Readings

Document 372

PIO VALENZUELA'S CONTROVERSIAL

"Cry of Pugad Lawin"
(August 23, 1896)

The controversial "Cry of Pugad Lawin", which has been confirmed by no other
witnesses of the event than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, has the second and later version of the
first rally of the Katipunan by Dr. Valenzuela himself. The first version which he gave
told to the "Cry of Balintawak as the first staging point of the Philippine Revolution. He
related the first version, when events were still fresh in his memory and as he
abandoned the revolutionary cause after its outbreak and fled to Biňan, Laguna, for
safety. Taking advantage of Governor General Ramon Blanco’s proclamation of
amnesty to the revolutionists, Valenzuela returned to Manila on September 3, 1896,
and surrendered to Blanco. He was imprisoned in Santiago, where, upon investigation,
he told Francisco Olive, the Spanish investigator that, the cry was staged at "Balintawak
on Wednesday, August 26, 1896." However, much later, Dr. Valenzuela, with a fading
memory and without consulting the written documents of the Philippine Revolution,
wrote his Memoirs of the Revolution. In his memoirs, he claims that the "Cy was held at
Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896, as follows."

The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and myself was Balintawak, the first five arriving
there on August 19, and, on August 20, 1896. The first place where some 500 members
of the Katipunan met on August 22, 1896, was in the house and yard of Apolinario
Samson at Kangkong. Aside from the persons mentioned above, among those who
were there were Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio
Samson, and others. Here, views were only exchanged, and no resolution was debated
or adopted. It was at Pugad Lawin, in the house, store-house, and yard of Juan Ramos,
son of Melchora Aquino, where over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met and carried
out considerable debate and discussion on August 23, 1896. The discussion was on
whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started on
August 29, 1896. Only one man protested and fought against a war, and that was
Teodoro Plata (Bonifacio’s brother-in-law). Besides the person name above, among
those present at this meeting were Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas
Remigio, Sinforoso San Pedro, and others. After the tumultuous meeting, many of
those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted "Long live in the Philippines!
Long live the Philippines!

***

1 See W. E Retana, Archivo del bibliofilo Filipino (Madrid, 1897), voL. iu P

*A typescript copy or DE. Valenzuela's Memoirs, together with his auog P raph an personal photo, was
given to me by the author when I visited his hone in Polo (now Valenzuela), Bulacan, on july 4, 1931,
whıle researching 1or my irst po on the discovery of Katipunan.
2 According to General Masangkay, three prominent Katipuneros opposed the early start of the
revolution, namely Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Dr. Pio Valenzuela. See Documents 576 in this
series.
3 Since this particular version or the “First Cry” was different from the onginal one wnich he gave Spanish
authorities soon after the event, Dr. Valenzuela’s second (and later) recollection has been repudiated by
most prestsgious histornans of the Philippines, with the singular exception of Teodoro Agoncillo in his
book, The Revolt of the Masses (Quezon City, 1956). Nicolas Zafra, Agoncillo's mentor reviewed and
criticized the book in Philippine Studies (1956). Vol: IV, No. 4, including the fallacy of the “Cry of Pugad
Lawin.” See G.F. Zaide, The Pageant of Philippine History (Manila, 1979), Vol. l1, Pp. 241-242.

Document 373

THE "CRY OF BAHAY-TORO

(AUGUST 24, 1896)

By Santiago Alvarez

Another version of the "Cry which launched the Philippine revolution is that
written by Santiago Alvarez, a prominent Katipunan warlord of Cavite, son of Mariano
Alvarez, and relative of Gregoria de Jesus (wife of Andres Bonifacio). Unlike
Masangkay, Samson, and Valenzuela, Alvarez was not an eye witnesses of the historic
event. Hence, his version cannot be accepted as equal in weight to that given by actual
participants of the event. Although Alvarez was in Cavite at the time, this his version of
the first "Cry as follows.

