Alyssa Ashley C.

Racho
B.S.Psych 1st yr.1B
4.
I first heard about this issue in 9th grade, when we were required to do a voice choir on
the historical incident known as the cry of Balintawak, but it wasn't properly explored. Because
this is the occasion in which Filipinos finally achieved the independence and liberty for which
we had all fought for so long, I feel it is a topic worth discussing. The fact that this discussion
has remained unresolved for many years up to the present time because of the vagueness of the
facts in this narrative and the actual details of the cry are contested, just adds to my interest in
this subject. Apart from being a student ready to study, as a Filipino citizen, I should be well-
versed on this and in any other relevant history in our country.
This historical event is defined as when the Filipinos ultimately repudiated Spanish
colonial rule over the Philippines, it was a defining moment. The people, with despair in their
hearts, pulled out their cedulas and tore them up. The first cry is widely regarded as the initial
call for revolt led by Andres Bonifacio, the supreme leader of the KKK ( Kataastaasan,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). It is seen as the start of the Philippine
revolution, or a violent pursuit of independence for the Philippines from Spanish colonial
authority. Its symbolic value stems from the understanding that Filipinos had finally
acknowledged the real worth of freedom and liberty.
The Katipunan was a secret organization until it was revealed in 1996, that was after four
years. As with everything else in history, there are many varying stories, in this topic, it’s as to
how the Spaniards found it. However, when the Spaniards did find out about it, this caused the
Spaniards to start a movement by capturing and killing Filipinos who they believed are
participants of the KKK. When this message reached Andres Bonifacio, he convened a
conference to seal the revolution before all of the KKK members were slain by the Spaniards,
but most of the authorities thought it was too much of a rush to proceed and continued
to disagree with his declaration. But nevertheless, on the very same day, Andres Bonifacio
continued to formally announce the beginning of the revolution, thus still on that day of that
meeting, they began the first "cry" which is the shredding of their personal identification cards or
better known as cedulas which symbolized the conclusion of Katipunero's devotion to the
Spanish rule at the time. The crowd then chanted “Viva la Independencia Filipina” (Long Live
Philippine Independence) to signal the commencement of the Philippine revolution. The
insurrection developed in intensity and expanded to various provinces (eight): Manila, Bulacan,
Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija, which are now symbolized by
the eight rays of the sun in our National Filipino flag.
The dates and locations of the first cry have many variations, which is why this is the
most contentious event in Philippine history since main data provide contradictory descriptions
of when and where the event occurred. One of the most controversial topics in this significant
period is whether it is “The Cry of Balintawak” or “The Cry of Pugad Lawin.” Although there
are many more assertions made by other people, these two are the most contentious.
The Cry of Pugad Lawin, Pio Valenzuela, August 23, 1896:
Dr. Pio Valenzuela (a Katipunan member) was the sole eyewitness who claimed to have
acknowledged the cry at Pugad Lawin. Because of Teodoro Agoncillo's (Revolt of the masses)
well-known reputation as an award-winning scholar, he pushed to alter the date and location of
the first cry to: Pugadlawin, August 23, 1896, and a large group of people acknowledge in this
version of the story. [ CITATION Gom20 \l 1033 ]. According to his book Revolt of the Peoples,
published in 1956, on August 23, 1896, over 1000 members of the Katipunan gathered at Pugad
Lawin, the star house and yard of Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino, and engaged in extensive
debate and conversation on whether or not the popular uprising against the Spanish government
should be launched on August 29 1896. Many of those people tore their cedula certificates and
screamed "Long live the Philippines!, Long live the Philippines!" as the commotion died down.
[ CITATION Teo56 \l 1033 ]

Counter argument:
The first Cry happened in Balintawak, Guillermo Masangkay, August 26, 1896
Unlike the Pugadlawin version of the story, which has a single account, the Balintawak
has five different versions from different people in Philippine history. The first cry occurred at
Caloocan, Kangkong, Quezon City (which did not exist under the Spanish era), Bahay Toro, and
Pugadlawin all of which are part of Balintawak. [ CITATION Mil03 \l 1033 ] . By collecting and
analyzing and incorporating the accounts, it appears that Bonifacio and the Katipunan members
were moving all the time from one location to another in order to avoid getting the military
presence of the Spaniards. As a result, completely different conferences were conducted, which
is likely why many of the witnesses fondly remembered slightly different versions of the events.
August 26, in the residence of Apolinario Samson in Balintawak, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio
Jacinto (acting secretary), and Aguedo del Rosario held a discussion regarding when the
insurrection really was to occur. They long argued about the revolt going to be starting too soon
and He walked out. Nearby, Andres Bonifacio delivered a powerful speech, prompting the crowd
to yell "Revolt!" and tear their cedulas. Andres Bonifacio eventually returns to the conference
after the commitment and informs the leaders of what happened outside. They all decided for the
revolution in the end, with those outside the conference chanting "Long Live the Philippine
Republic!" [ CITATION Gom20 \l 1033 ].
Because of the fame and recognition of the historians who recorded it according to their
sources, the cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin is the most famous and controversial among the
several accounts of the first cry. However, in 1970, historian Pedro Gagelonia pointed out that
the cry of Pugad Lawin could not be acknowledged as historically accurate because it lacked
favorable documentary evidence and verifiable evidence from witnesses, and the sworn
testimony of only one eye witness, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, was insufficient to authenticate and
independently confirm the contentious issue. Unlike the stories referring to Balintawak,
numerous eye witnesses gave accurate, direct, and comparable perspectives on the subject.
[CITATION Mil03 \l 1033 ] Only when a sufficient number of trustworthy witnesses and
eyewitnesses with accurate and useful testimony are provided is a historical claim accepted or
presumed.
References
Cruz, H. (1922). Kartilyang makabayan. Manila : S.P.
(https://archive.org/details/adt3553.0001.001.umich.edu/page/58/mode/1up)
Kalaw, T. M. (1884-1940). The Philippine Revolution. (https://archive.org/details/t.-m.-
kalaw/page/n8/mode/1up)

Gomez, C. (2019-2020). The Cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin. The Cry of Balintawak or
Pugad Lawin, 1.
Milagros, G. C., Encarnation, E. N., & Villegas, R. N. (2003, June 06). In Focus: Balintawak:
The Cry for a Nationwide Revolution. Retrieved from ncca.gov.ph:
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/balintawak-the-cry-for-a-nationwide-
revolution/
The Revolt of the Masses. (1956). In T. A. Agoncillo, The Revolt of the Masses. University of
the Philippines Press.