FIRST CRY

OF BALINTAWAK
OR PUGAD LAWIN
READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
THE FIRST CRY

“Cry”
The term “Cry” is translated
from the Spanish ‘el grito de
rebellion’ means ‘cry for
rebellion’.
“THE FIRST CRY”
The ‘first cry’ is generally signified as the
‘First Call for Rebellion’. It is marked as
the beginning of Philippine revolution or
seeking of independence of filipinos from
Spanish colonial rule with the use of
violence in arms.
 TRIVIA
How did it started?
KATIPUNAN OR KKK
 Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan commonly known as Katipunan or KKK
and established on July 7 , 1892.
 It’s primary goal is to gain independence from Spain
through revolution.
 The Katipunan was a secret organization until it was
discovered in August 19, 1896 which led to start the
Philippine Revolution, which is now called as the ‘first
cry’.
 Significant Events in the First cry
TEARING UP OF COMMUNITY TAX
CERTIFICATES
 The tearing up of community tax
certificates (cedulas personales)
symbolizes the termination of
Katipunero’s loyalty to Spanish
Regime.

PATRIOTIC SHOUTS SUCH AS “VIVA LA

INDEPENDENCIA FILIPINA”
 The shouts for “Viva La
Independence Filipina” or “Long Live
Phillipine Independence!” was to
express the goal of their secret
organizaton.
FIRST CRY OF
REBELLION
CONTROVERSY
AND CONFLICTS
 Controversy about this particular
event actually arises especially in
the specific dates and places where
this cry particularly happened.

 This controversy remains unsolved

in the Philippine history since
different Filipinos have varying
accounts as to when and where it
happened.
BACKGROUND
OF
THE AUTHORS
AND THEIR
ACCOUNTS
1. DR. PIO VALENZUELA
(THE CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN)

 A Filipino physician and revolutionary leader

 At the age of 23 he joined the Katipunan and
become one of the officials
 friend of andres bonifacio
 He was also present during the meeting
before the actual first cry happen

 FIRST VERSION: (he said that the rebellion was

held in) Balintawak on Wednesday of August 26,
1896
 SECOND VERSION: (later he wrote his memoirs
of the revolution and claimed that the cried took
place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896
2. GEN. SANTIAGO VIRATA ALVAREZ
(THE CRY OF BAHAY TORO)

- well known katipunero also known as “Kidlat

ng Apoy”
A delegado general of the provincial council of
the Katipunan in Cavite.
Became the captain general and later
commander in chief of the Magdiwang Forces and
valiantly fought the spaniards form 1896-1897
A relative of gregoria de jesus, the wife of
andres bonifacio

 In his account, the first cry happened on

August 24, 1896 at Bahay Toro, Quezon City.
3. GEN. GILLERMO MASANGKAY
(THE CRY OF BALINTAWAK)

-is a friend and advisor of Andres

Bonifacio
-he was one of the first members of the
katipunan which has designated to build
KKK in Cavite
-he played a key role in the Filipino-
American War as a revolutionary general

First version: august 26, 1896 (sunday

tribune, first decade of american
occupation)
-second version: august 23, 1896
(“Bagong Buhay”)
-Changed back on Ausust 26, 1896 by
his grand daughter Soledad Buehler-
Borromeo
4. GREGORIA DE JESUS
(THE FIRST CRY)

The Lakambini of the Katipunan

She was the custodian of the
documents and seal of the
Katipunan

 In her account, the first cry

happened near Caloocan on
August 25, 1896
ARGUMENTS
 THE FIRST
THE FIRST CRY
CRY HAPPENED
HAPPENED
IN PUGAD
IN PUGAD LAWIN
LAWIN
DR. PIO VALENZUELA
 the only eyewitness who accounted that the cry happened in Pugad
Lawin.
 “The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto ,
Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario and myself
was in Balinwatak. The first five arriving there on August 19, and I
on August 20, 1896.”
 The first place where some 500 members of the Katipunan met on
August 22, 1896, was the house and yard of Apolonio Samsom at
Kangkong . Aside from the people 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.
 TEODORO AGONCILIO “REVOLT OF THE
MASSES (1956)”
 -AGONCILIO used his considerable influence
and campaigned to changed the date and
venue of the first cry to Pugad Lawin, August
23, 1896.
 In 1963, president Macapagal ordered that the
cry of Balintawak shall be called cry of Pugad
Lawin and it should be celebrated on August
23 instead of Ausgust 26.
 THE
THE FIRST
FIRST CRY
CRY HAPPENED
HAPPENED
IN
IN BALINTAWAK
BALINTAWAK
• Some accounts show that the first cry
happened in Caloocan Quezon City, Bahay ng
Toro and Pugad Lawin.
• According to Dr. Milagros Guerrero, Ramon,
Villegas and Emmanuel Encarnation stated
that all these mentioned places are part of
Balintawak but Quezon City is still not an
existing place during the Spanish Regime.
Guillermo Masangkay is an eyewitness of the
historic event.

Events according to Masangkay:

1.August 26th 1896 a meeting held in balintawak at the house of
Apolonio Samson. Among those who attended were Andres
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Aguedo Del Rosario.
2.9:00 am August 26th the meeting was opened with Andres
Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as Secretary. The
purpose was to discuss when the uprising was to take place.
3.Andres Bonifacio argues with the other leaders about starting the
revolt too early and leaves.
4.Upon leaving the meeting Andres Bonifacio gave a fiery speech and
people shouted “Revolt”
5. After the speech, they all tore their cedulas(tax
certificate)
6. After the pledge and tearing of cedulas, Andres
Bonifacio returns to the session hall and informs the
leader of what took place outside.
7. Despite their differences, they all voted for
revolution and outside the people shouted “Long live
the Philippine Republic!”
8. At 5:00 pm while gathering at Balintawak were
celebrating, guards up in the trees gave a warning that
the Spaniards were coming. Andres Bonifacio then led
them to prepare the attack by the civil guards.
 CONCLUSION
The Cry of Pugad Lawin or Balintawak
marked the start of the Philippine
Revolution in 1896 which eventually led
to independence of the Philippines in
1898. This historical event made the
Filipino people to fight for our freedom
and independence, proving themselves
worthy to be called a truly free people.
Thank you for
listening!
 Reference
Borromeo-Buehler, Soledad M. (1998). “The cry of Balintawak: a contrived controvery: a textual
analysis with appended documents.” Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISNB 978-971-550-278-
8.http://books.google.com/idRJnMSmXLvr4C.

Pio Valenzuela, “Cry of Pugad Lawin.” in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide, Documentary Sources of
Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: National Book Store,1990) 301-302

Guillermo Masangkay, “Cry of Balintawak” in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide. Documentary Source
Philippine Histiry. Volume 8(Manila: National Book Store,1990) 307-309

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