3. “Cry”
Originally the term “cry” referred to the first clash between the
katipuneros and Civil Guards (Guardia Civil).
The “cry” could also refer to the tearing up of community tax
certificates (cedulas personales) in defiance of their allegiance to
Spain.
The inscriptions of “Viva la Independencia Filipina” can also be
reffered as term for the “cry” literally accompanied by patriotic
shouts.
4. “Balintawak”
terms “Balintawak” and “Kaloocan” at the turn of the century.
Balintawak referred both to a specific place in modern Caloocan City
and a wider area which included parts of modern Quezon City.
Similarly, Caloocan referred to Modern Caloocan City and also a wider
area which included modern Quezon City and part of modern Pasig.
Pugad Lawin, Pasong Tamo, Kangkong and other specific places were
all in “greater Balintawak”, which was in turn part of “greater Caloocan”
5. The Cry of Balintawak
The cry of Balintawak (Sigaw ng Balintawak/Grito de Balintawak) was
the beginning of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule in 1896
which eventually led to Independence of the country in 1898.
The Cry, defined as the turning point when the Filipinos finally refused
Spanish colonial dominion over the Philippine Islands.
It describes Andres Bonifacio saying, “bring out your cedulas and tear
them to pieces to symbolize our determination to take up arms!” and
shouting “Long live the Philippines!”
With tears in their eyes, the people as one man, pulled out their cedulas
and tore them into pieces.
6. The Cry of Balintawak
The Cry of Balintawak is a contrived controversy. For nearly a century,
the Cry of Balintawak also known as The Cry of Pugadlawin has been
the subject of many controversies. It is considered as the turning point
of the Philippine History.
The main focus of controversy is the date and place where Andres
Bonifacio (and the Katipuneros) cry.
There were five dates for the Cry, August 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 and five
different venues for the first cry. Balintawak, Pugadlawin, kangkong,
bahay-Toro, and Pasong Tamo.
7. Issues of “The Cry”
It has been widely believed and accepted that the first cry of the revolution took
place in Balintawak, Caloocan in august 23, 1896.
The first cry is in August 23, 1896 but the exact place is not in Balintawak but in
Pugadlawin. Between these two controversies, the Balintawak tradition
continues to thrive.
The Cry occurs towards the end of August 1986 and that all the places
mentioned are in Caloocan (now a big City) which in those times was a district
of Balintawak.
8. Asserted Dates and Venues of The Cry
PERSON PLACE DATE
L.T. OLEGARIO DIAZ BALINTAWAK AUGUST 25, 1896
TEODORO KALAW KANGKONG, BALINTAWAK LAST WEK OF AUGUST
SANTIAGO ALVAREZ BAHAY TORO AUGUST 24, 1896
PIO VALENZUELA PUGAD LAWIN AUGUST 23, 1896
GUILLERMO MASANGKAY BALINTAWAK AUGUST 23, 1896
GREGORIO ZAIDE BALINTAWAK AUGUST 26, 1896
TEODORO AGONCILLO PUGAD LAWIN AUGUST 23, 1896
MILAGROSGUERRERO,
EMMANUEL ENCARNACION,
RAMON VILLEGAS
TANDANG SORA’S BARN IN
GULOD,BRGY. BANLAT,
QUEZON CITY
AUGUST 24, 1896
9. Primary sources of the raging
Controversy of “The Cry”
Dr. Pio Valenzuela (August 23, 1896)
Santiago Alvarez (August 24, 1896)
Guillermo Masangkay (August 26, 1896)
10. Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s Controversial “Cry
of Pugadlawin”
The controversial version of the “Cry of Pugadlawin” has been
authorized by no other than Dr. Pio Valenzulea, who happened to be the
eye witness himself of the event.
In his ‘first version’, he told that the prime staging point of the Cry was
in Balintawak on Wednesday August 26, 1896. He held this account
when the happenings or events are still vivid in his memory.
On the other hand, later in his life and with fading memory, he wrote his
memoirs of the Revolution without consulting the written documents of
the Philippine revolution and claimed that the “Cry” took place at
Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896.
11.
12. Santiago Alvarez’s The “Cry of Bahay
Toro”
This version of the “Cry” was written by Santiago Alvarez, a well-known
Katipunero from Cavite and a son of Mariano Alvarez. Santiago is a
relative of Gregoria de Jesus, who happened to be the wife of Andres
Bonifacio. Unlike the author of the first version mentioned (Valenzuela),
Santiago Alvarez is not an eye witness of this event.
Santago Alvarez accounted that on Sunday, August 23, 1896, the Cry held
or started at the barn of Kabesang Melchora, at a place called
Sampalukan, barrio of Bahay Toro. It was 12 o’clock noon’ when the
meeting adjourned amidst loud cries of “long live the Sons of the
Country” (Mabuhay ang mga anak ng Bayan) on Monday, August 24, 1896.
13. Guillermo Masangkay’s The “Cry of
Balintawak”
This version of is written by the Katipunan General Guillermo
Masangkay. He is an eyewitness of the historic event and a childhood
friend of Bonifacio.
According to him, the first rally of the Philippine Revolution happened on
August 26, 1986 at Balintawak (at the house of Apolonio Samson, then
the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan).
The date and site presented were accepted by the preliminary years of
American government.
14. This controversy remains unresolved
The cry occurred towards the end of august 1896 and that all the Places
mentioned are in Caloocan, which in those times was a district of
Balintawak.
