PUGADLAWIN- BALINTAWAK

INTRODUCTION

In August 1896, northeast of manila, fiipinos similarity declared their rebellion

against the Spanish colonial government. It was Manuel Sastron, the Spanish
historian, who consigned the phrase for the Philippines in his 1987 book. “ La
Insurreccion en Filipinas” ALI these “ Cries” were milestone in the several
colonial to nationalist histories of the world. The first accepted venue and date was
“ Balintawak dated August 26. It was changed in 1963 to Pugadlawin” on August
23 through the issuance of former President, Diosdado Makapagal of Proclamation
No. 149 series of 1963. According to Ambeth Ocampo, there are five different
places in five different dates but the two most famous versions are the Pugadlawin
and Balintawak. It is because of the reputation of the historian who wrote it
according to their sources.

OPEN STATEMENT

From the book entitled” Revolt of the Masses” (1956) by Teodoro Agoncillo .It
was in Pugadlawin where they proceeded upon leaving Samson’s place in the
afternoon of the 22nd , that the more than 1000 members of the Katipunan met in
the yard of Juan A. Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino. In the morning of August 23rd
, considerable discussion arose whether the revolt against the Spanish government
should be started on the 29th . One man protested, but he was overruled in his
stand .Bonifacio the announced the decision and shouted “Brothers , it was agreed
to continue with the plan of revolt. My brothers , do you swear to repudiate the
government that oppress us?” and the rebels shouting , as one man replied, “Yes ,
Sir!” then Bonifacio added, “ Bring out your cedulas and tear them to pieces to
symbolizes our determination to take arms!” Amidst the ceremony, the rebels in
their tear- strained eyes, shouted “Long live the Philippines! Long live the
Katipunan!”

ARGUMENT 1
THE CRY OF BALINTAWAK OCCURRED ON AUGUST 26, 1896
According to Dr. Milagros Guerrero, Ramon Villegas and Emmanuel
Encarnacion, all these mention places are in Balintawak or Caloocan.

BALINTAWAK: If all the accounts are combined and scrutinized, Bonifacio

and the Katipunan were constantly moving from one place to another in order to
avoid the Spaniards. Therefore, different meetings were held and this is why many
of the witnesses remembered various Cries of Balintawak.
The cry of Balintawak occurred in 1896 on the 26th of August .This is written
by Guillermo Masangkay, an eyewitness of the historic even and a friend of
Andres Bonifacio. According to Masangkay , on August 26 1896, they held a
meeting that occurred in Balintawak specifically in the house of Apolonio Samson,
the captain of revolution.

PUGADLAWIN:Agoncillo used his considerable influences and campaign for

a change in the recognized site to Pugadlawin and the date August 23, 1896. In
1963, the National Heroes Commision (a forerunner of the NHI) without formal
consultation or recommendation to President Macapagal.
Consequently, Macapagal ordered that the Cry of Balintawak be called the
“Cry of Pugadlawin”, and that it should be celebrated on August 23 instead of
August 26.

ARGUMENT 2

BALINTAWAK: It is defined that the cry of Balintawak was a turning point in

which the Filipinos decided to put an end to the Spanish colonial dominion in the
Philippines. It happened in Balintawak formerly Caloocan but now is Quezon City.
In 1970, the historian Pedro A. Gagelonia pointed out: The controversy
among historians continues to the present day. The “Cry of Pugadlawin “cannot be
accepted as historically accurate. It lacks positive documentation and supporting
evidence from the witness.

PUGADLAWIN: Consequently, Macapagal ordered that the Cry of

Balintawak be called the “Cry of Pugalawin,” and that it be celebrated on 23
August instead of 26th August. The 1911 monument in Balintawak was later
removed to a highway. Student groups moved to save the discarded monument,
and it was installed in from of Vinzons Hall in the Diliman campus of the
University of the Philippines on 29th November 1968.

In 1935 Valenzuela, Pantas and Pacheco proclaimed “ na hindi sa

Balintawak nangyari ang unang sigaw ng paghihimagsik na kinalalagian ngayon
ng bantayog, kung di sa pook na kilala sa tawag na Pugadlawin.

In 1940 a research team of the Philippines Historical Committee ( a

forerunner of the National Historical Institution or NHI), which included Pio
Valenzuela, identified the precise spot of Pugadlawin as part of sitio Gulod, Banlat,
Kalookan City. In 1964, the NHI Minutes of the Katipunan referred to the place of
the Cry as Tandang Dora’s and not as Juan Ramos’ house and the date as 23
August.

