UNDRESS BONIFACIO

A Position Paper Prepared and Presented By:

Kennedy Del Oeste Mondragon

Valenzuela Polytechnic College

PROF. Erly Bondoc Dizon

University of Makati

Lieda Abina Sobida

Technological University of the Philippines. -
Taguig
 RESEARCH ON THE
CONTROVERSIAL
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
“ CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN OR
BALINTAWAK”
 Filipino historians offer differing accounts on
the date and place of the cry of Pugad Lawin. There
are actually five different places and five different
dates given for Bonifacio’s famous Cry. The
following accounts are as follows:

Places: Pugad Lawin, Balintawak, Bahay Toro,

Kangkong and Pason Tamo.

Dates : August 22, 23,24,25 and 26. Because of the

competing account and uncertainty the place where
this event took place, the exact date and place of the
first cry is in untidy contention.
 From 1908 until 1963 the event was
officially recognized to have occurred on
August 26, 1896 in Balintawak. In 1963, the
Philippine government made a shift to
August 23, 1896 in Pugad Lawin, Quezon
City. At present we commemorate the event
every 23rd of August and the site being
recognized is Pugad Lawin.
Our team do believe that even though that the
NHCP made its proclamation on the date and place
when and where the Cry happened, we have to put
into considerations some known historians and
writers to know and hear their witnessing side, for
us to be able to be enlightened by their testimonies
of the past specially that of Pugad Lawin and the
exact date when it happened.
The team will be using a comparative
methodology in analyzing the different primary and
secondary sources that had been gathered, for us to
be able to conclude why until now the said issue of
the said Cry is still unresolved.
 THE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS ON
THE CRY OF PUGAD
LAWIN/BALINTAWAK

The ideas are taken from the historical

accounts of secondary and primary
sources. To cite some prevalent issues that
would cater us to make our own position
about the raging issues of the First Cry.
 Primary Sources:
1. VALENZUELA MEMOIRS 1964-1968
averred that the Cry took place at the
house of Juan Ramos at Pugad Lawin.
Obviously, NHI was influenced by
Valenzuela’s memoirs, so much so that
Diosdado Macapagal ordered that the
Cry be celebrated on the 23rd of August
and that Pugad Lawin be recognized as
the exact site.
In his memoirs he claims that the cry was held at Pugad
Lawin on August 23, 1896. It was written in his
memoirs that the first place of refuge of Andres
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 other
five hundred members arrived on Augusut 22,
1896. The event happened at the place called
Pugad Lawiwn, in the houde, store house and yard
house of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino
where over 1,000 members gathered and carried
out considerable debate and discussion on August
23, 1896. After the tumultuous meeting meeting,
they tore their cedula certificate and shouted long
live the Philippines.
Another version is from
2. SANTIAGO ALVAREZ, in his narrative story
about the Cry, August 23, 1896 as early as ten in
the morning at the barn of Kabesang Mecholra Aquino, at
the place called Sampalukan, Bario of Bahay Toro, about
500 katiouneros arrived to joined the meeting. Monday,
24th of August 1896, it was about 12 noon where the
meeting adjourned and that loud cries heard “ LONG
LIVE THE SONS OF THE COUNTRY” MABUHAY
ANG ANAK NG BAYAN!

