HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

School of Education
#1 Holy Angel Avenue, Sto. Rosario, Angeles City

Name: Torres, Patricia Ysabel T. Date: March 03, 2023

Year and Section:TMT-303
Subject: 1112-4READPHILHIS

Position Paper on Xiao Time: ANG UNANG SIGAW NG HIMAGSIKAN SA BALINTAWAK,

KALOOKAN

The phrase "One past, many histories" sums up Unang Si Gaw's history, which took place in

1896. It was alleged in the essay "One Past, Many Histories: Controversies and Conflicting

Perspectives in Philippine History" and the video "Xiao Time: Ang Unang Sigaw ng Himagsikan sa

Balintawak, Caloocan" that several historical events in the Philippines have been contested. For

those of us who were interested in learning more about the past, historians' conflicting descriptions

of the Unang Sigaw's sites created ambiguity. Still, I found the piece to be interesting. As a result,

the article's wealth of information and thorough explanation of what transpired in Unang Sigaw

have more influence over me.

According to the article "One past, many histories: conflicts and opposing viewpoints in

Philippine History," as the title suggests, "The Cry of the Revolution" is one of them. There are

several problems with "Cry" that have not yet been rectified. Finding the exact location of the "cry"

is a challenge. The article featured justifications from the accounts of Alvarez, Valenzuela, and

Masangkay, yet there is insufficient proof that the places they identified are the precise places

where the "cry" took place. They named Balintawak, Caloocan, and Pugad Lawin, which are

situated in what is now Bahay Toro, Quezon City, as the three places where the "cry" took place.

Even though it might seem odd, they recounted the incidents that took place there since they were

representative of what was going on at the time.

Moreover, Notes on the "Cry" of August 1896 covers the geography, words, papers, and

sites associated with the "Cry," according to the sources cited in Richardson's (2019) essay. The

"cry" took place, according to the information given, between August 23 and August 26, 1896. But

precise times and places must be recalled in order to preserve official history. Historians are

troubled by the fact that decades of debate have not produced any definitive answers. Although
some records claim the day is August 25, Borromeo-Buehler and Encarnacion have shown that the

majority of trustworthy modern sources concur that the day is August 26. Cedulas may have been

torn, however, on numerous occasions and in various places, according to a number of accounts.

It's probably because Katipuneros showed up to join their nascent army. Over the course of

many days, many of them desired to openly declare their uprising and intention to oppose Spanish

control in a comparable manner. Internal data reveals that Ramon Bernardo, a Pandacan-based

Katipunan leader who participated in the "cry," provided Alvarez with the information used to create

his account of the meeting on August 24. A video from Xiao Time called Ang unang sigaw sa

Balintawak and the book "In Focus: Balintawak: The Cry for a National Revolution" are other

sources that claim the "Cry's" location is still unknown. Although all of these sources have

connections to the "cry" and are the puzzle pieces we are trying to put together, there are currently

no facts or supporting evidence to pinpoint the cry's exact location.

In their testimonials, some of the soldiers didn't provide any precise information about any of

the three potential places. They said "Balintawak" or "Caloocan," which both refer to locations

within the Caloocan municipality. The more specialized sources must take precedence over the

more broad ones. One of three potential locations—Kangkong, Pasong Tamo (in the province of

Banlat), or Bahay Toro—was suggested to veterans. Eight out of ten people who spoke of

Kangkong, Pasong Tamo, or Bahay Toro remembered the crucial conference, or "grito," that

occurred there. The crucial meeting allegedly took place at Melchora Aquino's house, close to

Pasong Tamo, according to the lone veteran, Pio Valenzuela. His memory was erratic, though.

Also, he mentioned that the pasya was taken in Kangkong (1911). If Kangkong's testimony from

that particular event were taken into account, his score would be 9 out of 10.

As a result, the "Cry" is still mentioned in Bahay Toro's official records today. According to

the report, "Pugad Lawin in Bahay Toro" is still recognized as a legitimate site. The article's content

offers additional arguments, references, terminology, and situations that contribute to the facts of

what transpired and help readers comprehend the "cry" in a broader context. As a result, the article

is more persuasive and instructive. I concur with Louis Gottschalk, so let's keep digging for the

truth because doing so will enlighten a great many people and serve as a reminder of the

importance of the Cry in Pugad Lawin.

 References:

Guerrero, M., Encarnation, E., & Villegas, R. (2003, June 6). In Focus: Balintawak: The Cry for a

Nationwide Revolution. gov.ph. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-

focus/balintawak-the-cry-for-a-nationwide-revolution/

Notes on the “Cry” of August 1896 - Katipunan: Documents and Studies. (n.d.).

http://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/studies/notes-on-the-cry-of-august-1896

Xiao Chua. (2020b, May 28). Xiao Time: Ang Unang Sigaw ng Himagsikan sa Balintawak,

Caloocan [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtc9q_V8_hs&t=225s