Argument 3
There are only one eye witness which clearly stated that the “unang sigaw ng
himagsikan”

PUGADLAWIN: From 1928 to 1940, Valenzuela maintained that the Cry

happened on 24 August at the house of Tandang Sora in Pugadlawin, which he
now situated near Pasong Tamo Road.
Valenzuela memoirs(1964, 1978) averred they the Cry took place on 23 August
at the house of Juan Ramos at Pugadlawin. The NHI was obviously influenced by
Valenzuela’s memoirs. In 1963, upon the NHI endorsement, President Diosdado
Macapagal ordered that the Cry be celebrated on 23 August and that Pugadlawin
be recognized as its site.
The Cry of Pugadlawin, alternately and originally referred to as the Cry of
Balintawak was the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule.
Because of differing accounts and the ambiguity of place names in these accounts,
the exact date and place of the Cry is disputed.

BALINTAWAK: The Cry of Pugadlawin, alternately and originally referred to

as the Cry of Balintawak was the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against
Spanish rule. Because of differing accounts and the ambiguity of place names in
these accounts, the exact date and place of the Cry is disputed.

Accounts:
Lt. Olegario Diaz – August 25, 1896
Teodoro Kalaw – last week of August 1896 at Kangkong, Balintawak
Santiago Alvarez – Quezon City on August 24, 1896
Pio Valenzuela – Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896
Gregorio Zaide – Balintawak on August 26, 1896
Teodoro Agoncillo – Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896 bases on Pio Valenzuela’s
statement.
Milagros Guerrero, Emmanuel Encarnacion and Ramon Villegas – Tandang Sora’s
barn in Gulod, Barangay Banlat, Quezon City.

Argument 4: PRIMARY SOURCE

BALINTAWAK: First Eyewitness cited Balintawak as bette known reference

point for a larger area. (Dr. Pio Valenzuela). Kangkong, Balintawak] Second,
while Katipunan may have been massing in Kangkong, the revolution was
formally launched elsewhere. But the issue did not rest there.

In 1970, the historian Pedro A. Gagelonia pointed out the controversy among
historians to the present day. The “Cry of Pugadlawin” claimed that happened on
August 23, 1896 cannot be accepted as historically accurate. It lacks positive
documentation and supporting evidence from the witness. The testimony of only
one eyewitness, Dr, Pio Valenzuela, is not enough to authenticate and verify a
controversial issue in history. Historians and their living participants, not
politicians and their sycophants, should settle this controversy.

Julio Nakpil, second husband of Gregoria notes on the Philippine Revolution in

the National Library under Teodoro M. Kalaw in 1925. Here he wrote “ swearing
before God and before history that everything in these notes is the truth”.
CLOSING STATEMENT FOR BALINTAWAK: Here are some
reasons why Pugadlawin is not considered as the place of the cry.
1 People of Balintawak initiated the revolution against the Spaniards that is why it
is not appropriate to call it Cry of Pugadlawin.
2 The place of Pugadlawin only existed in 1935 after the rebellion happened in
1896. Lastly,
3 The term “Pugadlawin” was only made up because of the hawk’s nest at the top
of the tall tree at the backyard of Tandang Sora in Banlat, Gulod, Kalookan where
it is said to be one of the hiding places of the revolutionary group led by Andres
Bonifacio.

CLOSING STAEMENT OF PUGADLAWIN: The news of the discovery

of the Katipunan spread throughout Manila and the suburbs. Bonifacio, inform of
the discovery , all the leaders of the society to a general assembly to be held on
August 24. They were to meet at Balintawak to discuss the steps night of August
19, Bonifacio, accompanied by his brother Procopio, Emilio Jacinton, Teodoro
Plata, and Guendo del Rosario, slipped through the cordon of Spanish sentries and
reached Balintawak before midnight . The “ Cry of Pugadlawin” was a cry for
freedom. It’s historic significance to us consist of the realization that the Filipino
people had finally realized the lasting value of freedom and independence and the
need to fight in order to prove themselves worthy to be called a truly free people.
Bonifacio changed the Katipunan code because the Spanish authorities had
already deciphered it. Bonifacio asked his men whether they were prepared to fight
to the bitter end. Despite the objection of his brother in law , Teodoro Plata, all
assembled agreed to fight to the last. The men tore up their cedulas, shouting “
Long live the Philippines!” This event marked the so called “ Cry of balintawak”,
which actually happened in Pugadlawin. midnight .