August 25, 1896 took place in Bahay Toro

( Ambeth Ocampo)
Another proponent was the historical
account of 3. GREGORIA DE JESUS, the
wife of Supremo Andres Bonifacio, and
LAkambini of the KAtiupunan. She testified
and proclaimed that the Cry took on the
25th of August 1896. She testified that the
uprising began August 25, 1896. She was
with her parent somewhere in Caloocan,
when she knew that the Spaniards were
coming to arrest her. Immediately she fled
town at eleven o clock at night secretly
passed through La Loma with the intention
of returning to Manila
.
4. CAPTAIN OLEGARIO DIAZ, special
commander of the guardia civil Veterana of
Manila reported that the First Cry occurred at
Balintawak on the 25th of August 1896. He
reported that on the 23rd of August, Bonifaio
and some of the leaders of the Katipunan
gathered in Balintawak. On the 24th of
August of the same year, they were attacked
by the guardia civil. Because of the attack, the
katipunan gathered themselves somewhere in
Balintawak on August 25 , 1896 to discuss of
what course should be taken .
Another version was that of 5.
GUILLERMO MASANGKAY.
August 26, 1896, a big meeting was held in
Balintawak at Apolonio Samson’s house,
then the Cabeza of that barrio of Calderon.
The meeting was attended by leaders and
members of KKK together with Pio
Valenzuela. On the said meeting, Bonifacio
emphasized the idea that if they don’t start
the uprising the Spaniards will get rid with
them anyway. And on that meeting they
together tore into pieces their Cedulas as a
sign of revolt against the Spaniards.
 This manifesto shows similarly the
date and site were officially adopted by
the government during the early years of
the American regime after many
consulted the surviving Katipuneros and
priests from historian at all times.
Guillermo Masangkay emphasized that
the Cry was happened in Balintawak and
not is Pugad Lawin.
6. EMILIO AGUINALDO MEMOIR’S (1964)
refers to two letters from Andres Bonifacio dated
August 22 and 24 , 1896. They pinpoint the date
and place of the crucial Cry meeting when to attack
Manila. August 22, 1896, Magdalo council received
a secret letter from Sopremo Bonifacio in
Balintawak, stated that the Katipunan will hold an
important meeting on the 24th of the said month
which is extremely needed. But the Magdalo
President Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo just sent Mr.
Domingo Orullo because the situation is on high
alert and dangerous to travel. Fortunately, Mr.
Orullo went back safe handling a letter from
Andres Bonifacio dated August 24, 1896.
Another proponent was the historical account of
7. GREGORIA DE JESUS, the wife of Supremo
Andres Bonifacio, and LAkambini of the
Katipunan. She testified and proclaimed that the
Cry took on the 25th of August 1896. She testified
that the uprising began August 25, 1896. She was
with her parent somewhere in Caloocan, when she
knew that the Spaniards were coming to arrest her.
Immediately she fled town at eleven o clock at
night secretly passed through La Loma with the
intention of returning to Manila.
SECONDARY SOURCES

