INTRODUCTION

As Filipinos, it is crucial for us to at least be knowledgeable about

Philippine history, not to mention those notable historical events that paved
the way to our country’s independence from Spanish colonialism, such as
the renowned Cry of the Revolution/Rebellion. Nowadays, it is widely
known as the Cry of Pugad Lawin but has initially referred to as the Cry of
Balintawak, or Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin and Sigaw ng Balintawak as
translated in the Filipino language, respectively. It was coined as “Cry,”
which was derived from the Spanish word “el grito,” which strictly means
cry, scream or shout to revolt. Moreover, it had marked the commencement
of the uprising of the Katipuneros, a term for the members of the secret
patriotic revolutionary organization “KKK” (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-
galangang, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) or the Katipunan, which
was founded and led by Andres Bonifacio alongside other members,
aiming for our country’s self-governance.

Our nation has for sure a brilliant and superb history that records the
dauntlessness and mental fortitude of our ancestors and legends to have
battled for the opportunity we are presently getting a charge out of. Close
by these events were differences in the records regarding the genuine spot
and date of those occasions. One of these moments in Philippine history is
the “Cry of Rebellion,” wherein Andres Bonifacio and some of the
Katipuneros tore their cedulas, signifying their protest towards Spanish
colonialism. It became accompanied by a collection of fierce combating of
Filipino bolos and spears as opposed to Spanish muskets. The cedula or
tax certificates is a bit of paper that symbolizes the Spaniards’ oppression
and tearing the identical way the beginning of our struggle for freedom and
independence. The use of it was brought to us by the Spaniards, meaning
that it has been utilized since the Spanish period within the 19th century.

The Cry of the Revolution/ Rebellion is all about the Katipuneros

acting under Bonifacio’s exclamation to revolt as they tear their residence
tax certificates or cédulas personales into pieces accompanied by patriotic
shouts, “Mabuhay ang Katagalugan!” with the unified crowd responding,
“Mabuhay!”, as a sign of their insubordination and determination to rise
against Spanish imperialism.

Nevertheless, even today, many people are still contemplating the

controversy regarding the date and exact location where it was held back
then. Due to the different versions made by various historians and analysts
related to the first Cry’s date and venue, the factual answers were still in a
fog. This case study is all about providing in-depth discussion regarding the
Cry of the Revolution/Rebellion controversy in order for us to be
enlightened on where and when this historical patriotic event truly
happened.

BODY
After 333 years of Spaniards ruling the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo
proclaimed the independence of the Philippines from Spain on the 12th day
of June 1898. Filipinos were able to celebrate independence as a result of
the historical event that happened in August 1896, el grito de rebellion, or
The Cry of Rebellion. The historical event remained unsolved because of
controversy about where and when the cry of rebellion happened.
However, this study focused only on the place where the rebellion
happened. There are two places proposed were the first cry of rebellion
occurred, either in Balintawak or in Pugad Lawin. Some members of
Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(KKK) mentioned that the first cry of rebellion happened in Balintawak and
some said that it actually happened in Pugad Lawin. According to
Guillermo Masangkay, friend and advisor to Andres Bonifacio, the first cry
of rebellion happened on August 26 in Balintawak, specifically at the house
of Apolonio Samson, where they convinced people to join the revolution
towards the Spanish colonizer. Another account from Olegario Dias,
lieutenant of the Spanish guardia civil, said that the cry of rebellion took
place at Balintawak on August 25, 1896. According to Gregoria De Jesus,
the first cry of rebellion happened in Pasong Tamo Caloocan, which is also
located in the area of Balintawak. Another account from Julio Nakpil said
that the first cry took place at Kakong in Pasong Tamo Caloocan. Contrary
to the accounts presented first, according to Pio Valenzuela, the cry of
rebellion occurred at Juan Ramos’ house in Sitio Gulod Pugad Lawin. Juan
Ramos is the son of Melchora Aquino, also known as “Tandang Sora”. It is
said that all members of Katipunan gathered at Juan Ramos' house at
Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. They tore their cedulas as a sign of
protest against Spanish rule and shouted “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.”
According to Pio Valenzuela, it was in Pugad Lawin where the Katipuneros
decided to start the rebellion. In the present time, it is considered that the
cry of rebellion took place in Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896.

The supposed location of Pugad Lawin is in Brgy. Bahay Toro,

Quezon City, is commemorated with a tableau of life-size stiff Katipuneros
tearing their tax certificates, called cedulas.

The Katipunan veterans remained strangely silent regarding the

tearing of cedulas until some reported it in their works. Cipriano Pacheco's
memoir from 1933. The majestic Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan was
inaugurated the same year, with sculptor Guillermo Tolentino including a
Katipunero ripping his cedula among the sculptures. Guillermo Masangkay,
a KKK veteran, served as Tolentino's model for the image.

When the leaders' meeting in Kangkong decided to begin the

revolution, Bonifacio led the crowd outside Apolinio Samson's house to a
nearby open field so everyone could gather around and hear him.
Francisco Carreon and Guillermo Masangkay’s account published in 1936
says Bonifacio told the crowd the momentous news from the famous
meeting in Kangkong that they wanted. “Brothers, the decision is to go
ahead with the revolution.” The crowd cheered, and Bonifacio asked, “Do
you swear to reject the government that oppresses us?” The crowd roared
and agreed. “In that case, bring out your cedulas and rip them up as a
symbol of defiance!” The Katipuneros fervently heeded his call, weeping
with emotion as they ripped their cedulas to shreds. Bonifacio raised the
cry “Mabuhay ang Katagalugan!” and the crowd responded as one,
“Mabuhay!”
 Cipriano Pacheco, Francisco Carreon, and Guillermo Masangkay,
three Katipunan veterans, all agreed that cedulas were ripped on August
23 or 24. Dr. Pio Valenzuela, the only veteran who specified when and
where cedulas were ripped, recalls it happening on August 23 at an area
near Pasong Tamo called Pugad Lawin. He was eventually proven to be
incorrect regarding the date. The leading revolutionaries stayed in
Kangkong on August 23, not leaving until early on August 24, yet possibly
right about the location.

