THE FIRST CRY OF THE

REVOLUTION
(AUGUST 1896)
 Historical Context
• The Philippine Revolution of 1896 began with what later
became known as the "First Cry" or the initial move of the
Filipinos to begin the revolution for independence. This they
did by tearing up their cedulas and proclaiming the start of
the fight for independence. The event happened after the
Katipunan was exposed on August 19, 1896 and the
Spaniards began to crack down on suspected rebels.
 Historical Context
• The Katipunan Supremo Andres proceed to a designated
meeting place outside the city to decide on their next move.
The original plan was to start the revolution at the end of
August but following the arrests of the Katipuneros,
Bonifacio found it wise to begin the revolution that day and
attack Manila at the end of the month.
 Historical Context
• In 1911, a monument to the heroes of 1896 was erected in
Balintawak, believed to be the site of the First Cry of the
Philippine Revolution on August 26, 1896. However, different
Katipunan personalities later contradicted this, stating they
were present at that time. In 1963, the National Historical
Commission determined that the First Cry actually occurred
on August 23, 1896, at Pugad Lawin in Quezon City. The
controversy continues, with some historians and Katipunero
witnesses' descendants disputing the official date and
location.
DR. PIO VALENZUELA'S ACCOUNT
 He was born on July 11, 1869 at Polo, Bulacan to a well-off family In
1884 he went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran where he finished
his secondary course. 4 years later (1888) he enrolled at the
University of Sto. Tomas He joined the katipunan at age 22 and he
became the Surgeon General of the movement. During his time in
the katipunan, he and Bonifacio became close friends

 On August 19, 1896, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio

Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, and Aguenda del Rosario arrived in
Balintawak. And on the following day, Dr Pio Valenzuela Arrived
 On August 22, 1896, the house and yard of Apolonio Samson at
Kangkong served as the first place where 500 members of the
Katipunan conducted a meeting. In this said meeting, Briccio Pantas,
Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, and Apolonio Samson were also
present

 On August 23, 1896, 1000 members of the Katipunan conducted a

meeting at the house of Melchora Aquino’s son, Juan Ramos. The main
focus of the said meeting was to discuss whether the revolution should
start on August 29, 1896 or not. Almost everyone agreed that the
revolution will be carried out on the said date including Enrique
Cipriciano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas Remigio, Sinforoso and San Pedro.
The only person who protested against the idea was Teodoro Plata. On
August 29, 1896, The revolution started and many of those that were
present tore their cedula apart and shouted “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas”
SANTIAGO ALVAREZ’S ACCOUNT
 In 1927, a pre-World War II, Gen. Santiago Virata Alvarez, a leader
of the Cavite revolution, began sharing his Katipunan memoirs
in the Tagalog magazine Sampaguita. This series of 36 parts
recounted the Philippine Revolution from March 1896 to late
1897, including personal experiences and events. The memoirs
were later published as a book titled "The Katipunan and the
Revolution" in 1992, with an English translation by Paula
Carolina Malay.

 Chapter 6 of these memoirs includes an account of the First Cry,

which took place on August 24, 1896, in Bahay Toro, now a part
of Project 3 in Quezon City. Alvarez's narrative is
straightforward, lacking dramatic descriptions and focusing on
the factual events of that day.
THE ACCOUNT
 On August 22, 1896, the Supremo assigned guards and placed
detachment at the Balintawak boundary where they are gathered.
There were more than three hundred people assembled at the place
carrying assorted weapons. The Supremo was worried of the
possibilities that there might be a surprise attack from the enemy so
he decided to move to a site called Bahay Toro. They arrived at the
residence of Cabesang Melchora on August 23, 1896. The number of
the Katipuneros increased and the house, yard, and warehouse of
Cabesang Melchora were crowded. At ten o’clock, the Supremo
called a meeting inside the barn but due to their number, some
stood outside the barn. On both sides of the Supremo were Dr. Pio
Valenzuela, Emilio Jacinto, Briccio Pantas, Enrique Pacheco,
Pantelaon Torres and others. The approved matters were: an
uprising to defend the peoples freedom was to be midnight of
Saturday
 August 29, 1896; to be on a state of alert so that
the Katipunan forces could strike where the enemy
was at its disadvantage, thus the uprising could be
on an earlier than the agreed time of midnight of
August 29, 1896; and the capture of Manila. After
the meeting was adjourned, there were loud
shouts “Long live the Sons of the People!"
THE ACCOUNT
 Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose the argument,
left the session hall to address the situation in the leaders
meeting. Told the people outside that the leaders are having
a hard time reaching an agreement. Appealed to a fiery
speech saying that they should not get home, rather to fight
than wait to get shot. Asked the fellow countrymen to take
pledge and revolt. Iconic line "punitin and sedula" as a sign
of severance from spaniards. After the pledge, bonifacio
returns to the hall and informed the leaders that the people
outside reached an agreement to revolt and fight the
spaniards. Plata, pantas, valenzuela eventually agreed to
revolt. As the meeting reached an end, everyone outside
shouted "long live the Philippine Republic".