According to some historians like, MILAGROS

GUERRERO, EMMANUEL ENCARNACION AND
RAMON VILLEGAS, they strongly opposed to the position
of Pio Valenzuela on the authenticity of facts and data about
the exact date and place where the Cry took place. It was
obviously observed by them and some of the historians that
the position of Dr. Valenzuela is not authentic, considering
that he had several versions of the Cry. The big questions
they asked were: Was there a meeting at Pugad Lawin on 23rd
of August 1896 after the meeting at Apolonio Samson’s house
in Hongkong? Where were the cedulas torn, in Kangkong or
in Pugad Lawin., and was there a place like Pugad Lawin?
 From an interview with DR. PIO
VALENZUELA, he emphasized in his report
that the Katipunan meetings took place from
Sunday to Tuesday or 23 to 25 of August, 1896
at Balintawak. From there, Valenzuela averred
that the Katipunan began meeting on the 22nd
of August 1896 while Cry took place on the 23rd
of August 1896 at Apolonio Samson’s house in
Balintawak.
 They also added that, from the writings of
one of the prominent historians of the contemporary
times, TEODORO AGONCILLO he firmly
emphasized that it was in Pugad Lawin where they
proceeded upon leaving Samson’s place in the
afternoon of the 22nd of August 1896, met in the yard
of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino . In the
morning of August 23 ,1896, on that very day,
Bonifacio then announced the decision and
proclaimed for an all out revolt against Spaniards.
Bring out your cedulas and tear them to pieces to
symbolize our determination to take arms. Amidst
the meeting the rebels , tear-stained eyes shouted
“LONG LIVE THE PHILIPPINES, LONG LIVE
THE KATIPUNAN”.
 The historical controversial issue was
resolved by the paper “Origins of Bonifacio
Cry” by Emmanuel Encarnacion, presented
at the Alay at Laya Conference on Bonifacio
and Mabini, Rizal Library, Ateneo de
Manila University on April 24, 2014.
Utilizing enclosure records research
methodology and the earliest dated primary
accounts as evidences, the research paper
focused on the specific addresses when and
where Bonifacio launched his Cry for a
Nationwide Revolution.
 As explained in the resolution of the
historical controversy presented in 2014, cite
the “Cry at the house of Apolonio Samson
at Kaingin Road, Kangkong, Bo. Balintawak
on August 23, 1896” or “Cry at the house of
Melchora Aquino in Gulod, Bo. Pasong
Tamo, Caloocan on August 24, 25 and 26,
1896.” None of the places and dates was
proven to be the exact date and place. In
short the accuracy of the date and place is
still in controversy until now.
XIAO CHUA –He questioned why the title
of the monument changed from “Cry of
Balintawak” in 1911 to “Cry of Pugad
Lawin” in 1968? or better, avoid using “Cry
of Balintawak” and “Cry of Pugad Lawin.”
There is no name-place whether a sitio,
barrio or town called “Pugad Lawin” was
ever registered in Manila and Caloocan in
1896.
 The curator of the Museo Mr. Jonathan
Balsamo accepted the fact that there was no
primary source or evidence that could tell
,Pugad Lawin was in existence during the
said first cry. There is no single map to prove
that Pugad Lawin is in existence during that
time but only Balintawak. Their historical
facts about the said Cry was transpired by the
proclamation of the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines in 1963.
 Another source to consider for this
controversy is the Historical Book of the
City of Valenzuela entitled:
VALENZUELA CITY, THE VIBRANT
CITY. It is clearly emphasized in that book
that the said first Cry according to Pio
Valenzuela was happened 23rd of August
year 1896 at Pugad Lawin.
SOLEDAD BORROMEO – BUEHLER, She cited
the fact the Pio Valenzuela in his 1896 testimonies ,
Valenzuela corrected himself in two instances after
being aware of the consequences of making false
declaration.
The date of attack of the civil guards in
Balintawak which he changed from 25 to 26 of
August 1896,
Details of his escape from Balintawak of the
25th of that month.
Presented in two versions.
.Firstversion- He told the court that he left with 2
guides on the night of 25th of August 1896, Manila
Via Sampaloc-Quiapo- Ayala bridge – Binang then
return to Manila afer being been informed of the
manesty proclamationof Governor Ramon Blanco
and surrender to authoirites on September 1, 1896.
•Second version-He left Balintawak on the night
of August 25, 1896 on instruction from Bonifacio
proceeded to Montalban, to encourage residence to
rise up in arms. He again corrected that the
Supremo invited him to join the movement of the
defensive concentration on the expectation of the
attack.
 Because of this changeable
testimonies coming from Valenzuela,
Buehler believed that with regards to
the cry of Pugad Lawin ,it is an
invented story. There are no
corroboratory sources have been
found in support to his testimonies
