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Lasalle Drive, Mangagoy Bislig City

HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Module Number VII

Module Title “One Past but Many Histories”: Controversies and Conflicting Views
in Philippines History
Duration Four (4) Hours
Week Number 7
Date January 30 – February 4, 2023

OBJECTIVES
At the of this lesson, you must be able:

1. To state the different versions of four of the controversial issues in Philippine history;
2. To analyze the conflicting views presented on some historical events that shaped the
history of the Philippines; and
3. To make a critical evaluation of the issues in Philippine history.

DISCUSSION

Case Study 1: Where Did the First Catholic Mass Take Place in the Philippines?

The popularity of knowing where the "firsts" happened in history has been an easy way to
trivialize history, but this case study will not focus on the significance (or lack thereof) of the site
of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines, but rather, use it as a historiographical exercise in
the utilization of evidence and interpretation in reading historical events. Butuan has long been
believed as the site of the first Mass. In fact, this has been the case for three centuries,
culminating in the erection of a monument in 1872 near Agusan River, which commemorates
the expedition's arrival and celebration of Mass on 8 April 1521. The Butuan claim has been
based on a rather elementary reading of primary sources from the event. Toward the end of the
nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century, together with the increasing
scholarship on the history of the Philippines, a more nuanced reading of the available evidence
was made, which brought to light more considerations in going against the more accepted
interpretation of the first Mass in the Philippines, made both by Spanish and Filipino scholars. It
must be noted that there are only two primary sources that historians refer to in identifying the
0site of the first Mass. One is the log kept by Francisco Albo, a pilot of one of Magellan's ship,
Trinidad. He was one of the 18 survivors who returned with Sebastian Elcano on the ship
Victoria after they circumnavigated the world. The other, and the more complete, was the
account by Antonio Pigafetta, Primo Uaggio intorno al mondo (First Voyage Around the World).
Pigafetta, like Albo, was a member of the Magellan expedition and an eyewitness of the events,
particularly, of the first Mass.

Primary Source: Albo's Log

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Source: Diario o derotero del viage de Magallanes desde el cabo se S. Agustin en el Brazil
hasta el regreso a Espana de la nao Victoria, escrito por Frandsco Albo," Document no. xxii in
Colleción de viages descubrinmientos que hicieron por mar los Españoles desde fines del siglo
XV, Ed. Martin Fernandez de Navarrete (reprinted Buenos Aires 1945, 0 Vols) IV, 191-225. As
cited in Miguel A. Bernad "Butuan or Limasawa

The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence 1981, Künaadman:
A Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. 111, 1-35.

1. On the 16th of March (1521) as they sailed in a westerly course from Ladrones, they saw
land towards the northwest; but owing to many shallow places they did not approach it. They
found later that its name was Yunagan.
2. They went instead that same day southwards to another small island named Suluan, and
there they anchored. There they saw some canoes, but these fled at the Spaniards' approach.
This island was at 9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude.
3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed westward to an uninhabited island of Gada"
where they took in a supply of wood and water. The sea around that island was free from
shallows. (Albo does not give the latitude of this island, but from Pigatetta's testimony, this
seems to be the "Acquada or Homonhon, at 10 degrees North latitude.)
4. From that island they sailed westwards towards a large island names Seilani that was
inhabited and was known to have gold. (Seilani- or, as Pigafetta calls it, "Ceylon-was the island
of Leyte.)
5. Sailing southwards along the coast of that large island of Seilani, they turned southwest to a
small island called "Mazava." That island is also at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees North.
6. The people of that island of Mazava were very good. There the Spaniards planted a cross
upon a mountain-top, and from there they were shown three islands to the west and southwest,
where they were told there was much gold. "They showed us how the gold was gathered, which
came in small pieces like peas and lentils.
7. From Mazava they sailed northwards again towards Seilani. They followed the coast of
Seilani in a northwesterly direction, ascending to 10 degrees of latitude where they saw three
small islands.
8. From there they sailed westwards some ten leagues, and there they saw three islets, where
they dropped anchor for the night. In the morning they sailed southwest some 12 leagues, down
to a latitude of l0 and one-third degree. There they entered a channel between two islands, one
of which was called "Matan" and the other "Zubu."
9. They sailed down that channel and then turned westward and anchored at the town (la villa)
of Zubu where they stayed many days and obtained provisions and entered a peace-pact with
the local king.
10. The town of Zubu was on an east-west direction with the islands of Suluan and Mazava. But
between Mazava and Zubu, there were so many shallows that the boats could not go westward
directly but must go (as they did) in a round-about way.
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It must be noted that in Albo's account, the location of Mazava fits the location of the island of
Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9°54N. Also, Albo does not mention the first Mass, but
only the planting of the cross upon a mountain-top from which could be seen three islands to the
west and southwest, which also fits the southern end of Limasawa.

