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Module No. 9

I. Introduction
In this module, it explains how the Katipunan was made and its main purpose why it was
meant to be created. It has different side stories but the goal of the said organization is only one
and it is to be free. This also elaborates the mixed comments or opinions of the Philippine heroes
we know as of today that contributed to our history.

II. Learning Objectives

After studying this module, you should be able to:
1. Understand the different versions of the Cry of Balintawak that marks the start of the
Revolution in the Philippines;
2. Know the importance of the history of each versions and who made them; and
3. Discern the people, dates and places where the said organization happened.
III. Topics and Key Concepts
The Katipunan is Born
✔ In 1892 Filipinos interested in the overthrow of Spanish rule founded an organization
following Masonic rites and principles to organize armed resistance and terrorist assassinations within
a context of total secrecy.
✔ Andres Bonifacio was also a member of La Liga Filipina, although he soon lost hope in
gaining reforms though peaceful means. This feeling was especially heightened when Jose Rizal was
exiled to Dapitan. Bonifacio became convinced that the only way the Philippines could gain
independence was through a revolution.
✔ Bonifacio then founded the “Katastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan” (KKK) on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo
Manila.
✔ The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a symbol of the member’s loyalty, they performed
the solemn rite of sanduguan (blood compact), wherein each one signed his name with his own blood.
✔ The members agreed to recruit more people using the “triangle system” of enlistment. Each
original member would recruit two new members who were not related to each other. Each new
member would do the same thing, and so on down the line. Members were also asked to contribute
one Real (about 25 centavos) each month in order to raise funds for the association.
✔ The “Kataastaasang Sanggunian” (supreme council) was the highest governing body of the
Katipunan. It was headed by a supremo, or president. Each province had a “Sangguaniang Bayan”
(Provincial Council) and each town had a “Sangguniang Balangay” (Popular Council).
✔ The first council of the Katipunan was headed by Deodato Arellano as President, Ladislao
Diwa as Fiscal, Teodora Plata as Secretary and Valentine Diaz as Treasurer.

Two Factions of Katipunan

a. Magdalo – This faction was ruled by Bonifacio and wants to have independence thru a
revolution

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b. Magdiwa – While, this faction was headed by Emilio Aguinaldo and wants to have
independence thru diplomacy without violence.

Tatlong antas ng Katipunan

1. Katipon (Associate) – Ordinary members of the Katipunan, and majority of them are
women. Their hood is color black. And their password was “Anak ng Bayan”
2. Kawal (Soldiers) – The soldiers and fighters of the Katipunan they wore green hood and
their password was “GOMBURZA”
3. Bayani (Patriot) – The prominent leaders and most influencial person in the Katipunan
they wore red hoods with their password as “Rizal”

The Second Phase of Revolution

(Cry of Pugadlawin, Cry of Balintawak, The Cry, Cry of Bahay Toro)

● If the expression is taken literally –the Cry as the shouting of nationalistic slogans in mass
assemblies –then there were scores of such Cries. Some writers refer to a Cry of Montalban on
April 1895, in the Pamitinan Caves where a group of Katipunan members wrote on the cave
walls, “Viva la indepencia Filipina!” long before the Katipunan decided to launch a nationwide
revolution.
● The historian Teodoro Agoncillo chose to emphasize Bonifacio’s tearing of the cedula (tax
receipt) before a crowd of Katipuneros who then broke out in cheers. However, Guardia Civil
Manuel Sityar never mentioned in his memoirs (1896-1898) the tearing or inspection of the
cedula, but did note the pacto de sangre (blood pact) mark on every single Filipino he met in
August 1896 on his reconnaissance missions around Balintawak.
● Some writers consider the first military engagement with the enemy as the defining moment of
the Cry. To commemorate this martial event upon his return from exile in Hong Kong, Emilio
Aguinaldo commissioned a “Himno de Balintawak” to herald renewed fighting after the failed
peace of the pact of Biyak na Bato.
● On 3 September 1911, a monument to the Heroes of 1896 was erected in what is now the
intersection of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Andres Bonifacio Drive –North Doversion
Road. From that time on until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was officially celebrated every 26
August.
● It is not clear why the 1911 monument was erected there. It could not have been to mark the site
of Apolonio Samson’s house in barrio Kangkong; Katipuneros marked that site on Kaingin Road,
between Balintawak and San Francisco del Monte Avenue.
● Neither could the 1911 monument have been erected to mark the site of the first armed encounter
which, incidentally, the Katipuneros fought and won. A contemporary map of 1896 shows that
the August battle between the Katipunan rebels and the Spanish forces led by Lt. Ros of the Civil
Guards took place at sitio Banlat, North of Pasong Tamo Road far from Balintawak. The site has
its own marker.
● It is quite clear that first, eyewitnesses cited Balintawak as the better-known reference point for a
larger area. Second, while Katipunan may have been massing in Kangkong, the revolution was
formally launched elsewhere. Moreover, eyewitnesses and therefore historians, disagreed on the
site and date of the Cry.
● But the issue did not rest there. In 1970, the historian Pedro A. Gagelonia pointed out:
The controversy among historians continues to the present day. The “Cry of Pugad Lawin”
(August 23, 1896) cannot be accepted as historically accurate. It lacks positive documentation

