Introduction

The Philippine Revolution, which ended almost three centuries of Spanish dominance,
began with the "First Cry," also known as "elgrito De Rebellion" or "First Cry of Rebellion" by
historians. It is with Andrés Bonifacio, the leader of the Katipunan, a liberal movement that
fought for the Philippines' independence from Spanish colonial control.
August 19, 1896 – Katipunan was revealed. At that time, Governor General Ramon
Blanco declared “huest agoncillo” or total annihilation of Indios. Therefore, Bonifacio called a
meeting where the leaders and hundred of comrades assembled and the fighters tore their
residence certificates as proof of termination of loyalty to Spain while shouting the battle cry,
“Long live Philippines Independence!”. Thus, the event is now known as “Cry of Balintawak”.
Arguments about the Cry of Balintawak:
1. Different accounts of the “First Cry”
Primary Sources
Gregoria de Jesus
the wife of Supremo Andres Bonifacio and the "Lakambini of the Katipunan," was one
of the participants in the controversy of the Philippine Revolution of 1896. She was the custodian
of the Katipunan's secret documents, seal, and some weapons, and she constantly risked her life
in protecting them. She moved to live with her parents in Caloocan after the Revolution began in
August 1896, while Bonifacio and his soldiers assembled in the highlands of Balintawak for the
liberation fight. She fled to Manila after being alerted that Spanish authorities were on their way
to capture her, and eventually joined her husband in the mountains, sharing the trials and
sacrifices of a patriot's life with him.
Another Eyewitness Account of the " Cry of Balintawak" (August 26, 1896)
Don Vicente Samson
Don Vicente Samson, a Balintawak native, validated the validity and authenticity of
General Masangkay's story of the first "Cry." At the time, Don Vicente was a 12-year-old child
who observed the revolution with his father and older brother in the afternoon of the same day,
August 26, 1896.
He is one of the few surviving witnesses of the "Cry of Balintawak" in 1896, which signaled the
start of the Philippine revolution by bringing the Katipuneros and Spaniards together for the first
time.
In a recent interview at his house in Balinggasay, Don Samson remarked, "The 'Cry' was on
August 26 and not on any other date; I remember it very well because I noted the date myself."
According to the Guardia Civil's Report on the “Cry of Balintawak” (August 25, 1896)
Captain Olegario Diaz
Captain Olegario Diaz, the Spanish commander of the Guardia Civil Veterana de Manila, who
investigated the discovery of the Katipunan, included findings on the location and date of the
Revolution's first rally in his official report. According to his report, the first "Cry" occurred on
August 25, 1896, at Balintawak.
Secondary Sources
According to Teodoro Kalaw's book The Filipino Revolution (1925), the cry took place in
Kangkong, Balintawak during the last week of August 1986.
According to Santiago Alvarez, son of Mariano Alvarez, the commander of the Magdiwang
party in Cavite, it happened on August 24, 1896, in Bahay Toro, Quezon City. According to
Zaide's book, the cry occurred in Balintawak as well.
"The so-called 'Cry of Pugad Lawin' is an invention," Borromeo-Buehler writes in her exhaustive
work "The Cry of Balintawak." "This conclusion is based on the total absence of any
contemporary documentation on 'Pugad Lawin'...There is ample documentation on the tearing of
cedillas and the initial encounter of the revolution. The chronology of those events thus no longer
hinges on the testimony of just one of the eyewitnesses.
2. Different dates and places
 Lt. Olegario Diaz- officer of the Spanish guardia civil stated that the Cry took place
in Balintawak on August 25,1896
 Teodoro Kalaw – historian; according to his 1925 book “The Filipino Revolution”,
stated that the event took place during last week of August 1896 at Kangkong,
Balintawak.
 Santiago Alvarez – a katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez (the leader of
magdiwang faction in Cavite), stated that the Cry took place in Bahay Toro now in
Quezon City on August 24, 1896.
 Pio Valenzuela – close associate of Andres Bonifacio, declared that it happened in
Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896.
