\ LESSON 3 CRY OF BALINTAWAK OR PUGAD LAWIN IT IS SURPRISING that there are different versions on the dates for first cry of the revolution as well as its venue. This controversy up to this time remains unsolved. It is believed that the so-called Cry took place in Balintawak; but others would say that it really happened in Pugad Lawin. Nevertheless, there are different versions to consider in knowing the real date and place of the Cry. These include Pio Valenzuela’s Controversial “Cry of Pugad Lawin”, Santiago Alvarez's “The Cry of Bahay Toro”, Gregoria de Jesus’ version of the “First Cry”, and Guillermo Masangkay’s “The Cry of Balintawak”. PIO VALENZUELA’S CONTROVERSIAL “CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN” (August 23, 1896) This controversial version of the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by no other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his first version, he told that the prime staging point of the Cry was in Balintawak on Wednesday of August 26, 1896. He held this account when the happenings or events are still vivid in his memory. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his Memoirs of the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine revolution and claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his account on this topic: Source: Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: National Book Store. “The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, ProcopioBonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Aguedodel Rosario, and myself was Balintawak, the first five arriving there on August 19 and I, on August 20, 1896. The first place where some 500 members of the Katipunan met on August 22, 1896, was the house and yard of Apolonio Samson at Kangkong. Aside from the persons mentioned above, among those who were there were BriccioPantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others. Here, views were only exchanged, and no resolution was debated or adopted. It was at Pugad Lawin, in the house, store-house, and yard of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino, where over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met and carried out considerable debate and discussion on August 23, 1986. The discussion was on whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started on August 29, 1986. Only one man protested and fought against a war, and that was Teodoro Plata [Bonifacio's brother- in-law-Z]. Besides the persons named above, among those present at this meeting were READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY 79Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas Remigio, Sinforoso San Pedro, and other, After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates ang shouted “Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines! THE “CRY OF BRHAY TORO” (August 24, 1896) This version of the “Cry” was written by Santiago Alvarez, a well-known Katipuners from Cavite and a son of Mariano Alvarez. Santiago is a relative of Gregoria de Jesus, who happened to be the wife of Andres Bonifacio. Unlike the author of the first version mentioned (Valenzuela), Santiago Alvarez is not an eyewitness of this event. As a result, this version of him is not given of equal value as compared with the other versions for authors of other accounts are actually part of the historic event. Below is his account: Source: Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5. Manila: Nationa) Book Store, SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1896 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... MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 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'lack in the morning... Ie 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)! GREGORIA DE JESUS’ VERSIONOF THE FIRST “CRY” (August 25, 1896) This version was written by no other than the “Lakambini of the Katipunan” and wife of Andres Bonfacio, Gregoria de Jesus, She has been a participant of this event and became the keeper of the secret documents of the Katipunan. After the Revolution in August 1896, she lived with her parents in Caloocan then fled to Manila when she was told that Spanish authorities wanted to arrest her. Eventually, the mountains and shared adversities with him. In her account, near Caloocan on August 25, 1896, she joined her husband in , the First “Cry” happened Source: Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zoid. 0c oe 'onla Zoid (1990). Documentary Sources of Phillppine History. Vol. 5, Manila: National “The activities of the Katip junan had reached nearly all ilippir i ‘| ieee ‘y all corners of the Philippine Archipelago. discovered and some of the members arrested, we immediately 80 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORYreturned to Caloocan. However, as we were closely watched by tl i authorities, Andres Bonifacio an on Delis toh cape ack hi d other Katipuneros left the town after some days. It was then ne the uprising began, with the first cry for freedom on August 25, 1896. Meanwhile, Iwas with my parents. Through my friends, Ilearned that Spanish were coming to arrest me. Immediately, I fled town at eleven o” clock at is n ¢ . night, secretly going through the lds to Le Lorna, with the intention of returning to Mar red tham actuisk gala : cena e? mila. I was treated like an apparition, for, sad to say, in every house where I tried to get a little rest, I was driven away as if people therein were frightened for their own lives. Later, I found out that the occupants of the houses which I had visited were seized and severely punished-- and some even exiled. One of them was an uncle of mine whom I had visited on that night to kiss his hand, and he died in exile.” THE “CRY OF BALINTAWAK” (August 26, 1896) This version is written by the Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay. He is an eyewitness of the historic event and a childhood friend of Bonifacio. According to him, the first rally of the Philippine Revolution happened on August 26, 1896 at Balintawak. Correspondingly, the date and site presented were accepted by the preliminary years of American government. Below is General Guillermo Masangkay’s version of The “Cry of Balintawak” Source: Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zaide, (1990). Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5, Manila: National Book Store. “On August 26th [1896-Z.], a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio Samson, then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedodel Rosario, Tomas Remigio, BriccioPantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They were all leaders of the Katipunan and composed the board of directors of the organization. Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and Morong (now Rizal,) were also present. ‘At about nine o'clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting 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 [Bonifacio's brother-in-law ~ 2], BriccioPantas, and Pio Valenzuela were all opposed to starting the revolution too early. ‘They reasoned that the people would be in distress if the revolution were started without adequate preparation. Plata was very forceful in his argument, stating that the uprising could not very well be started without the arms and food for the soldiers. Valenzuela used Rizal’s argument about the rich not siding with the Katipunan organization. : sensing that he would lose in the discussion then, left the session An ifacio, : ae who were waiting outside for the result of the meeting hall and talked to the people, 81 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORYof the leaders. He told the people that the leaders were arguing against starting the i .d to them ina fiery speech in which he said: “You remembe, revolution early, and appeale: : shtaid wereumtnss the fate of our countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. area the towns, the Spaniards will only shoot us. Our organization ! as ai i red ang we are all marked men, If we don't start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway, What then, do you say?” “Revolt!” the people shouted as one. Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge that they were to revolt. He told them that the sign of slavery of the Filipinos were (sic) the cedula tax charged each citizen. “If it is true that you are ready to revolt,” Bonifacio saved, “I want to see you destroy your cedulas. It will be the sign that all of us have declared our 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, if not for being katipuneros, for having no cedulas. And people who had no cedulas during those days were severely punished. When the people's pledge was obtained by Bonifacio, he returned to the session hall and informed the leaders of what took place outside. “The people want to revolt, and they have destroyed their cedulas,” Bonifacio said. “So now we have to start the uprising; otherwise the people by hundreds will be shot.” There was no alternative. The board of directors, in the spite of the protests of Plata, Pantas, and Valenzuela, voted for the revolution. And when this was decided, the people outside shouted: “Long Live the Philippine Republic!” I still remember Bonifacio as he appeared that day. Although a mere bodeguero (warehouseman) and earning P25 (Mex.) a month, he was a cultured man. He always wore an open coat, with black necktie, and black hat. He always carried an umbrella. At the meeting that morning of August 26, Bonifacio took off his coat and was wearing only his shirt, with collar and tie. Bonifacio's hobby was weaving bamboo hats. During his spare time he wove dozens of them and sold them in Manila. Thus he made extra money. At about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, while the gathering at Balintawak was celebrating the decision of the Katipunan leaders to start the uprising, trees to watch for any possible intruders or the approach of # that the Spaniards were coming, the guards who were up in ‘he enemy, gave the warning “Led by Bonifacio, 82 | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTOR! |