CRY OF BALINTAWAK

Philippine revolution in 1896.

Earlier in this century, survivors of the katipunan uprising of 1896 generally agreed that the Philippine Revolution started on the 26th of August 1896, in Balintawak.

First statement:

15 years later:

6 years after:

his 4th statement:

Pio Valenzuela, made inconsistent public statements about the "Cry"

between August 23 and 25 in Balintawak.

at Apolonio Samson's house at Balintawak, August 23

at Melchora Aquino's house, August 23

at Kangkong, August 22 & the cry occurred in the house of Juan Ramos

Issues and Controversies of the "Cry"

2

Historians have different interpretations of the term "Cry"

The real date when the uprising happened is still not clear

1

Some witnesses states that it happened on an earlier date and in different places.

Historians have difficulty pinpointing on when the uprising began. Some said that it is when the katipuneros have gathered while others said it is the shredding of cebula personal

In the earlier days, the revolution was named as “Cry of Balintawak” however, due to Agoncillo’s book The Revolt of the Masses, it has been changed to “Cry of Pugad Lawin”, even tho, according to many critiques, the source is not reliable due to Valenzuela’s inconsistent statements.

1. FIRST ENCOUNTER / SKIRMISH

4. Formation of a Revolutionary Government.

It was the traditional and inextricable association of the actual start of the Philippine Revolution with a borrowed Spanish phrase, el grito, which means the “cry” or unang sigaw in Filipino, that led to the confusion.

3. TORN CEDULAS - In the book of Agoncillo, his definition of “Unang Sigaw” or “Cry” is the tearing of cedula personal by the Katipunero (his source is only Valenzuela and Jose Santos’ published signed statement by Valenzuela, Pantas, and Pacheco about the supposed “Cry of Pugad Lawin”).

2. LITERAL TRANSLATION of “Unang Sigaw” = not much help. The “Cry” at Pamitinan Cave, Montalban in April 1895, happened a year prior to the outbreak of hostilities in 1896

2. “Pugad Lawin” was never officially recognized as a place name on any Philippine map before Second World War.

Trivias

1. Dr. Pio Valenzuela stated that Andres Bonifacio wanted Rizal to join the ‘ himagsikan’ but He denied and wanted a bloodless war. But few years later Valenzuela account saying Rizal wanted changes against spaniards that He lead the revolution himself.

3. “Pugad Lawin “ appeared in historiography only from 1928, or some 32 years after the events took place.

4. The revolution was always traditionally held to have occurred in the area of Balintawak, which was distinct from Kalookan and Diliman.

CRY OF BALINTAWAK or PUGAD LAWIN

Ame, Gianna

Artillaga, Kyla

Diaz, Claire

Fernandez, Yara

Pastrana, Patrisha

Rejano, Hazel

BCH 1-1

• The El comercio (evening newspaper on business matters) is the source of the spanish side of the event.

• Masangkay papers, statements of Valenzuela, Vicente Samson, Francisco Carreon, Isaac Del Carmen, Briccio Pantas, Tomas Remigio, Cipriano Pacheco and Eusebio Kasapio.

Supposed evidence and documents such as publications and news about the event have disappeared.

• The foreman, a british journalist was an indirect eyewitness of the events.

• Another source is the telegram of Col. Pintos de Ledesma on August 27, 1896. Pintos reported to Governor Blanco.

In order the understand the event of the revolution, the only source of information from within the rebel camp is mainly the Masangkay papers, the published statements of Valenzuela, Vicente Samson, Francisco Carreon, Isaac Del Carmen, Briccio Pantas, Tomas Remigio, Cipriano Pacheco and Eusebio Kasapio

• The narrative of Sastron provides the detailed description of the first encounter in Balintawak or the “disturbance” as the referred to it.

Importance/ Significance/ Insights of the Balintawak History:

History of the Katipunan (1939), Zaide records Valenzuela’s mention of the site in a footnote and not in the body of text, suggesting that the Historian regarded the matter as unresolved.

The cry of balintawak is important in the history and most especially for the Filipinos because it represents the bravery and resilience of every filipino.