Chapter 9: The

“Cries” Which
Launched the
Philippine
Revolution
2N2
Bedia, Brix
Beronilla, Mark
Roño, Joseph
Conspiracies in the Philippine History
Philippine Revolution of 1896 was surrounded with minor
controversies on how, when, and where it started.
Four places where the "cry" of the Philippine revolution supposedly
took place:
1. Balintawak
2. Kangkong
3. Pugad Lawin
4. Bahay Toro
5. Pasong tamo
Four different dates:
1. August 23, 1896
2. August 24, 1896
3. August 25, 1896
4. August 26, 1896
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 Conspiracies in the Philippine History
The differences depend on the sources of historical information (most of these
were eyewitnesses except for santiago Alvarez, and captain olegario diaz):
a. Dr. Pio Valenzuela (member of the Katipunan Supreme Council and
emissary of the Katipunan to Rizal in Dapitan
b. Santiago Alvarez of the magdiwang chapter of the Katipunan in Cavite
c. Gregoria De Jesus (Andres Bonifacio's wife)
d. Captain Olegario Diaz (Spanish Guardia Civil)
e. Guillermo Masangkay (Katipunan leader and Bonifacio's friend)
f. Vicente Samson (12 years old at the time)

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 Conspiracies in the Philippine History
The version that was officially adopted by the Philippine government to celebrate the start
of the philippine revolution was Dr. Pio valenzuela's, which was based on his memoirs in
1931.
According to Valenzuela:
a. the "cry" took place in aug 23, 1896 at Pugad Lawin.
b. His memoir was controversial because he made an earlier statement in 1896 that
the "cry" took place on aug 26, 1896
c. After Governor General Ramon blanco had promised to give amnesty to all
katipuneros who surrendered, valenzuela left the katipunan after the tearing of
the cedulas and surrendered to the spaniards. He was imprisoned and
interrogated at Fort Santiago by Colonel Francisco Olive. During the
interrogation, Valenzuela stated that the "cry" happened at Balintawak on aug 26,
1896. The first account, aug 26, 1896, was more credible because events were still
fresh in his mind. While on valenzuela's Memoirs of the Revolution in 1931, he
stated the revolution happened on aug 23, 1896 at Pugad Lawin.
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 Conspiracies in the Philippine History
Here is the summary of the above mentioned versions:
a. the cry of Pugad Lawin by pio valenzuela (aug 23, 1896)
i. On aug 19, 1896, the first place if refuge was at Balintawak. The people who were
there: Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio, Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata,
Aguedo Del Rosario. While pio valenzuela arrived the following day, Aug. 20, 1896.
On Aug. 22, 1896, at house and yard of Apolonio Samson at Kangkong, about 500
members of the katipunan gathered including Briccio Pantas, alejandro santiago,
ramon bernardo, Apolanio samson, and others. However, views and opinions were
only exchanged, and no resolution was carried out. At Pugad Lawin, at the place of
Melchora Aquino's son, Juan Ramos, over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met
and engaged in a serious debate and discussion about the revolution against the
Spanish government (aug 29, 1896). Teodoro Plata was the only one against the
idea of war. Among those who where present, enrique cipriano, alfonso pacheco,
tomas remigio, sinforoso san pedro, and others. After the meeting, those who were
present, tore their cedula certificates, and shouted "Long live the Philippines!"

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Conspiracies in the Philippine History
b The Cry of Bahay Toro by Santiago Alvarez (aug 24, 1896)
i. Sunday, aug 23, 1896, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora (aquino), at a
place called "Sampalukan," barrio of Bahay Toro, 500 katipuneros
arrived and were eager to join the "Supremo" Andres Bonifacio and his
men.
ii. Monday, aug 24, 1896, the "supremo" or Bonifacio decided to hold a
meeting with 1,000 katipuneros inside the big barn. After the meeting,
they shouted, "Long live the Sons of the Country!"

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Conspiracies in the Philippine History
c The Cry of Kalookan by Gregoria de Jesus, Aug 23, 1896
i. The story of Katipunan and its activities had quickly spread throughout
the Philippines because of this, some members were arrested. Gregoria
de Jesus and other Katipuneros went to Kalookan to seek haven. Andres
Bonifacio and other members left after some days. On August 25, 1896,
with the first city of freedom, the uprising began. Gregoria gained intel
that the Spaniards were coming to arrest him so at 11pm, he fled to La
Loma with the intention of returning to Manila. Some people chose
not to help Gregoria for the simple fact that they were afraid of the
consequences of their actions if they helped her for the Spaniards
punish the people who were found out to had been visited by Gregorio.
They were punished or exiled. One of the exiled was Gregoria's Uncle.

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Conspiracies in the Philippine History
d The Cry of Balintawak by Captain Olegario Diaz (Commander of the
Guardia Civil Veterena in Manila), August 25, 1896
i. Due to the conspiracy having been discovered, Bonifacio and some of
his men went to Caloocan. With 5,000 of his men, Bonifacio moved to
the barrio of Balintanac (Balintawak) on Aug. 23, 1896. The meeting was
held to discuss the actions they will make because of the recent events
and the recent arrests that were made. Some of them wanted to
surrender, but Boniface wanted to fight because of his influence, on the
30th of August, orders were immediately sent out to Manila, Cavite,
Nueva Ecija, and other provinces to strike at dawn.

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Conspiracies in the Philippine History
e The Cry of Balintawak by Guillermo Masangkay (Aug. 26, 1896).
i. On aug 26, a big meeting was held in Balintawak at the house of Apolonio
Samson, then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Bonifacio, Emilio
Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata,
Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, Francisco Carreon, delegates from
Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and Morong were the composition of that
meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize when the uprising
would take place. Some members of the Katipunan were hesitant to start the
uprising due to inadequate preparation. The members who opposed the
early uprising were teodoro plata, briccio pantas, and Pio Valenzuela.
Bonifacio asked the people to take a pledge that they were ready to revolt by
tearing up their cedula, which for him, is a sign of slavery. The people then
tore their cedulas. It was the beginning of their formal declaration of
separation from the Spaniards.

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Conspiracies in the Philippine History
f The Cry of Balintawak by Vicente Samson (Aug. 26, 1896)
i. Don Vicente Samson was an old man in his mid seventies who was one
of the most popular figures in Balinatawak and one of the most
respected. In his statement, "The Cry," happened on the 26th of August
and he remembered it well because he wrote down the date. When the
Katipuneros tore of their cedulas, Vicente was merely a 12-year old boy
who had witnessed it first hand. After the tearing of cedula, out of
curiosity, the 12yr old Vicente followed his Father, a leader of
katipunan, and his brother, a katipunero, to meetings. According to
Don Vicente, "Don't ever believe the stories that the first fight happened
in other places. They were just made up to distort the true story of the
revolution."

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Thank you and God bless!

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