“Cry of Rebellion”

Abao| Bardies| Superal

BSMLS 2-B SC 1028
Case Study 4: Where did the Cry of Rebellion happen?
INTRODUCTION:
• Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late 19th century,
including the Philippines.
• Journalists of the time referred to the phrase “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.
CONTROVERSIES:

• 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 a " 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
1. A guardia civil, Lt. Olegario Diaz, identify the Cry to have happened in
Balintawak on 25 August 1896.
2. Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in Kangkong,
Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896.
3. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, leader of the
Magdiwang faction in Cavite, puts the Cry in Bahay Toro in Quezon
City on 24 August 1896.
4. Pio Valenzuela, known Katipunero and privy to many events
concerning the Katipunan stated that the Cry happened in Pugad Lawin
on 23 August 1896.
5. Historian Gregorio Zaide identified the Cry to have happened in
Balintawakon 26 August 1896
6. while Teodoro Agoncillo puts it at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896,
according to statements by Pio Valenzuela.
7. 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 the 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, 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 Emilio 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, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others.
Here, views were only exchanged, and no resolution was debated or adopted.
It was at Pugad Lawin, 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, 1896.
The discussion was on whether or not 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!"
FINDINGS:
• From the eyewitness accounts presented above, 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, four places have been identified:
Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin, and 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.
CONCLUSION
Despite all the confusions with regard to this Cry of Rebellion, the bravery,
overflowing courage, the prevailing and dominating patriotism and nationalism of these
Katipuneros can never be denied. Opposing the Spanish Government who has the
power over the country that time was such a big act of bravery and heroism
considering that their lives including their families' were put at stake so that their
fellow countrymen would be free from the Spaniards who oppressed them at their own
country, Philippines. The initiative to tore down the cedula into pieces which they see
as the start for them to be determined to fought for the country's freedom. This move
of the Katipuneros is a vital start for the Filipinos to be thirsty of independence and
freedom, a mark for the start of Philippine Revolution. The Cry of Rebellion for me
signifies the turning point by which the Filipinos rejects the ruling of the Spanish
Government and their colonial dominion in our country by tearing away the cedulas or
tax certificates which they see as something that ties them with the Spanish
government. By tearing the cedulas while shouting the battle cry "Long Live the
Philippine", the revolution started, and now we were able to get and enjoy the
independence our heroes worked for.