Primary Source: Pigafetta's Testimony on the Route of Magellan's Expedition

Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34,
as cited in Miguel A. Bernad, "Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the
Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence" 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern
Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.

1. Saturday, 16 March 1521- Magellan's expedition sighted a "high land" named "Zamal" which
was some 300 leagues westward of Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.
2. Sunday, March 17 "The following day" after sighting Zamal Island, they landed on "another
island which was uninhabited" and which lay "to the right" of the above-mentioned island of
"Zamal." (To the "righť here would mean on their starboard going south or southwest.) There
they set up two tents for the sick members of the crew and had a sow killed for them. The
name of this island was Humunu (Homonhon). This island was located at 10 degrees North
latitude.
3. On that same day (Sunday, March 17), Magellan named the entire archipelago the "Islands
of Saint Lazarus," the reason being that it was Sunday in the Lenten season when the
Gospel assigned for the Mass and the liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of St. John,
which tells of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
4. Monday, March 18- In the afternoon of their second day on that island, they saw a boat
coming towards them with nine men in it. An exchange of gifts was affected. Magellan asked
for food supplies, and the men went away, promising to bring rice and other supplies in "four
days.
5. There were two springs of water on that island of Homonhon. Also, they saw there some
indications that there was gold in these islands. Consequently, Magellan renamed the island
and called it the "Watering Place of Good Omen" (Acquada la di bouni segniali).
6. Friday, March 22-At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two boats, and they
brought food supplies.
7. Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to the
Monday of the following week, March 25.
8. Monday, March 25 In the afternoon, the expedition weighed anchor and left the island of
Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical calendar, this day (March 25) was the feast-day of the
incarnation, also called the feast of the Annunciation and therefore "Our Lady's Day. On this
day, as they were about to weigh anchor, an accident happened to Pigafëtta: he fell into the
water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape from death as grace obtained
through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-day.
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9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was "toward the west southwest,
between four islands: namely, Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien." Very probably
"Cenalo is a misspelling in the Italian manuscript for what Pigafetta in his map calls "Ceilon
and Albo calls "Seilani: namely the island of Leyte. Hiunanghan" (a misspelling of
Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate island, but is on the mainland of Leyte
G.e., "Ceylon'"). On the other hand, Hibuson (Pigafetta's Ibusson) is an island east of Leyte's
southern tip. Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing toward the west
southwest" past those islands. They left Homonhon sailing westward towards Leyte, then
followed the Leyte coast southward, passing between the island of Hibuson on their portside
and unangan Bay on their starboard, and then continued southward, then turning westward
to "Mazaua.
10. Thursday, March 28 In the morning of Holy Thursday, March 6, they anchored off an island
where the previous night they had seen a light or a bonfire. That island "lies in a latitude of
nine and two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole (i.e., North) and in a longitude of one hundred
and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. lt is twenty-five leagues from the
Acquada and is called Mazaua.
11. They remained seven days on Mazaua lsland.
12. Thursday, April 4-They left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided thither by the king of
Mazaua who sailed in his own boat. Their route took them past five "islands" namely:
"Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan."
13. At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands of the Camotes Group, namely, Poro,
Pasihan and Ponson. Here the Spanish ships stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch
up with them, since the Spanish ships were much faster than the native balangha-a thing that
excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua.
14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed southwards towards "Zubu”.
15. Sunday, April 7 - At noon they entered the harbor of "Zubu” (Cebu). It had taken them three
days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua northwards to the Camotes Islands and then
southwards to Cebu. It must be pointed out that both Albo and Pigafetta's testimonies
coincide and corroborate each other. Pigafetta gave more details on what they did during
their weeklong stay at Mazaua.

Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in Mazaua

Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34,
as cited in Miguel A. Bernad, "Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the
Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence" 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern
Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.

1. Thursday, March 28-In the morning they anchored near an island where they had seen a light
the night before a small boat (boloto) came with eight natives, to whom Magellan threw some
trinkets as presents. The natives paddled away, but two hours later two larger boats
(balanghai) came, in one of which the native king sat under an awning of mats. At Magellan's
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invitation some of the natives went up the Spanish ship, but the native king remained seated in
his boat. An exchange of gifts was affected. In the afternoon that day, the Spanish ships
weighed anchor and came closer to shore, anchoring near the native king’s village. This
Thursday, March 28, was Thursday in Holy Week, i.e., Holy Thursday.
2. Friday, March 29-"Next day. Holy Friday, Magellan sent his slave interpreter ashore in a small
boat to ask the king if he could provide the expedition with food supplies, and to say that they
had come as friends and not as enemies. In reply to the king himself came in a boat with six or
eight men, and this time went up Magellan's ship and the two men embraced. Another
exchange of gifts was made. The native king and his companions returned ashore, bringing
with them two members of Magellan's expedition as guests for the night. One of the two was
Pigafetta.
3. Saturday, March 30 Pigafetta and his companion had spent the previous evening feasting and
drinking with the native king and his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that, although it was Good
Friday, they had to eat meat. The following morning (Saturday) Pigafetta and his companion
took leave of their hosts and returned to the ships.
4. Sunday, March 31-"Early in the morning of Sunday, the last of March and Easter day,"
Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare for the Mass. Later in the morning
Magellan landed with some fifty men and Mass was celebrated, after which a cross was
venerated. Magellan and the Spaniards returned to the ship for the noon-day meal, but in the
afternoon, they returned ashore to plant the cross on the summit of the highest hill. In
attendance both at the Mass and at the planting of the cross were the king of Mazaua and the
king of Butuan.
5. Sunday, March 31-On that same afternoon, while on the summit of the highest hill, Magellan
asked the two kings which ports he should go to obtain more abundant supplies of food than
were available in that island. They replied that there were three to choose from: Ceylon, Zubu,
and Calagan. Of the three, Zubu was the port with the most trade. Magellan then said that he
wished to go to Zubu and to depart the following morning. He asked for someone to guide him
thither. The kings replied that the pilots would be available "any time. But later that evening the
King of Mazaua changed his mind and said that he would himself conduct Magellan to Zubu
but that he would first have to bring the harvest in. He asked Magellan to send him men to
help with the harvest.
6. Monday, April 1 - Magellan sent men ashore to help with the harvest, but no work was done
that day because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking bout the night before.
7. Tuesday, April 2, and Wednesday, April3- Work on the harvest during the "next two days, 1.e.,
Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2nd and 3rd of April.
8. Thursday, April 4-They leave Mazaua, bound for Cebu. Using the primary sources avallable,
Jesuit priest Miguel A. Bernad in his work Butuan or Limasauwa: The Site of the First Mass in
the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence (1981) lays down the argument that in the
Pigafetta account, a crucial aspect of Butuan was not mentioned-the river. Butuan is a riverine
settlement, situated on the Agusan River. The beach off Masno is in the delta of said river. It
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18 a curious omission in the account of the river, which makes part of a distinct characteristic
of Butuan's geography that seemed to be too important to be missed.

