(FIRST CRY IN PUGAD LAWIN)

For his 1956 book, The Revolt of the Masses Teodoro Agoncillo defined "the Cry" as the tearing of
cedulas, departing from precedent. His version was based on the later testimonies of Katipuneros like Pio
Valenzuela and others who claimed the cry took place in Pugad Lawin instead of Balintawak. Valenzuela's version,
through Agoncillo's influence, became the basis of the current stance of the Philippine government.

- The cry generally signifies the first call of rebellion led by Andres Bonifacio. It's the mark of the beginning of the
Philippine Revolution from the Spanish. Pugad Lawin is located in Bahay Toro, a place well-known for symbolizing
the tearing of cedulas as a symbol of opposition from the Spaniards.

- In 1936, members of the Katipunan Pio Valenzuela, Briccio Pantas, and Enrique Pacheco said the first cry of
revolution did not happen in Balintawak where the monument is, but in Pugad Lawin. They are witnesses. They
participated in the revolution and are primary sources which makes their statement credible.

- In 1940, Pio Valenzuela being both a member of the Katipunan and the forerunner of the National Historical
Institute's research team, identified the location, Pugad Lawin, Melchora Aquino's house, as part of Sitio Banlat,
Caloocan City. As Tandang Sora's house is considered one of the hiding places of the KKK, this decision of over
1000 Katipuneros' fight against the Spanish and tearing of cedulas happened in her yard on August 23, 1896.

- According to Teodoro Agoncillo's narrative, Revolt of the Masses author, Andres Bonifacio, a key figure in the
Philippine Revolution, announced the decision to continue with the plan of revolt in Pugad Lawin. This
announcement and the subsequent oath-taking by the rebels signify the historical importance of the site.

- Since 1963, Former President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 149, series. 1963, it has been
widely accepted that the cry of revolution took place in Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896—a momentous event in
Filipino history which is known for being the launching point of the Philippine revolution.

- In 1983, Quezon City Mayor Rodriguez established the Pugad Lawin Historical Committee to determine the
location of Juan Ramos's 1896 residence at Pugad Lawin. This official committee further supports the claim that
Pugad Lawin is the historical site.

- Even today, the Quezon City government, in partnership with the nationwide civic organization Pugad Lawin
Philippines, Inc. (PLPI), continues to observe the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" anniversary every August 23.

- Furthermore, the spontaneity of the Cry of Pugad Lawin reflects the genuine and immediate response of the
Filipino people to the oppressive colonial rule. It captures the essence of a grassroots movement, driven by the raw
emotion of the moment. The authenticity of the people's cries in Pugad Lawin cannot be understated.

- The first cry will be included in the first decision and tearing cedulas and not the first battle. So, the Balintawak
is not the place of first cry.

REBUTTTTTT::::::::::::

The official date and place of the first cry were largely based on the account of Dr. Pio Valenzuela, an official of the
Katipunan and a friend of Andres Bonifacio, who was present during the event. His account was published as
Memoirs of the K.K.K. and the Philippine Revolution.

It read, "The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Aguedo
del Rosario, and myself were 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 (Balintawak). 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, in 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 whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started on August 29,
1896. Only one man protested and fought against a war and that was Teodoro Plata. Besides the persons named
above, among those present at this meeting were Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas Remigio, Sinforoso
San Pedro, and others. After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and
shouted "Long live in the Philippines! Long live in the Philippines!" Quote by Pio Valenzuela in his book Memoirs
of the Revolution. Famous historian and author of Revolt of the Masses, Teodoro Agoncillo, added this in his
book as well.
(THE FIRST CRY IN BALINTAWAK)
Guillermo Masangkay's the "Cry of Balintawak" (August 26, 1896)

(Source: Zaide, Gregoria and Zaide, Sonia. (1990). Documentary Sources of Philippine History.

Vol. 5. Manila: National Book Store.)

: This version 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, 1896 at Balintawak.

•An article from The Sunday Tribune Magazine on August 21, 1932 featured the statements of the eyewitness
account by Katipunan General Guillermo Masangkay, "A Katipunero Speaks". Masangkay recounts the "Cry of
Balintawak", stating that on August 26,1896, a big meeting was held in Balintawak at the house of Apolonio
Samson, then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan.