Sunday, August 23, 1896

As early as 10 o 'clock in the morning, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora (Melchora

Aquino--- Z), at a place called Samapalukan, barrio of Bahay Toro, Katipuneros met
together. About 500 of these arrived, ready and eager to join the "Supremo” Andres
Bonifacio and his men….

Monday, August 24, 1896

There were about 1,000 Katipuneros.... The Supremo decided to hold a meeting inside
the big barn. Under his leadership the meeting began at 10 o’clock in the morning. It
was 12 o’clock noon the meeting adjourned amidst loud cries of “Long live the Sons of
the Country" (Mabuhay ang mga Anak ng Bayan).

Document 374

GREGORIA DE JESUS" VERSION OF THE FIRST "CRY"

(August 25, 1896)

One of the participants in the drama of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 was
Gregoria de Jesus, the wife of Supremo Andres Bonifacio and the "Lakambini of the
Katipunan". She was the custodian of the secret documents, seal, and some weapons
of the Katipunan, and constantly risked her life in safeguarding them. After the outbreak
of the revolution in August, 1896, she went to live with her parents in Caloocan, while
Bonifacio and his men gathered in the hills of Balintawak for the war of liberation. When
warned that the Spanish authorities were coming to arrest her, she fled to Manila and
late joined her husband in the mountains and shared the hardships and sacrifices of a
patriot’s life with him. According to her version of the first "Cry” it occurred near
Caloocan on August 25, 1896, as follows *

The activities of the Katipunan had reached nearly all corners the Philippine
archipelago, so that when its existence was discovered and some of the members were
arrested, we immediately returned to Caloocan. However, as we were closely watched
by the agents of the Spanish authorities, Andres Bonifacio and other katipuneros left
the town after some days. It was then that the uprising began, with the first cry for
freedom on August 25, 1896. Meanwhile, I was with my parents. Through my friends, I
learned that the Spanish were coming to arrest me.

Immediately, I fled from the town at eleven o 'clock at night, secretly going
through the rice fields to La Loma, with the intention of returning to Manila. I was treated
like an apparition, for, sad to say, in every house where I tried to get a little rest, I was
driven away as if the people therein were frightened for their own lives. Later, I found
out that the occupants of the house which I had visited were seized and severely
punished ---- and some were exiled. One of them was an uncle of mine whom had
visited that night to kiss his hand, and he died exiled.

*****

CY OF BALINTAWAK: THE GUARDIA CIVIL'S REPORT ON THE CRY OF

BALINTAWAK"
(August 25, 1896)

It is interesting to note that Captain Olegario Diaz, Spanish commander of the

Guardia Civil Veterana of Manila, who investigated the discovery of the Katipunan (see
Document 371), also included in his Official report findings on the site and date of the
first rally of the Revolution. According to his report, the first "Cry” occurred at Balintawak
on August 25, 1896, as follows:*

The conspiracy having been discovered, Bonifacio and his followers hurriedly
fled to the nearby town of Caloocan....On the 23 rd [of August, 1896-Z] Bonifacio moved
to the barrio of Balintawak-Z.]. Followed by 200 men from Caloocan; on the 24th they
were attacked by the Guardia Civil in the outskirts of the said town and they retreated to
their hiding places.

The Supreme Council called for a big meeting to be held the following day
[August 25-Z] in the above-mentioned barrio [Balintawak-Z.]. More than 5,000 members
attended. The meeting began with the discussion of what course should be taken in the
face of the new situation and in view of the arrests that were being made. There were
some who were disposed to go back and surrender to the Spanish authorities.
Bonifacio was strongly opposed to such course. He was for taking up arms at once. Put
to a vote, Bonifacio’s proposal was approved by an overwhelming majority. See how
strong an influence he wields.
Orders were immediately sent out to Manila, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and other
provinces for the Katipuneros to strike at dawn on Sunday, August 30th.

