Cry Of Pugadlawin Vs. Cry Of Balintawak

The revolution of 1896 has thrown a remarkable light on the solidarity of the Filipino people against Spanish colonization. But still, it remained debatable among historians where the first cry of revolution took place. The cry must be defined as the turning point in which Filipinos finally rejected the domination of the Spanish colonies over Philippine islands. It is also when the Filipinos decided to form their own national government independent from the ruling of the Spaniards in leadership of Katipunan officials to initiate and guide the revolution to establish a sovereign nation. Based on Emilio Aguinaldo’s memoirs, “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan (1964)”, two letters dated August 22 and 24 were written by Bonifacio which pinpoints the date and place where the cry meeting took place. “On 22 August 1896, the Magdalo Council received a secret letter from Supremo Andres Bonifacio, in Balintawak, which stated that the Katipunan will hold an important meeting on the 24th of the said month, and that it was extremely necessary to send two representatives or delegates in the name of the said Council. The meeting would be timed to coincide with the feast day of Saint Bartolomew in Malabon, Tambobong.” In addition, they sent only one representative to the meeting. He returned safely and unharmed carrying a letter from the Supremo dated August 24. On August 24, they have established their de facto government and elected officials of their association. This took place in Tandang Sora’s barn near Pasong Tamo Road, Sitio Gulod, Banlat under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Kalookan. According to the eyewitness account of Guillermo Masangkay, first member of the Katipunan and Bonifacio’s friend and adviser, they held a meeting on August 26, 1896 in Apolonio Samson’s house. He is a Katipunan barrio lieutenant from Sitio Kangkong, Balintawak, Caloocan (now Quezon City). Bonifacio, Jacinto, Pacheco and Carreon attended the meeting, as well as, members from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and Morong. The meeting started at exactly 9 o’clock in the morning. Arguments between Katipunan members arised whether they will revolt or not. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas and Pio Valenzuela insisted their opposition to revolt since they do not have enough preparations. Masangkay added that Bonifacio asked Filipinos if not now, when? We will be continuously colonized by the Spaniards. What are we going to do? The Filipinos said, “Revolution!”. They collectively tore down their cedulas as a sign of their revolt against the Spanish colonization. At that time, the officials of the Katipunan decided to revolt. Masangkay’s eyewitness account is reliable since he was able to describe in detailed Bonifacio’s dress on that day. This means that Masangkay’s focus was on the event happened. In addition, Julio Nakpil, second husband of Gregoria de Jesus submitted accounts regarding the Cry in Balintawak to Philippine Revolution International Library under Teodoro M. Kalaw on 1925. It was stated on that account, “Swear it before God and before history that everything in this note is the truth. The revolution started in Balintawak in the last days of August 1896.”

The documents and testaments presented above justifies that the first cry of revolution started in Balintawak and not in Pugadlawin. Other historians state that the cry in Pugadlawin is not verifiable to Pio Valenzuela’s account only. As stated in the article “In focus: Balintawak: The cry for a nationwide revolution” by Guerrero, Encarnacion and Villegas, Pio Valenzuela’s accounts regarding the cry in Pugadlawin has different versions making it unreliable sources of proofs. This strongly gives justification that the cry in Balintawak is the first cry of revolution. References: Guerrero, M., Encarnacion, E., Villegas, R., (2003) In focus: Balintawak: The cry for a nationwide revolution. Retrieved from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/infocus/balintawak-the-cry-for-a-nationwide-revolution/ Gene Louisse, Student Debate 2019 // Unang Sigaw ng Himagsikan: Pugadlawin o Balintawak? BSA-B126 (Youtube), Laguna Polytechnic University, October 22, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EpboZdfKNA