Zaide 8, p. 303)
3.10. Gregoria de Jesus, Version of the First Cry, (Zaide 8, p. 305)
3.11. The Guardia Civil’s Report on the Cry of Balintawak (Zaide 8, p. 306)
3.12. Guillermo Masangkay, Cry of Balintawak, (Zaide 8, pp. 307)

3.8. Pio Valenzuela, Cry of Pugadlawin, (Zaide 8, pp.301-302)

TEXT: The version according to Katipunan leader Pio Valenzuela. Pio Valenzuela The narrative
includes an introduction, in the first paragraph, of the author from where the primary source is
taken.

Pio Valenzuela’s Controversial

“Cry of Pugad Lawin”
(August 23, 1896)

The controversial “Cry of Pugad Lawin,” which has been confirmed by no other eyewitness of the
event than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, is the second and later version of the first rally of the Katipunan by Dr.
Valenzuela himself. The first version which he gave told of the “Cry of Balintawak” as the first staging
point of the Philippine Revolution. He related the first version, when events were still fresh in his memory
and as he abandoned the revolutionary cause after its outbreak and fled to Biñan, Laguna, for safety.
Taking advantage of Governor General Ramon Blanco’s proclamation of amnesty to the revolutionists,
Valenzuela returned to Manila on September 3, 1896, and surrendered to Blanco. He was imprisoned to
Fort Santiago, where, upon investigation, he told Fransisco Olive, the Spanish investigator, that the “Cry”
was staged at “Balintawak on Wednesday, August 26, 1896.”1 However, much later, Dr. Valenzuela, with
a fading memory and without consulting the written documents of the Philippine Revolution, wrote his
Memoirs of the Revolution. In his memoirs, he claims that the “Cry” was held at Pugad lawin on August
23, 1896, as follows.*

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 were 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, in 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. Only one man protested and fought against the war, and that was
Teodoro Plata *Bonifacio’s brother-in-law — Z.] Besides the persons named above, among those present
at this meeting were Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas Remigio, Sinforoso San Pedro, and
others. After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted
“Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!” 3
 3.9. Santiago Alvarez, Cry of Bahay Toro, (Zaide 8, pp. 303)

TEXT: The version according to General Santiago Alvarez. General Alvarez was a Katipunero, a
member of the Magdiwang faction where Mariano Alvarez, his father, served as President.
The narrative includes an introduction, in the first paragraph, by the author from where the
primary source is taken.

The “Cry of Bahay Toro”

(August 24, 1896)

By Santiago Alvarez

Another version if the “Cry” which launched the Philippine Revolution, is that written by Santiago
Alvarez, a prominent Katipunan warlord of Cavite, son of Mariano Alvarez, and relative of Gregoria de
Jesus (wife of Andres Bonifacio). Unlike Masangkay, Samson and Valenzuela, Alvarez was not an
eyewitness of the historic event. Hence, his version cannot be accepted as equal in weight to that given
by actual participants of the event. Although Alvarez was in Cavite at the time, this is his version of the
first “Cry” as follows:*

Sunday, August 23, 1896

As early as 10 o’clock in the morning, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora *Melchora Aquino — Z.],
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)!

3.10. Gregoria de Jesus, Version of the First Cry, (Zaide 8, pp. 305)

TEXT: The version according to Gregoria de Jesus, Katipunan leader and wife of Supremo Andres
Bonifacio . The narrative includes the introduction, in the first paragraph, by Gregorio Zaide,
the author of the book from where the primary source is taken.
Gregoria de Jesus’ Version
Of the First “Cry”
(August 25, 1896)