Case Study 2: What Happened in the Cavite Mutiny?

The year 1872 is a historic year of two events: the Cavite Mutiny and the martyrdom of the three
priests: Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, later immortalized as GOMBURZA.
These events are very important milestones in Philippine history and have caused ripples
throughout time, directly influencing the decisive events of the Philippine Revolution toward the
end of the century. While the significance is unquestioned, what made this year controversial are
the different sides to the story, a battle of perspectives supported by primary sources. ln this case
study, we zoom in to the events of the Cavite Mutiny, a major factor in the awakening of
nationalism among the Filipinos of that time.

Spanish Accounts of the Cavite Mutiny

The documentation of Spanish historian Jose Montero y Vidal centered on how the
event was an attempt in overthrowing the Spanish government in the Philippines. Although
regarded as a historian, his account of the mutiny was criticized as woefully biased and rabid for
a scholar. Another account from the official report written by then Governor General Rafael
Izquierdo implicated the native clergy, who were then, active in the movement toward
secularization of parishes. These two accounts corroborated each other.

Primary Source: Excerpts from Montero's Account of the Cavity Mutiny

Source: Jose Monteroy Vidal, "Spanish Version of the Cavite Mutiny of 1872," in Gregorio Zaide
and Sonia Zaide, Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 7 (Manila: National Book
Store, 1990), 269- 273.

The abolition of privileges enjoyed by the laborers of the Cavite arsenal of exemption
from the tribute was, according to some, the cause of the insurrection. There were, however,
other causes. The Spanish revolution which overthrew a secular throne, the propaganda carried
on by an unbridled press against monarchical principles, attentatory [sic] of the most sacred
respects towards the dethroned majesty; the democratic and republican books and pamphlets;
the speeches and preaching of the apostles of these new ideas in Spain; the outbursts of the
American publicists and the criminal policy of the senseless Governor whom the Revolutionary
government sent to govern the Philippines, and who put into practice these ideas were the
determining circumstances which gave rise, among certain Filipinos, to the idea of attaining their
independence. It was towards this goal that they started to work, with the powerful assistance of
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a certain section of the native clergy, who out of spite toward friars, made common cause with the
enemies of the mother country.
At various times but especially in the beginning of year 1872, the authorities received
anonymous communications with the information that a great uprising would break out against
the Spaniards, the minute the fleet at Cavite left for the South, and that all would be
assassinated, including the friars. But nobody gave importance to these notices. The conspiracy
had been going on Since the days of La Torre with utmost secrecy. At times, the principal leaders
met either in the house of Filipino Spaniard, D. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, or in that of the native
priest, Jacinto Zamora, and these meetings were usually attended by the curate of Bacoor, the
soul of the movement, whose energetic character and immense wealth enabled him to exerc1se
a strong infuence.

Primary Source: Excerpts from the Official Report of Governor Izquierdo on the Cavite
Mutiny of 1872
Source: Rafael Izquierdo, "Official Report on the Cavite Mutiny," in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia
Zaide, Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 7 (Manila: National Book Store,
1990), 281-286.

...It seems definite that the insurrection was motivated and prepared by the native clergy, by the
mestizos and native lawyers, and by those known here as abogadillos.

