Lesson 2

Where did the Cry of Rebellion Happen?

“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon “
Napoleon Bonaparte

It is surprising that there are different versions on the dates for the first cry of
the revolution as well as its venue. This controversy up to this time remains unsolved.
It is believed that the so-called Cry took place in Balintawak; but others would say that
it really happened in Pugad Lawin. Nevertheless, there are different versions to
consider in knowing the real date and place of the cry. These include Pio Valenzuela’s
Controversial “Cry of Pugad Lawin”, Santiago Alvarez’s “The Cry of Bahay Toro”,
Gregoria de Jesus’ version of the “First Cry”, and Guillermo Masangkay’s “The Cry of
Balintawak”.

PIO VALENZUELA’S CONTROVERSIAL “ CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN”

(August 23, 1896)

This controversial version of the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event.
In his first version, he told that the prime staging point of the Cry was in Balintawak on
Wednesday of August 26, 1896. He held this account when the happening or events
are still vivid in his memory. 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.

➢ Read the full document Source: Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary
Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: National Bookstore.
➢
THE “CRY OF BAHAY TORO”
(August 24, 1896)

This version of the “Cry” was written by Santiago Alvarez, a well-known

Katipunero from Cavite and a son of Mariano Alvarez. Santiago is a relative of Gregoria
de Jesus, who happened to be the wife of Andres Bonifacio. Unlike the author of the
first version mentioned (Valenzuela), Santiago Alvarez is not an eyewitness of this
event. As a result, this version of him is not given of equal value as compared with the
other versions for authors of other accounts are actually part of the historic event.

➢ Read the full document Source: Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary
Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: National Bookstore.

GREGORIA DE JESUS’ VERSION OF THE FIRST “CRY’

(August 25, 1896)
This version was written by no other than the “Lakambini of the Katipunan” and
wife of Andres Bonifacio, Gregoria de Jesus. She has been a participant of this event
and became the keeper of the secret documents of the Katipunan. After the Revolution
in August 1896, she lived with her parents in Caloocan then fled to Manila when she
was told that Spanish authorities wanted to arrest her. Eventually, she joined her
husband in the mountains and shared adversities with him. In her account, the First
“Cry” happened near Caloocan on August 25, 1896.

➢ Read the full document Source: Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary
Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: National Bookstore.
THE “CRY OF BALINTAWAK”
(August 26, 1896)
This version is written by the Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay. He is an
eyewitness of the historic event and a childhood friend of Bonifacio. According to him,
the first rally of the Philippine Revolution happened on August 26, 1896 at Balintawak.
Correspondingly, the date and the site presented were accepted by the preliminary
years of the American government.

➢ Read the full document Source: Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary
Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: National Bookstore.

Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late nineteenth century,
including the Philippines. Journalists of the time referred to the phrase “El Grito de
Rebelion” or “Cry of Rebellion” to mark the start of these revolutionary events,
identifying the places where it happened. In the Philippines, this happened in August
1896, northeast of Manila, where they declared rebellion against the Spanish colonial
government. These events are important markers in the history of colonies that
struggled for their independence against their colonizers.

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 the
katipuneros who also did the same.

Some writers consider, the first military engagement with the enemy as defining
moment of the Cry. To commemorate this martial event upon his return from exile in
Hong Kong, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned a “Himno de Balintawak” to herald renewed
fighting after the failed peace of the pact of Biak na Bato.

It is quite clear that first, eyewitnesses cited Balintawak as the better-known

reference point for a larger area. Second, while the Katipunan may have been missing
in Kangkong, the revolution was formally launched elsewhere. Moreover, eyewitnesses
and therefore historians, disagreed on the site and date of the Cry.
 The controversy among historians continues to the present day. The “Cry of
Pugad Lawin” (August 23, 1896) cannot be accepted as historically accurate. It lacks
positive documentation and supporting evidence from the witness. The testimony of
only one eyewitness (Dr. Pio Valenzuela) is not enough to authenticate and verify a
controversial issue in history. Historians and their living participants, not politicians and
their sycophants, should settle this controversy

After reading thoroughly the

different controversial accounts
in history and to further prepare
you for the next lesson, answer
the activities provided at the end
of the lesson.