about the said Cry.
To consider the historical presentation of
RICARDO GARCIA, on August 23, 1896, the
meeting for the Cry happened at Dona Melchora
Aquino’s son, Juan A. Ramos in Pugad Lawin ,
Balintawak. The meeting was called knowing that
the Spaniard were planning of attacking the
Katipuneros. Bonifacio and Jacinto made that
general assembly of the katipuneros at Balintawak
on that very date 23rd of August 1896,the Cry of
Pugad Lawin and the tearing of Cedulas happened.
A controversial thought of Pio Valenzuela:
1n 1928 to 1940, Valenzuela made a
statement that the Cry happened on the 24th
of August 1896 in the house of Tandang Sora
( Melchora Aquino) in Pugad Lawin situated
at Pasong Tamo Road.
In 1935, Valenzuela , Pantas, Pacheco
proclaimed that the first Cry did not happen
in Balintawak but in a place called Pugad
Lawin on the 23rd of August 1896.
 In 1940, according to the NATIONAL
HISTORICAL INSTITUTE NHI, including
Pio Valenzuela, identified the spot of Pugad
Lawin as part of Sitio Gulod, Banlat ,
Kalookan City. Their minutes shows that the
Katipunan referred to the place of the Cry as
Tandang Sora’s house and not as Juan A.
Ramos house, and it happened August 23,
1896, Pugad Lawin, Barangay Bahay Toro.
The NHI believed that it was correct in
looking for the house of Juan Ramos and not
of Tandang Sora.
 ANALYSIS AND POSITION:
After hearing all the controversies among the primary
and secondary sources, the quest for the authenticity and
veracity of the existence of Pugad Lawin and its exact date
when was the first Cry happened is still mindful to
everyone more so to our historians nowadays. Yet despite
of the proclamation of the NHI, that the said Cry
happened on \august 23, 1896, the issue did not stop
there, and lots of murmuring thoughts and contentions
are still on the air. We do believe that the National
Historical Institute (NHI) nowadays is still in great
dilemma about the issue of the Cry of Pugad
Lawin/Balintawak. Even eyewitnesses and great
historians are not in common of belief and
understanding about the site and the date of the Cry.
And therefore the issue about the first Cry is in
controversy.
 It is very clear in the presentations that
historians of the past and of the contemporary
times are not in common thoughts about where
and when did the First Cry of the Katipuneros
happened. Therefore, considering that there was
no factual evidence of the minutes of the meeting
and any other form of documents that would
support the contention about the authenticity of
the date and time of the Cry, we could somehow
agree in one certain thought that this so called Cry
of Pugad Lawin of 23rd of August 1896 was an
imposition and erroneous interpretation
considering that it is in contrary to indisputable
and numerous historical facts.
 We ourselves are not believers of “the Cry of Pugad
Lawin” but since the NHI final position when and where
the Cry took place is August 23, 1896 at Pugad Lawin, we
actually were silent as to the date of the Cry .But for us
we are highly resolved and convinced that time and
place are not that important for us, considering that even
historians themselves are not in congruent with the
exact date and place of the event. What really important
is that, THERE WAS A MEETING FOR REVOLUTION
AGAINST SPANIARDS. Even though we don’t have an
exact place and date to reconcile with the historical event
of the first Cry , the truth behind that controversy was
that, the Katipuneros were triumphantly established the
all out war against Spaniards that happened sometimes
on August, 1896.
 Nowadays, we may say that we’re still in the
missing point of the exact date and place where the
first Cry took place, but yet, we’ve never missed
the reality that who we are nowadays is just
because of the great struggle and bloody sacrifices
of our heroes during the Fil-Spanish war. The
world knew and have seen the brave hearts of the
Katipuneros, their determination to fight for
independence even unto death. Therefore, it is
just right and proper to give honor to our great
Katipuneros for their heroic deeds and be proud
to shout and to proclaim to the whole world that
sometimes in the lives of the Filipino warriors ,
they never surrender their freedom , dignity and
pride as Filipinos.
 MABUHAY ANG
BANSANG PILIPINAS
AT ANG MGA BAYANING
MANGDIRIGMANG PILIPINO
 REFERENCES:
Pio Valenzuela, Cry Of Pugad Lawin ( Zaide 1990, vol. 8, pp.
301-302
Santiago Alvarez, Cry of Bahay Toro ( Zaide 1990, vol 8
pp.303-304
Gregoria de Jesus, Version of the First Cry, ( Zaide 1990, vol.
8 pp 305-306
Guillermo Masangkay, Cry of Balintawak ( Zaide 1990, vol.8
pp 307-309
The Cry of Balintawak , A Contrived controversy , Soledad
Borromeo- Buehler
Looking Back by Ambeth Ocampo , Heads Balintawak ,Tails
Pugad Lawin: Where did Bonifacio Utter the first Cry?
Milagros Guerrero, Emmanuel Encarnacion , Ramon Villegas-
Contemporary Journalist