• All leaders of the Katipunan and composed the board of directors of the organization attended the meeting
which was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio Samson, then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan.
Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and Morong (now Rizal), were also present. 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. They reasoned that the people would be in distress if the revolution started
without adequate preparation.

- Guillermo Masangkay, refuted Valenzuela's version. According to Masangkay, the Cry took place in Balintawak
on 26 August 1896. He also pointed out that Pantas, Pacheco, and Samson were not present when the Cry
occurred. Guillermo Masangkay's account in 1932, Guillermo Masangkay, a friend and a fellow Katipunero of
Andres Bonifacio, recounted his experiences as a member of revolutionary movement in an interview with the
Sunday Tribune Magazine, Masangkay said that the first cry happened in Balintawak on August 26,1896. He proved
his point by saying that Valenzuela is a direct eye witness of the event and his claims should be valid. However,
given the inconsistencies on Valenzuela's account, Masangkay's statement.

Evidence 1: The dates and location of the "cry" are disputed by participants and historians. Lt Olegario Diaz, a
Spanish officer of the Guardia Civil who witnessed the cry, claims that it happened in Balintawak on August 25,
1896.

Evidence 2: In 1954, Gregorio stated in his book that the "cry" took place in Balintawak on August 26, 1896.

Evidence 3: According to Gen. Santiago Alvarez, a member of the Katipunan, they traveled to Kangkong, where
Apolonio Samson's home is located, and then to Bahay Toro, owned by Melchora Aquino, also known as Cabesang
Melchora, in Balintawak, where a meeting was held led by Andres Bonifacio and attended by Katipuneros.

Evidence 4: According to Teodoro Kalaw's 1925 book The Filipinno Revolution, the event took place during the
last week of August 1896 in Kangkong, Balintawak.

Evidence 5: The government and civic officials used Magsakay's testimony to determine the date and place of the
First Cry throughout the first decade of American administration, culminating in the creation of the Monument to
the Heroes of 1896 in that location.

Evidence 6: In an interview published in the news paper Bagong Buhay on August 26, 1957, Magsakay changed his
story, claiming that the revolution began on August 23, 1896, similar to Dr. Pio Valenzuela's claim , but Magsakay's
date was later changed again when his granddaughter, Soledad Buehler Borromeo, cited sources including the
Magsakay paper, claiming that the revolution began on August 26, 1896.

Rebuttttttt::::::::::::

1. First version of Pio Valenzuela's controversial "Cry of Pugad Lawin"

- He said that the prime staging point of the Cry was in Balintawak on Wednesday of August 26, 1896.

- He held this account when the happenings or events are still vivid in his memory.

2. - Historian Teodoro Kalaw in his 1925 book The Filipino Revolution wrote that the event took place during the
last week of August 1896 at Kangkong, Balintawak.

3. The letters of Andres Bonifacio intended to have a meeting with the Katipuneros

- Historians found out that the letters were addressed to Balintawak and there wasn't a single mention of Pugad
Lawin in those.

4. Cartographic Changes

- A rough sketch or croquis de las operaciones practicadas in El Español showed the movements of Lt. Ros against
the Katipunan on August 25, 26, and 27 in 1896 where it defined each place name as sitio "Baclac" (sic: Banlat). In
1897, the Spanish historian Sastron mentioned Kalookan, Balintawak, Banlat and Pasong Tamo.

The names mentioned in some revolutionary sources and interpretations, Daang Malalim, Kangkong and Pugad
Lawin were not identified as barrios.

- Even detailed Spanish and American maps mark only Kalookan and Balintawak.

The 1943 map of Manila marks Balintawak separately from Kalookan and Diliman. The sites where revolutionary
events took place are within the ambit of Balintawak.

- Government maps issued in 1956, 1987, and 1990, confirm the existence of barangays Bahay Toro, but do not
define their boundaries. Pugad Lawin is not on any of these maps.

- In conclusion, 1. "Pugad Lawin" was never officially recognized as a place name on any Philippine map before the
Second World War; 2. "Pugad Lawin" appeared in historiography only from 1928, or some 32 years after the
events took place; and 3. The revolution was always traditionally held to have occurred in the area of Balintawak,
which was distinct from Kalookan and Diliman.