 Gregorio Zaide – a historian, stated in his book in 1954 that the Cry happened in
Balintawak on August 26, 1896.
 Teodoro Agoncillo – a historian, the book in 1956 stated that the Cry took place in
Pugad Lawin on August 23,1896.
 Milagros Guerrero, Emmanuel Encarnacion and Ramon Villegas – claimed that
the event happened in Tandang Sora’s barn in Gulod, Barangay Banlat, Quezon City.
 First Skirmish - Up to the late 1920’s, Balintawak is identified as a place where the
event happened commemorated on August 29 – considering the first hostile encounter
between Katipuneros and the Guardia Civil.
 The “first shot” of the revolution (el primer tiro) was fired at Banlat, Pasong
Tamo which is considered part of Balintawak and now part of Quezon City.
3. Tearing of the Cedulas
 Guillermo Masangkay – claimed that cedulas was torn more than once on the
24th and 26th day of August.
 Juan Ramos – son of Melchora Aquino; he said that Bonifacio tore his cedula in
one place then the word and act was spread to other people, repeated in several
other Katipunan encampments.
Reason why people hated cedula:
 According to the Official Gazette, Spanish Gov. Gen. Prito de Rivera issued a
decree requiring Filipinos to report to Spanish authorities on or before July 10, 1896.
Forbidding people from leaving their towns or villages without securing passes by
means of cedula. Cedula is the symbol of loyalty to Spanish Authorities and the
government sought to control and restrict people’s movement.
4. Monuments, Commemoration, and the Shift of Pugadlawin
 Balintawak – first known monument where the “Cry of Balintawak” was believed to
have taken place. The statue was titled “Ala-ala ng bayang Filipino sa mga Bayani ng
‘96” or Memorial of the Filipino Nation to the Heroes ‘96”. The statue is in Vinzons
Hall in the University of the Philippines.
 Caloocan – The bronze masterpiece was painstakingly researched by National Artist
Guillermo Tolentino and referred to as a monumento.
 The Cry was commemorated as National Heroes Day, a public holiday in the
Philippines.
 First Annual Commemoration of the Cry – occurred in Balintawak in 1908 after
the American Colonial Government repealed the Sedition Law.
 In 1911 – a monument to the Cry (A lone katipunero) was erected at Balintawak;
then later transferred to Vinzons Hall in the University of the Philippines- Diliman,
Quezon City.
 In 1984 – The National Historical Institute of the Philippines installed a
commemorative plaque in Pugad Lawin.
 1908-1963 – the official stance of the cry occurred on August 26 in Balintawak.
 In 1963 – the Philippine government declared a shift to August 23 in Pugad Lawin,
Quezon City.
5. Confusion on Terms
 Double meaning of Balintawak and Caloocan
- Balintawak – refer to both of the specific place in modern Caloocan City and
wider area which includes modern Quezon City.
- Caloocan – refer to modern Caloocan City, wider area of Quezon City and
some parts of Pasig City.
- Pugad Lawin, Pasong Tamo, Kangkong and other specific places – were
all in greater Balintawak which was in turn part of greater Caloocan.
- Cry – El Grito (to call arms).
- Sigar – literally means shout.
 6. Other Cries
 In 1895, Bonifacio, Masangkay, Emilio Jacinto and other Katipuneros spend Good
Friday in the caves of Mt. Pamitinan in Montalban (part of Rizal Province). They
wrote “Long live Philippine Independence” on the cave walls, which some people
believe and consider it as the “First Cry” (el primer grito).
Conclusion
The seeds of a revolution had been sowed deep within the Filipino hearts. The revolutionaries
showed true bravery and courage in their fight for freedom, despite their lack of training. After
all these years, the location and date of the national holiday are still arguable there can be no
debate about the deeper meaning of the holiday: it commemorates the most successful uprising
against Spanish colonial authorities when the nation imagined by writers like Jose Rizal and
Marcelo H. Under the guidance of organizers like Andres Bonifacio and generals like Emilio, del
Pilar began to take shape.