One of the participants in the drama of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 was Gregoria de Jesus,
the wife of Supremo Andres Bonifacio, and the “Lakambini of the Katipunan”. She was the custodian of
the secret documents, seal, and some weapons of the Katipunan, and constantly risked her life in
safeguarding them. After the outbreak of the Revolution in August, 1896, she went to live with her
parents in Caloocan, while Bonifacio and his men gathered in the hills of Balintawak for the war of
liberation. When warned that the Spanish authorities were coming to arrest her, she fled to Manila and
later joined her husband in the mountains and shared the hardships and sacrifices of a patriot’s life with
him. According to her version of the First “Cry,” it occurred near Caloocan on August 25, 1896, as
follows:*

The activities of the Katipunan had reached nearly all corners of the Philippine Archipelago, so
that when its existence was discovered and some of the members arrested, we immediately returned to
Caloocan. However, as we were closely watched by the agents of the Spanish authorities, Andres
Bonifacio and other katipuneros left the town after some days. It was then that the uprising began, with
the first cry for freedom on August 25, 1896. Meanwhile, I was with my parents. Through my friends, I
learned that the Spanish were coming to arrest me. Immediately, I fled town at eleven o’clock at night,
secretly going through the rice fields to La Loma, with the intention of returning to Manila. I was treated
like an apparition for, sad to say, in every house where I tried to get a little rest, I was driven away as if
the people therein were frightened for their own lives. Later, I found out that the occupants of the houses
which I had visited were seized and severely punished — and some even exiled. One of them was an
uncle of mine whom I had visited on that night to kiss hand, and he died in exile.

3.11. The Guardia Civil’s Report on the Cry of Balintawak, (Zaide 8, p. 306)

TEXT: The version according to the Guardia Civil’s Report. The narrative includes an introduction, in
the first paragraph, by the author from where this primary source is taken.

The Guardia Civil’s Report on the

“Cry of Balintawak”
(August 25, 1896)

It is interesting to note that Captain Olegario Diaz, Spanish commander of the Guardia Civil
Veterana of Manila, who investigated the discovery of the Katipunan, also included in his official report
findings on the site and date of the first rally of the Revolution. According to his report, the first “Cry”
occurred at Balintawak on August 25, 1896, as follows:”*

The conspiracy having been discovered, Bonifacio and his followers hurriedly fled to the nearby
town of Caloocan . . . . On the 23rd [of August, 1896 — Z.] Bonifacio moved to the barrio of Balintanac
[Balintawak — Z.] Followed by 200 men from Caloocan; on the 24th they were attacked by the Guardia
Civil in the outskirts of the said town and they retreated to their hiding places.

The Supreme Council called for a big meeting to be held the following day [August 25 — Z.] in the
above mentioned barrio [Balintawak — Z.]. More than 5,000 members attended. The meeting began
with a discussion of what course should be taken in the face of the new situation and in the view if the
arrests that were being made. There were some who were disposed to go back and surrender to the
Spanish authorities. Bonifacio was strongly opposed to such a course. He was taking up arms at once.
Put to a vote, Bonifacio’s proposal was approved by an overwhelming majority. See how strong an
influence he wields!

Orders were immediately sent out to Manila, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and other provinces for the
Katipuneros to strike at dawn on Sunday, August 30th.

3.12. Guillermo Masangkay, “The Cry of Balintawak,” (Zaide 8, p. 307)

TEXT: The version according to the Guardia Civil’s Report. The narrative includes an introduction, in
the first paragraph, by the author from where this primary source is taken.
 The historic first rally of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 occurred at the rustic barrio of
Balintawak, a few kilometers north of the city of Manila, on August 26, 1896, according to this
eyewitness account by Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay, Bonifacio’s childhood friend.
Similarly, this date and site were officially adopted by the government during the early years of the
American regime, after having consulted the surviving katipuneros and prestigious historians at the
time. A monument depicting the event was erected near the site, financed by funds donated by the
people, and was inaugurated on September 3, 1911. In his memoirs, General Masangkay recounts the
“Cry of Balintawak,” as follows.*

On August 26th [1896 — Z], a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio
Samson, then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantes, 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 (now Rizal), were also present.