Background

 Pio Alejandrino Valenzuela was born in Polo,Bulacan.

 son of Francisco Valenzuela and Lorenza Alejandrino who
both came from wealthy families.
 The third eldest sibling of the Valenzuela Family: Agustina,
Severo and Tomas.
 His father came from a prominent family of gobernadorcillos
of Polo.
 After he was tutored at home, he was brought to Manila to
study at Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
 In 1888, he enrolled at University of Santo Tomas and
finished his Licenciado en Medicina in 1895.
 Practiced his profession in Manila and Bulacan.

Role in the KKK/Revolution

Valenzuela was studying medicine in University of Sto. Tomas when he joined Bonifacio’s Katipunan,a
movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the
Philippine Revolution. At that time, Katipunan was barely a week old. He was one of the original
members and was responsible to establish factions of the secret society in different parts of Morong or
Rizal Province and Bulacan.

Valenzuela took on the Katipunan publication, Kalayaan, which he started with Emilio Jacinto in 1894.

Valenzuela said he was the one who suggested Ang Kalayaan (Freedom)to be the name of the
propaganda organ and the name of Marcelo H. del Pilar to be printed as editor, with Yokohama, Japan
as the place of publication to mislead the Spanish authorities. Ang Kalayaan triggered the spread of
revolutionary consciousness of the people. Words of insurrection spread out that soon, many, even
skeptics from outlying provinces, were convinced that they were ready to join the quest for freedom.

He was tasked to smuggle arms for the Katipunan from Japan. He was was also with Bonifacio, Jacinto
and Procopio Bonifacio when they organized the Katipunan council in Cavite.

When the Katipunan was discovered, he fled to Balintawak on August 20, 1896, but he later availed of
an amnesty that the Spanish colonial government offered and he surrendered on September 1, 1896.

He was deported to Spain where he was tried and imprisoned in Madrid. He was later transferred to
Málaga, Barcelona and then to a Spanish outpost in Africa. He was incarcerated for about two years.

The version of Valenzuela on when and where did the “First Cry’ happened

When and how did he tell his version? Who were his audience or readers

In 1935, Pio Valenzuela, along with Briccio Pantas and Enrique Pacheco said (in English translation) "The
first Cry of the revolution did not happen in Balintawak where the monument is, but in a place called
Pugad Lawin."

Pio Valenzuela was one of the surviving witnesses of the Cry of Pugad Lawin and this was confirmed by
the list drawn up by Guillermo Masangkay (who himself was present).

Pio Valenzuela’s statements were not consistent about when and where the “First Cry”happened. On his
first statement, he mentioned that the “Katipunan meeting” happened between August 23 and 25 at
Balintawak. After 15 years he gave a second statement wherein he mentioned that the “cry” happened
on August 23 at the house of Apolinio Samson in Kankong, located at the south of Balintawak. Six years
later, he gave his third statement and brought up that the “cry” occurred at the house of Melchora
Aquino or who is also known as “Tandang Sora”, the place was at Pacpac-Lawin (Pacpac Lawin)which
was near Pasong Tamo on August 23. Pio Valenzuela was embedded about his statement for the date
which is August 23 but was uncertain on where the cry happened.

References:

 https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/this-patriot-celebrates-his-birthday-today-
a172920180711lfrm#:~:text=Pio%20Valenzuela%2C%20the%20Katipunero%20Who%20Wanted
%20to%20Bring%20in%20Jose%20Rizal&text=A%20friend%20of%20both%20Jose%20Rizal
%20and%20Andres%20Bonifacio%2C%20Dr.&text=Tomas%20when%20he%20joined
%20Bonifacio's,was%20barely%20a%20week%20old.
 http://gwhs-stg02.i.gov.ph/~s2govnccaph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/balintawak-the-cry-
for-a-nationwide-revolution/
 https://history-ph.blogspot.com/2017/08/pugad-lawin.html

 family, profession, education, date of birth and death

from ppt questions:

1. Describe his background: family education and profession.

2. What was his role(s) in the KKK/ Revolution?
3. In his version, when and where did the “First Cry’ happened? Was he a witness of this event?
4. When and how did he tell his version? Who were his audience or readers?