Topic 4

• The term “cry” is translated from the Spanish word el grito de rebellion or el grito short which means ‘cry for rebellion’.
• Andres Bonifacio then led them to prepare for the attack by the civil guards.
• At 5:00pm while the gathering at Balintawak were celebrating, guards up in the trees gave a warning that the Spaniards were coming.
• The ‘first cry’ is generally signified as the ‘first call of rebellion’.
• The first cry marks the beginning of the Philippine Revolution or the seeking of independence for the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule, with the use of violence and arms.
• With the initiative of Andres Bonifacio and his colleagues, they founded a Philippine revolutionary organization, commonly known as Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK or Katipunan), with its primary goal to gain independence from Spain through a revolution.
• The Katipunan was a secret organization until it was discovered in 1896, which led to the start of the Philippine Revolution which is now called the ‘first cry’.
• The tearing up of community tax certificates (cedulas personales) symbolizes the termination of Katipuneros loyalty to the Spanish Regime.
• The shouts for ‘Viva la Independencia Filipina’ or ‘Long Live Philippine Independence!’ was to express the goal of their secret society.
• The revolt later grew in strength and spread to 8 provinces including: Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, Nueva Ecija.
• The eight rays of the sun in the present Filipino flag represent the provinces where the revolt later grew in strength and spread.
• Dr. Pio Valenzuela, a Filipino physician and revolutionary leader, joined the Katipunan at the age of 23 and became one of the officials.
• Dr. Pio Valenzuela was also a friend of Andres Bonifacio.
• The first cry, also known as Pugad Lawin, occurred on August 23, 1896, according to the first version.
• The second version of the first cry, also known as Pugad Lawin, occurred on August 26, 1896.
• The first cry of the Katipunan is often debated, with different accounts stating different dates and locations.
• Despite their differences, they all voted for revolution and outside, the people shouted “Long live the Philippine Republic!”.
• 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 August 26.
• At 9:00am on August 26th, the meeting was opened with Andres Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary to discuss when the uprising was to take place.
• On August 26, 1896, a meeting was held in Balintawak at the house of Apolonio Samson, among those who attended were Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Aguedo del Rosario.
• Andres Bonifacio argues with the other leaders about starting the revolt too early and leaves.
• After the pledge and tearing of cedulas, Andres Bonifacio returns to the sessionhall and informs the leaders of what took place outside.
• According to Dr. Milagros Guerrero, Ramon, Villagas, and Emmanuel Encarnation, all these mentioned places are part of Balintawak, and Quezon City during the Spanish Regime is still not an existing place.
• After the speech, they all tear their cedulas (tax certificates).
• Santiago Virata Alvarez was a delegado general of the provincial council of the Katipunan in Cavite and became the captain general and later commander in chief of the Magdiwang forces, valiantly fighting the Spaniards from 1896-1897.
• Teodoro Agoncillo, in his book "Revolt of the Masses" (1956), used his considerable influence and campaigned to change the date and venue of the first cry to Pugad Lawin, August 23, 1896.
• Dr. Pio Valenzuela was the only eyewitness who accounted that the cry happened in Pugad Lawin.
• Guillermo Masangkay was designated to build the KKK in Cavite and played a key role in the Filipino-American War as a revolutionary general.