First Cry of the Philippine Revolution:

Balintawak (not Pugad-lawin)

Position Paper

During Spanish colonization, there are many rebellions emerges in every places of the
Philippines that shakes the feet of the Spaniards. And one of the leading group is the KKK
(Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan ) or known as the
Katipunan. The Katipunan takes the lead to fight for freedom and independence against the
spanish regime. Because of the unity among the Filipinos, the revolution begins. But when was
the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution started and where thus it took place? These are some
confidential questions raised to Philippine history by many historians. Originally the term cry
referred to the first clash between the Katipuneros and the Civil Guards (Guardia Civil). The cry
could also refer to the tearing up of community tax certificates (c¨¦dulas personales) in defiance of
their allegiance to Spain. The inscriptions of "Viva la Independencia Filipina" can also be referred
as term for the cry. This was literally accompanied by patriotic shouts. These definitions of cry is
also an important key factor in determining where thus the said event happened.There are
accounts telling us where the cry begins. Many historians claims that it was in Balintawak but
some argues it was in Pugad-lawin and some other places. But we strongly agree that the first cry
of the Philippine Revolution took place in Balintawak. The account was written by the last
katipunero of Tondo Guillermo Masangkay.

Guillermo Masangkay is a friend and adviser of the Supremo Andres Bonifacio. He was one of
the first member of the Katipunan. Masangkay said on his account that on August 26, 1896 the
Supremo calls for a meeting to all katipuneros to discuss the early uprising of revolt on August
29, 1896 against the Spanish colonizers. Lt. Olegario Diaz (officer of Spanish guardia civil)
stated on his acount that the cry happened in Balintawak on the 25th of August 1896. In the 1925
book of Teodoro Kalaw entitled "The Filipino Revolution", it was stated there that said event took
place in Kangkong, Balintawak during the last week of August 1896. Historian Gregorio Zaide
stated in his books in 1954 that the "Cry" happened in Balintawak on August 26, 1896. The
Masangkay's version of cry corroborated with these sources coming from these personas.
Masangkay stated that the first clash of the katipuneros and the civil guards was on August 26,
1896 and it was favored that the "first clash" is the definite definition of the term cry. Meanwhile,
during the meeting of the Supremo Andres Bonifacio with his fellow men regarding the
revolution, three leaders were against the early uprising such as Pio Valenzuela, Teodoro Plata
and Briccio Pantas. Surprisingly these persona has their own version of the cry. They said the
event happened in Pugad-lawin. But there is no consistency on their claims. Valenzuela's 1896
court statements did not coincide with his memoirs (which he writes years after the investigation
of the controversial issue in Philippine history). During the 1896 hearing, Valenzuela lied for how
many times in the court and later on claimed that he did. These are some inconsistent (volatile)
statements made by Valenzuela in 1896 hearings: ¹He claimed that attack of civil guards was on
August 25 and later on he corrected it into August 26, 1896. ² The first version of his escape from
Balintawak which he told the court was that he left with two guides on the night of 25th August
1896, proceeded to Manila via Sampaloc, then to Quiapo, where he took a steamer at the Ayala
Bridge for Biñang. Afterwards, he supposedly returned to Manila from that town after having
been informed of the amnesty proclamation of Gov. Ramon Blanco and surrendered to authorities
on September 1, 1896. And within days before the same court, Valenzuela corrected himself that
he left Balintawak on the night of 25 August 1896 on instructions from Bonifacio, that he
proceeded to Montalban to encourage its residents to rise up in arm. It was also proven by the
court that Valenzuela joined the Katipunan around March 1894 after ³claiming that he joined on
July 1892 (1917 court hearing). ⁴He reverted to his original claim that the encounter with the
civil guards was on August 25 and made story about it. On the other hand, Guillermo Masangkay
exposed to the public that Pantas and Valenzuela has already fled away in order to surrender to
Spaniards before the attack of the civil guards. Masangkay questioned Valenzuela regarding his
(Valenzuela's) version considering the fact that he didn't witness the tearing of the cedula and the
clash with the civil guard, or simply the "Supreme Cry". The behavior shown by Valenzuela in
the court affects the credibility of his testimonies. His statement cannot be trusted due to his
constant act of lying in front of the public. Therefore the version of the Cry of Pugad-lawin is not
the absolute fact of what happened during the cry of revolution. But some historian still believe in
Valenzuela's version. Historian Teodoro Agoncillo strongly believe on what Valenzuela said on
his memoir without considering on how Valenzuela behave during the court hearing. Agoncillo
denied the usefulness and compatibility of the 1896 court statements. For him the memoirs of
Valenzuela is the better source for this issue. It is seen that Agoncillo become biased because he
used one source to his findings. Agoncillo defines the cry as the tearing of cedula.

The First Cry of Philippine Revolution is really important matter that we need give our
attention. We must be careful on how we deal with this issue. How can we believe on the
statements of someone wherein he cannot make strong testimonies. Why do we disregard the
court investigation wherein it went well and proven that the other side has a lot of false
declaration. The 1986 court hearing shows that Masangkay's version of the cry which is "The
First Cry of Philippine Revolution was in Balintawak" is really the absolute fact that should be
written in the Philippine History and not the other one.