Lesson 8

• Controversies and conflicting views in Philippine history

  • Cry of Balintawak
  • Pugad Lawin
• There are different versions on the dates for the first cry of the revolution as well as the venue. This controversy remains unsolved
• The Cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin is a topic that has different versions regarding the date and place
• Versions to consider for the Cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin

  • Pio Valenzuela’s Controversial “Cry of Pugad Lawin”
  • Santiago Alvarez’s “The Cry of Bahay Toro”
  • Gregoria de Jesus’ version of the “First Cry”
  • Guillermo Masangkay’s “The Cry of Balintawak”
• Pio Valenzuela's controversial version of the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” was authorized by himself, claiming different dates and venues
• Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and Pio Valenzuela took refuge in Balintawak initially
• Over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896, for a debate on starting the revolution against the Spanish government
• After the meeting at Pugad Lawin, many tore their cedula certificates and shouted “Long live the Philippines!”
• Santiago Alvarez wrote about the “Cry of Bahay Toro” on August 24, 1896
• People present at the meeting

  • Enrique Cipriano
  • Alfonso Pacheco
  • Tomas Remigio
  • Sinforoso San Pedro
  • others
• After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted “Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!"
• Santiago Alvarez: 'The “Cry of Bahay Toro” (August 24, 1896)'
• Santiago Alvarez is a well-known Katipunero from Cavite and a son of Mariano Alvarez. He is a relative of Gregoria de Jesus, the wife of Andres Bonifacio. Unlike the author of the first version mentioned (Valenzuela), Santiago Alvarez is not an eyewitness of this event.
• Santiago Alvarez's version is not given equal value as compared with other versions for authors of other accounts are actually part of the historic event.
• As early as 10 o’clock in the morning, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora [Melchora Aquino-Z.], at a place called Sampalukan, barrio of Bahay Toro, Katipuneros met together. About 500 of these arrived, ready and eager to join the “Supremo” Andres Bonifacio and his men


  Sunday, August 23, 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 when the meeting adjourned amidst loud cries of “Long live the Sons of the Country” (Mabuhay ang mga anak ng Bayan)!

  Monday, August 24, 1896
• Gregoria de Jesus: 'Version of the First “Cry” (August 25, 1896)'
• Gregoria de Jesus, the “Lakambini of the Katipunan” and wife of Andres Bonifacio, wrote this version. She has been a participant in this event and became the keeper of the secret documents of the Katipunan.
• After the Revolution in August 1896, Gregoria de Jesus lived with her parents in Caloocan then fled to Manila when she was told that Spanish authorities wanted to arrest her. Eventually, she joined her husband in the mountains and shared adversities with him.
• The First “Cry” happened near Caloocan according to Gregoria de Jesus


  August 25, 1896
• A person fled town at eleven o’clock at night through the rice fields to La Lorna, with the intention of returning to Manila, due to the news that Spanish were coming to arrest them
• The person was treated like an apparition and was driven away from every house they tried to get a little rest in, as if people therein were frightened for their own lives. Later, it was found out that the occupants of the houses visited were seized, severely punished, and some even exiled. One of them was an uncle of the person who died in exile
• Speaker: 'Quote'
• Guillermo Masangkay’s The “Cry of Balintawak” (August 26, 1896) is an eyewitness account of the historic event and a childhood friend of Bonifacio. The first rally of the Philippine Revolution happened on August 26, 1896 at Balintawak according to General Guillermo Masangkay
• The meeting on August 26, 1896, was held in Balintawak at the house of Apolonio Samson, the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Leaders present included Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and Morong were also present
• The meeting on August 26, 1896, was opened with Andres Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary. The purpose was to discuss when the uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Pio Valenzuela were opposed to starting the revolution too early, reasoning that the people would be in distress without adequate preparation
• Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose in the discussion, left the session hall and appealed to the people waiting outside, stating that the leaders were arguing against starting the revolution early and urging them to revolt
• Revolt initiation

  1. Bonifacio asked the people to give a pledge to revolt

  2. The sign of slavery of the Filipinos was the cedula tax charged each citizen

  3. People destroyed their cedulas as a sign of 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 Spanish rule
• With their cedulas destroyed


  They could no longer go back to their homes because the Spaniards would persecute them
• People who had no cedulas during those days were severely punished
• Decision to start the uprising

  1. People's pledge obtained by Bonifacio

  2. Leaders informed of the people's desire to revolt

  3. Board of directors voted for the revolution
• Bonifacio was a mere bodeguero (warehouseman) earning ₱25 (Mex.) a month, but he was a cultured man
• Bonifacio always wore an open coat, with a black necktie, and a black hat. He always carried an umbrella
• Bonifacio's hobby was weaving bamboo hats and selling them in Manila to make extra money
• Spaniards were coming


  Men led by Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and other leaders of the Katipunan were prepared for attack
• Shots were fired by the civil guards, marking the beginning of the fire which later became a huge conflagration