The instigators, to carry out their criminal project, protested the injustice of the
government in not paying the provinces for their tobacco crop, and against the usury that some
practice in documents that the Finance department gives crop owners who have to sell them at a
loss. They encouraged the rebellion by protesting what they called the injustice of having obliged
the workers in the Cavite arsenal to pay tribute starting January 1 and to render personal service,
from which they were formerly exempted.
Up to now it has not been clearly determined if they planned to establish a monarchy or
a republic, because the Indios have no word in their language to describe this different form of
government, whose head in Filipino would be called hari; but it turns out that they would place at
the head of the government a priest. that the head selected would be D. Jose Burgos, or D.
Jacinto ZamOrä. Such is... the plan of the rebels, those who guided them, and the means they
counted upon for its realization.
It is apparent that the accounts underscore the reason for the "revolution": the abolition
of privileges enjoyed by the workers of the Cavite arsenal such as exemption from payment of
tribute and being employed in polos y servicios, or force labor. They also identified other reasons
which seemingly made the issue a lot more serious, which included the presence of the native
clergy, who, out of spite against the Spanish friars, "conspired and supported the rebels.
Izquierdo, in an obviously biased report, highlighted that attempt to overthrow the Spanish
government in the Philippines to install a new "hari in the persons of Fathers Burgos and Zamora.
According to him, native clergy attracted supporters by giving them charismatic assurance that
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their fight would not fail because they had God's support, aside from promises of lofty rewards
such as employment, wealth, and ranks in the army.
In the Spaniard's accounts, the event of 1872 was premeditated, and was part of a big
conspiracy among the educated leaders, mestizos, lawyers, and residents of Manila and Cavite.
They allegedly plan to liquidate high ranking Spanish officers, then kill the friars. The signal they
identified among these conspirators of Manila and Cavite was the rockets fired from Intramuros.
The accounts detail that on 20 January 1872, the district of Sampaloc celebrated the
feast of the Virgin of Loreto and came with it were some fireworks display. The Caviteños
allegedly mistook this as the signal to commence with the attack. The 200-men contingent led by
Sergeant Lamadrid attacked Spanish officers at sight and seized the arsenal. Izquierdo, upon
learning of the attack, ordered the reinforcement of the Spanish forces in Cavite to quell the
revolt. The "revolution was easily crushed, when the Manileños who were expected to aid the
Caviteños did not arrive. Leaders of the plot were killed in the resulting skirmish, while Fathers
Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora were tried by a court-martial and sentenced to be executed. Others
wno were implicated such as Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Antonio [Link], Jose and Pio Basa,
and other Filipino lawyers were suspended from the practice of law, arrested, and sentenced to
life imprisonment at the Marianas Island. Izquierdo dissolved the native regiments of artillery and
ordered the creation of an artillery force composed exclusively by Peninsulares.
On 17 February 1872, the GOMBURZA were executed to serve as a threat to Filipinos
never to attempt to fight the Spaniards again.

Differing Accounts of the Events of 1872

Two other primary accounts exist that seem to counter the accounts of Izquierdo and
Montero. First, the account of Dr. Trinidad Hermenegildo Pardo de Tavera, a Pilipino scholar and
researcher, who wrote a Filipino version of the bloody incident in Cavite.

Primary Source: Excerpts from Pardo de Tavera's Account of the Cavite Mutiny
Source: Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, "Filipino Version of the Cavity Mutiny," in Gregorio Zaide and
Sonia Zaide, Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 7 (Manila: National Book Store,
1990), 274 280.

This uprising among the soldiers in Cavite was used as s powerful level by the Spanish
residents and by the friars. the Central Government in Madrid had announced its intention to
deprive the friars in these islands of powers of intervention in matters of civil government and of
the direction and management of the university. it was due to these facts and promises that the
Filipinos had great hopes of an improvement in the affairs of their country, while the friars, on the
other hand, feared that their power in the colony would soon be complete a thing of the
past. ...Up to that time there had been no intention of secession from Spain, and the only
aspiration of the people was. to secure the material and education advancement of the country...
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According to this account, the incident was merely a mutiny by Filipino soldiers and
laborers of the Cavite arsenal to the dissatisfaction arising from the draconian policies of
Izquierdo, such as the abolition of privileges and the prohibition of the founding of the school of
arts and trades tor Filipinos, which the General saw as a smokescreen to creating a political club.
Tavera is of the opinion that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite Mutiny to
address other issues by blowing out of proportion the isolated mutiny attempt. During this time,
the Central Government in Madrid was planning to deprive the friars of all the powers of
intervention in matters of civil government and direction and management of educational
institutions. The friars needed something to justify their continuing dominance in the country, and
the mutiny provided such opportunity.
However, the Central Spanish Government introduced an educational decree fusing
sectarian schools run by the friars into a school called the Philippine Institute. The decree aimed
to improve the standard of education in the Philippines by requiring teaching positions in these
schools to be filled by competitive examinations, an improvement welcomed by most Filipinos.
Another account, this time by French writer Edmund Plauchut, complemented Tavera's
account and analyzed the motivations of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.

