ACTIVITY 2: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY (MIDTERM)

“HISTORIAN AT WORK”

NAME: Rashella Mae Morales COURSE: BSA-1

Research and pick 1 controversy on Philippine history. Give the background information (put
pictures) Analyze the facts and give your opinion on the subject being discussed.

“THE CRY OF REBELLION CONTROVERSY”

BACKGROUND:
The “Cry of Rebellion” marks the start of the revolutionary events that swept the Spanish
colonies in the late 19th century. This happens in August 1896, northeast of Manila. The
controversy regarding this event stems from the identification of the date and place where the
cry happened. Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo emphasizes the event when
Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before Katipuneros who also did the same. Some
writers identified the first military events with the Spaniards as the moment of the Cry, for
which, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned an “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 until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was
celebrated every 26th of August. The site of the monument was chosen for an unknown reason.
Various accounts say different places and dates of the Cry some of them were considered as
Secondary Sources, but two Accounts considered as the most credible among the others, and
they are the account of Guillermo Masangkay and Pio Valenzuela considered as a primary
source. According to Guillermo Masangkay’s Account on August 26, 1896, A big meeting was
held at Antonio Samson, Cabeza of Balintawak in Caloocan. Present were Andres Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio
Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon: all leaders of Katipunan and Board of
Directors of the organization. Also present are delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and
Morong. The meeting was opened by Bonifacio at 9 a.m. while Jacinto act as a secretary with
the agenda of when the uprising would take place. Plata, Pantas, and Valenzuela opposed the
idea for it is too early for the rebellion for them. Bonifacio went out sensing he would lose the
discussion. Bonifacio delivered his speech then people responded shouting: “You remember the
fate of our countrymen who were shot at Bagumbayan. Our organization has been discovered
and we have marked men. If we don’t start the uprising the Spaniards will get us anyway. What
then you say?” “Revolt!” Bonifacio asked the people’s pledge and told them that the sign of
Spanish slavery to Filipinos was the cedula. “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”. While According to the Account of Pio Valenzuela’s, On August 19, 1896, Andres
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, and Aguedo del Rosario arrived at
Balintawak.While on August 20, 1896, Pio Valenzuela arrived at that place. On August 22, 1896,
the first place where some 500 Katipuneros met was the house of Apolonio Samson at
Kangkong. Also present were Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio
Samson, and others. On August 23, 1896, the debate as to whether the revolution started on
August 29, 1896, or not was carried out in Pugad Lawin, in the yard of Juan Ramos, son of
Melchora Aquino, where 1000 Katipuneros were gathered. After the turbulent meeting, many
of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted: “Long live the Philippines! … Long
live the Philippines!” This has been taking up for a long time but still, this issue has never been
resolved because of the various account and various perspectives of the historians.

FACTS:
1. The Philippine Revolution against over 300 years of Spanish rule began with Andrés
Bonifacio, leader of the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary society that sought
independence for the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule. In August 1896, in the sitio
of Pugad Lawin in Balintawak, now part of Quezon City, the Katipuneros led by Andrés
Bonifacio rose in revolt by tearing up their “cedulas” which became a sign of
enslavement of the Filipinos.

2. 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 until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was celebrated every 26 th of August.

3. The “First Cry” monument was relocated from its original site in Balintawak to the
University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City in 1968 or 53 years
ago.
OPINION:

In my opinion, the Various account that was being discussed in the controversy of the cry of
rebellion has a huge factor in our history. According to my research, the account of Pio
Valenzuela was great because it was very detailed on the exact date, time, places, and also the
members of the Katipunan who are considered as a witness on the said events, but for me, Pio
Valenzuela was a prestigious figure, but not a good witness to history. He changed his story,
more than once. It seems that his statements are not consistent. He is uncertain about where
and when the cry occurred. Valenzuela is not known for having impeccable memory. And I am
not in favor to the relocation of the monument in UP diliman because it was first built in EDSA
so it should be there until the end no matter what circumstances occurred. This controversy has
been occurring and being discussed for how many years now. Historians want to justify and
reveal the real site of “The cry of rebellion” even though our government already decided about
these matters and also established a law about it, because for them the said event is very
important markers in the history of colonies that struggled for their independence against their
colonizers.

REFERENCES:

https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/philippine-daily-inquirer-
1109/20100903/283274569062897
https://prezi.com/p/pmxxkpjgl7ty/cry-of-rebellion/#:~:text=Controversies,Biak
%20%E2%80%93%20na%20%E2%80%93%20Bato%20failed
https://www.coursehero.com/file/43467171/WHERE-DID-THE-CRY-OF-REBELLION-
HAPPENdocx/
https://kidskonnect.com/history/cry-of-pugad-lawin/
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151275