The cedulas may have been torn on different days in Kangkong and
near Pasong Tamo, and possibly elsewhere, because Katipuneros were
arriving in the Caloocan area over several days to join their embryonic
army, and they may have wanted to proclaim their rebellion, their
commitment to fighting Spanish rule, in the same way.

Many historians provided their accounts and statements regarding

the location and times of the rebellion’s cry.

According to historians Pio Valenzuela and Theodoro Agoncillo,

the cry of rebellion occurred in Pugad Lawin on different dates and in
different locations. Valenzuela asserts that the uprising took place at Pugad
Lawin because he witnessed Andres Bonifacio utter the cry of rebellion on
August 23, 1896, as well as Theodoro Agoncillo Agoncillo, who believes
Pio Valenzuela’s testimony and is also a close companion of Andres
Bonifacio. Pugad Lawin, on the other hand, was not found on a map.

Many historians claim that the cry of rebellion took place at

Kangkong, Balintawak. However, some have different dates. They are
Guillermo Masangkay, Olegario Diaz, Theodoro Kalaw, Gregorio Zalde,
and Olegario Diaz. According to Diaz, a member of the Spanish Guardia
civil, the cry took place on August 26, 1896, at Kangkong, Balintawak.
Theodoro Kalaw wrote in his 1925 book, entitled Filipino Revolution, that
the “cry” of rebellion occurred in Balintawak in the last week of August, and
Gregorio Zalde wrote in his books in 1954 that the “cry” of rebellion
occurred in Balintawak on August 26, 1896. According to Masangkay’s
narrative, the first cry of rebellion happened on August 26 at Balintawak.

On the other side, Santiago Alvarez, a Magdiwang chieftain, made a

different story, claiming that the Cry began on August 24, 1896, at Bahay
Toro. However, Santiago Alvarez’s statements, together with those of Dr.
Pio Valenzuela and Guillermo Masangkay, are the primary sources
because they all took part in the revolution and were eyewitnesses to the
events. Their accounts serve as background information for what happened
that day.

The official position was that the Cry occurred on August 26 at

Balintawak from 1908 to 1963. In Pugad Lawin, Quezon City, the Philippine
government declared a change to August 23 in 1963.

Pio Valenzuela had several Cry versions. It will be possible to

determine what happened only after being compared and reconciled with
the other accounts.

Valenzuela stated only that Katipunan meetings took place from

Sunday to Tuesday or 23 to 25 August at Balintawak before the Olive Court
in September 1896, which was charged with investigating persons involved
in the rebellion.

According to Valenzuela, the Katipunan began meeting on August 22,

1911, and the Cry took place on August 23, 1911, at Apolonio Samson's
house in Balintawak.

Valenzuela claimed that the Cry occurred on August 24, 1928, at the
house of Tandang Sora (Melchora Aquino) in Pugad Lawin, which he now
owns near Pasong Tamo Road. A photograph of Bonifacio's widow
Gregoria de Jesus and Katipunan members Valenzuela, Briccio Brigido
Pantas, Alfonso, and Cipriano Pacheco, published in La Opinion in 1928
and 1930, was captioned both times as having been taken at the site of the
Cry on August 24, 1896, at the house of Tandang Sora on Pasong Tamo
Road.
 "Na hindi sa Balintawak nangyari ang unang sigaw ng paghihimagsik
na kinalalagian ngayon ng bantayog, kung di sa pook na kilala sa tawag na
Pugad Lawin," Valenzuela, Pantas, and Pacheco declared in 1935. (The
first Cry of the revolution did not happen in Balintawak where the
monument is, but in a place called Pugad Lawin.)

The precise location of Pugad Lawin was identified as part of sitio

Gulod, Banlat, Kalookan City by a research team of the Philippines
Historical Committee (a forerunner of the National Historical Institute or
NHI) in 1940, which included Pio Valenzuela. The location of the Cry was
Tandang Sora's, not Juan Ramos', according to the NHI's Minutes of the
Katipunan in 1964, and the date was August 23.

According to Valenzuela's memoirs (1964, 1978), the Cry occurred

on August 23 at Juan Ramos' house in Pugad Lawin. Valenzuela's
memoirs had an evident influence on the NHI. Following the NHI's
approval, President Diosdado Macapagal decreed that the Cry be
commemorated on August 23, and Pugad Lawin be designated as the site.

The Ateneo de Manila University's John N. Schrumacher, S.J., was

asked to comment on Pio Valenzuela's credibility:

I would certainly give much less credence to all accounts coming

from Pio Valenzuela and to the interpretations Agoncillo got from him
verbally since Valenzuela gave so many versions from the time he
surrendered to the Spanish authorities and made various statements not
always compatible with one another up to the time when as an older man
he was interviewed by Agoncillo.

Pio Valenzuela backtracked on yet another point. In 1896, Valenzuela

testified that when the Katipunan consulted Jose Rizal on whether the time
had come to revolt, Rizal was vehemently against the revolution. Later, in
Agoncillo’s Revolt of the masses, Valenzuela retracted and claimed that
Rizal was actually for the uprising if specific prerequisites were met.
Agoncillo reasoned that Valenzuela had lied to save Rizal.