Primary Source: Excerpts from Plauchut's Account of the Cavite Mutiny

Source: Edmund Plauchut, The Cavite Mutiny of 1872, and the Martyrdom of Gom-Bur-Za," in
Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide, Documentary Souroces of Philippine History, Volume 7 (Manila:
National Book Store, 1990), 251-268.

General La Torre created a junta composed of high officials... including some friars and
six Spanish officials.... At the same time there was created by the government in Madrid a
committee to investigate the same problems submitted to the Manila committee. When the two
finished work, it was found that they came to the same conclusions. Here is the summary of the
reforms they considered necessary to introduce:

1. Changes in tariff rates at customs, and the methods of collection.

2. Removal of surcharges on foreign importations.
3. Reduction of export fees
4. Permission for foreigners to reside in the Philippines, buy real estate, enjoy freedom of
worship, and operate commercial transports flying the Spanish flag.
5. Establishment of an advisory council to inform the Minister of Overseas Affairs in Madrid on
the necessary reforms to be implemented.
6. Changes in primary and secondary education.
7. Establishment of an Institute of Civil Administration in the Philippines, rendering unnecessary
the sending home of short-term civil officials every time there is a change of ministry.
8. Study of direct-tax system.
9. Abolition of the tobacco monopoly.
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...The arrival in Manila of General Izquierdo... put a sudden end to all dreams of reforms... the
prosecutions instituted by the new Governor General were probably expected because of the
bitter disputes between the Filipino clerics and the friars. Such a policy must really end in a strong
desire on the part of the other to repress cruelly.

Regarding schools, it was previously decreed that there should be in Manila a Society of
Arts and Trades to be opened in March of 1871... to repress the growth of liberal teachings,
General Izquierdo suspended the opening of the school... the day before the scheduled
inauguration.
The Filipinos had a duty to render service on public roads construction and pay taxes
every year. But those who were employed at the maestranza of the artillery, in the engineering
shops and arsenal of Cavite, were exempted from this obligation from time immemorial... Without
preliminaries of any kind, a decree by the Governor withdrew from such old employees their
retirement privileges and declassified them into the ranks of those who worked on public roads.
The friars used the incident as a part of a larger conspiracy to cement their dominance,
which had started to show cracks because of the discontent of the Filipinos. They showcased the
mutiny as part of a greater conspiracy in the Philippines by Filipinos to overthrow the Spanish
Government. Unintentionally, and more so, prophetically, the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 resulted in
the martyrdom of GOMBURZA, and paved the way to the revolution culminating in 1898.
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Case Study 3: Where Did the Cry of Rebellion Happen?

Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late nineteenth century, including
the Philippines. Journalists of the time referred to the phrase El Grito de Rebelion" or "Cry of
Rebellion" to mark the start of these revolutionary events, identifying the places where it
happened. In the Philippines, this happened in August 1896, northeast of Manila, where they
declared rebellion against the Spanish colonial government. These events are important markers
in the history of colonies that struggled for their independence against their colonizers.
The controversy regarding this event stems from the identification of the date and place
where the Cry happened. Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo emphasizes the event
when Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the Katipuneros who also did the same.
Some writers identified the first military event with the Spaniards as the moment of the Cry, for
which, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned an "Himno de Balintawak to inspire the renewed struggle
after the Pact of the Biak-na-Bato failed. A monument to the Heroes of 1896 was erected in what
is now the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue and Andres Bonifacio Drive-
North Diversion Road, and from then on until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was celebrated every
26th of August. The site of the monument was chosen for an unknown reason.