THE "CRY OF BALINTAWAK"

(August 26, 1896)

By Guillermo Masangkay
Katipunan General

The Historic first rally of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, occurred at the rustic barrio
of Balintawak, a few kilometers north of the city of Manila, on August 26, 1896,
according to this eyewitness account by Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay,
Bonifacio’s childhood friend. Similarly, this date and site were officially adopted by the
government during the early years of the American regime, after having consulted the
surviving katipuneros and prestigious historians at the time. A monument depicting the
event was erected near the site, financed by funds donated by the people, and was
inaugurated on September 3, 1911. In his memoirs, General Masangkay recounts the
Cry of Balintawak, "as follows:

On August 26th [1896-Z], a big meeting was held in Balintawak at the hose of
Apolonio Samson, the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I
remember, were Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio
Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They
were all leaders of the Katipunan and composed the board of directors of the
organization. Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and Morong (now Rizal),
were also present.

At about nine o clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with
Andres Bontacio as presiding and Emilio Jacinto as acting secretary. The purpose to
discuss when the uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata [Bonifacios brothe-rin-law-
Z], Briccio Pantas, and Pio Valenzuela were all opposed to starting the revolution too
early. They reasoned that the people would be in distress if the revolution were started
without adequate preparation. Plata was very forceful in his argument, stating that the
uprising could not be very well started without arms and food for the soldiers.
Valenzuela urged Rizal’s argument about the rich not siding with the Katipunan
Organization.

Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose in the discussion then, left the
session hall and talked to the people, who were waiting outside for the result of the
meeting of the leaders. He told the people that the leaders were arguing against starting
the revolution early, and appealed to them in a fiery speech in which he said: "You
remember the fate of our countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return
now to the towns, the Spaniards will only shoot us. Our organization has been
discovered and we are all marked men. If we don’t start the uprising, the Spaniards will
get us anyway. What then do you say?

"Revolt the people shouted as one.

Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge that they were to revolt. He told
them that the sign of slavery of the Filipinos were (sic) the cedula tax charged each
citizen. “If it is true that you are ready to revolt,” Bonifacio saved, “I want to see you
destroy your cedulas. lt will be the sign that all of us have declared our severance from
the Spaniards.”

With tears in their eyes, the people as one man, pulled out their cedulas and tore
them to pieces. It was the beginning of the formal declaration of the separation from the
Spanish rule. With their cedula destroyed, they could no longer go back to their homes
because the Spaniards would persecute them, if not for being katipuneros having no
cedulas. And people who had no cedulas during those days were severely punished.

When the people’s pledge was obtained by Bonifacio, he returned to the session
hall and informed the leaders of what took place outside. “The people want to revolt,
and they have destroyed their cedulas,” Bonifacio said. “So now we have to start the
uprising: otherwise the people by hundreds will be shot. There was no alternative. The
board of directors, in spite of the protests of Plata, Pantas, and Valenzuela voted for the
revolution. And when this was decided, the people outside shouted; “Long Live the
Philippine Republic!”

I still remember Bonifacio as he appeared that day. Although a mere bodeguero

(warehouseman) and earning P25 (Mex.) a month, he was a cultured man. He always
wore an open coat, with black neck tie and black hat. He always carried an umbrella. At
the meeting that morning of August 26, Bonifacio took off his coat and was wearing only
his shirt, with collar and tie. Bonifacio’s hobby was weaving bamboo hats. During his
spare time he wove dozens of them and sold them in Manila. Thus he made extra
money.

At about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, while the gathering at Balintawak was

celebrating the decision of the Katipunan leaders to start the uprising, the guards who
were up in trees to watch for any possible intruders or the approach of the enemy, gave
the warning that the Spaniards were coming.

Led by Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and other leaders of the Katipunan, the men
were distributed in strategic positions and were prepared for the attack of the civil
guards. I was with a group stationed on the bank of a small creek, guarding the places
where the Spaniards were to pass in order to reach the meeting place of the
katipuneros Shots were then fired by the civil guards, and that was the beginning of the
fire which later became a huge conflagration.

**********
Reference:

Evelyn J. Grey, Ph.D. and Ryan D. Biong, M.A.Ed. Malones Printing Press and
Publishing House. Door 32, Zerrudo Commercial Complex. E. Lopez St., Jaro,
Iloilo, Philippines, 2017.