VELASCO, MJ D.
2020102370
GED103_C1_3Q2021
First Cry of the Philippine Revolution:
Balintawak (not Pugad-lawin)
During Spanish colonization, several rebellions erupted in various parts of the Philippines,
shaking the Spaniards' feet. The Katipunan (Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan) is one of the most powerful groups. The Katipunan takes the lead in the fight against
the Spanish dictatorship for democracy and independence. The revolution starts as a result of the
Filipinos' unity. But when did the Philippine Revolution's First Cry begin, and where did it take place?
Many scholars have addressed these sensitive questions about Philippine history. The first
confrontation between the Katipuneros and the Civil Guards was referred to as the scream (Guardia
Civil). The tearing up of community tax certificates (cdulas personales) in violation of their allegiance
to Spain may also be alluded to by the cry. "Viva la Independencia Filipina" inscriptions may also be
used as a term for the cry. This was followed by patriotic yells in the literal sense. These meanings of
cry are also critical in deciding the position of the aforementioned occurrence. There are accounts that
tell us where the scream starts. Many historians believe it happened in Balintawak, but others argue it
happened in Pugad-lawin and other locations. However, we are unanimous in our conviction that the
first cry of the Philippine Revolution originated in Balintawak. The account was published by Tondo
Guillermo Masangkay's last katipunero.
Guillermo Masangkay is the Supremo Andres Bonifacio's friend and adviser. He was one of
the Katipunan's founding members. According to Masangkay's account, on August 26, 1896, the
Supremo summons all katipuneros to a meeting to discuss the early rebellion of revolt against the
Spanish colonizers on August 29, 1896. On his account, Lt. Olegario Diaz (a Spanish guardia civil
officer) reported that the cry occurred in Balintawak on August 25, 1896. It was mentioned in Teodoro
Kalaw's 1925 book "The Filipino Revolution" that the event occurred in Kangkong, Balintawak during
the last week of August 1896. In 1954, historian Gregorio Zaide wrote in his books that the "Cry"
occurred on August 26, 1896 in Balintawak. These sources from these personas corroborated the
Masangkay's version of cry. According to Masangkay, the first clash between the katipuneros and the
civil guards occurred on August 26, 1896, and it is widely believed that this "first clash" is the
definitive meaning of the word cry. Meanwhile, three revolutionaries, Pio Valenzuela, Teodoro Plata,
and Briccio Pantas, were against the early rebellion during the Supremo Andres Bonifacio's meeting
with his fellow men about the revolution. Surprisingly, each of these characters has their own rendition
of the scream. According to them, the incident occurred in Pugad-lawin. However, their arguments are
contradictory. Valenzuela's court testimony in 1896 did not match his memoirs (which he writes years
after the investigation of the controversial issue in Philippine history). Valenzuela lied how many times
in court during the 1896 trial and later denied that he did. Valenzuela made the following
inconsistencies (volatile) remarks in 1896 hearings: 1He claimed that the civil guards attacked on
August 25, 1896, but later revised it to August 26, 1896. ² He first told the court that he left Balintawak
with two guides on the night of August 25, 1896, traveled to Manila via Sampaloc, then to Quiapo,
where he boarded a steamer bound for Biang at the Ayala Bridge. After being told of Gov. Ramon
Blanco's amnesty proclamation, he allegedly returned to Manila from that town and surrendered to
authorities on September 1, 1896. Valenzuela later corrected himself in front of the same judge, stating
that he left Balintawak on the night of August 25, 1896, on Bonifacio's orders, and went to Montalban
to persuade its people to rise up in arms. Valenzuela joined the Katipunan around March 1894, despite
claiming to have joined in July 1892, according to the court (1917 court hearing). He went back to his
original argument that the incident with the civil guards took place on August 25, and fabricated a
narrative around it. Guillermo Masangkay, on the other hand, revealed to the public that Pantas and
Valenzuela had already fled in order to surrender to Spaniards before the civil guards' attack.
Masangkay asked Valenzuela about his version of events, provided that he was not present during the
tearing of the cedula and clash with the civil guard, or simply the "Supreme Scream." Valenzuela's
conduct in court has an effect on the integrity of his testimony. Due to his habit of lying in front of the
media, his assertion cannot be believed. As a result, the version of the Pugad-lawin Cry is not the full
truth of what happened during the revolution's cry. Some historians, however, continue to believe
Valenzuela's version. Historian Teodoro Agoncillo is a firm believer in what Valenzuela wrote in his
memoir, despite Valenzuela's behavior during the court hearing. The 1896 court statements were not
useful or compatible, according to Agoncillo. For him, Valenzuela's memoirs are a better source for
this subject. It is clear that Agoncillo became biased as a result of his reliance on a single source for his
results. The cry is characterized by Agoncillo as the tearing of cedula.
The First Cry of the Philippine Revolution is a critical issue to which we must devote our
attention. We must be cautious in our approach to this issue. How can we trust someone whose claims
are based on his inability to provide clear testimonies? Why should we neglect the court investigation,
which showed that the other side has made several false declarations? The 1986 court hearing
demonstrates that Masangkay's version of the cry, "The First Cry of the Philippine Revolution was in
Balintawak," is the utter truth that should be recorded in Philippine history rather than the other.