Different Dates and Places of the Cry

Various accounts of the Cry give different dates and places. A guardia civil, Lt. Olegario
Diaz, identified the Cry to have happened in Balintawak on 25 August 1896. Teodoro Kalaw,
Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August
1896. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the Magdiwang
faction in Cavite, put the Cry in Bahay Toro in Quezon City on 24 August 1896. Pio Valenzuela,
known Katipunero and privy to many events concerning the Katipunan stated that the Cry
happened in Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896. Historian Gregorio Zaide identified the Cry to have
happened in Balintawak on 26 August 1896, while Teodoro Agoncillo put it at Pugad Lawin on 23
August 1896, according to statements by Pio Valenzuela. Research by historians Milagros
Guerrero, Emmanuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas claimed that the event took place in
Tandang Sora's barn in Gulod, Barangay Banlat, Quezon City, on 24 August 1896.

Primary Source: Accounts of the Cry

Guillermo Masangkay
Source: Guillermo Masangkay, "Cry of Balintawak" in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide,
Documentary Sources of Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: National Book Store, 1990), 307-
309.

On August 26th, a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio
Samson, then cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata,
 DE LA SALLE JOHN BOSCO COLLEGE
Lasalle Drive, Mangagoy Bislig City
HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

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 were also present.
At about nine o'clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres
Bonifacio presiding and Bmilio Jacinto acting as secretary. The purpose was to discuss when the
uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Pio Valenzuela were all opposed
to starting the revolution too early... Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose in the
discussion then, left the session hall and talked to the people, who were waiting outside for the
result of the meeting of the leaders. He told the people that the leaders were arguing against
starting the revolution early and appealed to them in a fiery speech in which he said: "You
remember the fate of our countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return now to
the towns, the Spaniards will only shoot us. Our organization has been discovered and 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... I want to see you destroy your cedulas. It will be a sign that all of us
have declared our severance from the Spaniards.

Pio Valenzuela
Source: Pio Valenzuela, "Cry of Pugad Lawin," in Gregorio Zaide and Sonia Zaide, Documentary
Sources of Philippine History, Volume 8 (Manila: National Book Store, 1990), 301-302.

The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del 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 Briccio Pantas, Alejandro
Santiago, Kamon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others. Here, views were only exchanged,
and no resolution was debated or adopted. It was at Pugad lawin, the house storehouse, 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, 1896. The discussion was on
whether the revolution against the Spanish government should be started on August 29, 1896...
After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted
"Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!
From the eyewitness accounts presented, there is indeed marked disagreement among
historical witnesses as to the place and time of the occurrence of the Cry. Using primary and
secondary sources, tour places have been identified: Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin, and
 DE LA SALLE JOHN BOSCO COLLEGE
Lasalle Drive, Mangagoy Bislig City
HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Bahay Toro, while the dates vary: 23, 24, 25, or 26 August 1896. Valenzuela's account should be
read with caution: He once told a Spanish investigator that the "Cry happened in Balintawak on
Wednesday, 26 August 1896. Much later, he wrote in his Memoirs of the Revolution that it
happened at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896. Such inconsistencies in accounts should always
be seen as a red flag when dealing with primary sources.
According to Guerrero, Encarnacion, and Villegas, all these places are in Balintawak,
then part of Caloocan, now, in Quezon City. As for the dates, Bonifacio and his troops may have
been moving from one place to another to avoid being located by the Spanish government, which
could explain why there are several accounts of the Cry.

REFERENCES:

Candelaria, J. L., & Alphora, V. C. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Quezon City: Rex
Printing Company, Inc.

Torres, J. V. (2018). BATIS Sources in Philippine History. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.

Christopher F. B., Raymond E. B, Julie C. L., Fatima F. R., Tecah C. S. (2006). Philippine History
Coursebook. Quezon City: Trinitas Publishing. INC.