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and supporting evidence from the witness. The testimony of only one eyewitness (Dr. Pio
Valenzuela) is not enough to authenticate and verify a controversial issue in history. Historians
and their living participants, not politicians and their sycophants, should settle this controversy.
Different Versions of the Revolution:
“THE CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN” BY PIO VALENZUELA
● The latter part of 1895 was filled with uncertainty for the Katipunan.  The Supremo of its
Supreme Council, Andres Bonifacio, doubted his own leadership because since it was founded
on July 7, 1892, their membership did not go far beyond 300.  Alarmed of the situation, on
December 31, 1895, he called for a re-organization meeting to elect a new set of officers at his
house in Zurbaran Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
● About 200 of its members attended.  Bonifacio believed Dr. Pio Valenzuela should be the new
President because he was the most educated among its members.  Valenzuela could have won the
presidency, but he refused Bonifacio’s offer to campaign for him, because he believed that it was
better for the organization if the latter continued his leadership.
● During the first hour of New Year’s Day of 1896, the “Kataas-taasang Tatlo,” popularly known
as the Triumvirate were inducted; with Valenzuela as the new Fiscal General, Emilio Jacinto as
the new Secretary General and Bonifacio as the President.  They were the members of the
“Camara Negra” (Black Chamber), the organization’s counter-intelligence arm, a secret chamber
within the Katipunan which passed judgment over members who violated the secrets of the
society.  They were the executive, legislative and judicial authority of the Supreme Council and
were the primary contributors to the society's organ “Ang Kalayaan.”
● Valenzuela was credited for the growth of Katipunan membership.  Immediately upon taking
over his new post, Bonifacio requested him to stay in Manila.  Valenzuela agreed on the
condition that the printing press of the Katipunan be transferred and put under his management
from Bonifacio’s house to his rented place at 35 Lavezares Street, San Nicolas, Binondo, a
convenient place for him to edit the official organ of the Katipunan. 
● The printing press was donated by two Visayan Katipuneros Francisco Del Castillo and Candido
Iban when they learned that the Katipunan needed one using the money they earned as sea-divers
in Australia.  After two weeks in his hometown Polo, Bulacan, Valenzuela returned to Lavezares
and brought along his townmates, Faustino Duque and Ulfiano Fernandez to oversee the
publication.
● Valenzuela suggested Ang Kalayaan to be the name of the propaganda organ and the name of
Marcelo H. del Pilar to be printed as editor, with Yokohama, Japan as the place of publication to
mislead the Spanish authorities.  Its maiden issue had eight pages and was the size of Liwayway
Magazine.  2,000 copies were printed for distribution.  It featured an editorial by Marcelo H. del
Pilar which originally appeared on La Solidaridad, a review published in Spain, and was
translated from Spanish into Tagalog by Jacinto, greeting the Filipino people from Yokohama,
Japan, cordially wishing them solidarity and independence, and offering his life and all he had
for their good.
● There also appeared a news item entitled Catwiran by Dr. Valenzuela, describing the cruelty
perpetrated by the priest of San Francisco del Monte and the Civil Guards against a poor barrio
lieutenant.  There were also articles by Jacinto, entitled Pahayag, urging the Filipino people to
revolt as the only recourse to secure liberty and an article taken from the book entitled Las
Ruinas del Palmira.  Other articles were: Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog by Bonifacio, Sa
mga Kababayan co-authored by Bonifacio and Dr. Valenzuela, and a poem by Bonifacio entitled

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Ang Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, depicting the suffering of the Filipino people under the yoke of
the Spanish authorities.  Valenzuela used the nom-de-plume Madlang Away, Jacinto,
Dimasalang and Pingkian, while Bonifacio signed his contributions with Aga-pito and May Pag-
asa.
● Ang Kalayaan triggered the spread of revolutionary consciousness of the people.  Words of
insurrection spread out that soon, many, even skeptics from outlying provinces, were convinced
that they were ready to join the quest for freedom.  After the circulation of the initial issue,
membership of the secret society jumped tremendously from a few hundreds to 30,000 in a
period of five months from the middle of March to August 1896.  
● On August 19, 1896, the existence of the Katipunan was discovered by the Spanish authorities.
Many suspected members and sympathizers of the Katipunan were arrested outright, but the
main nucleus of the Katipunan were able to escape and assembled in various areas of Balintawak
– like sistios Kangkong, Pugad Lawin and Pasong Tamo.
● The uprising began on August 23, 1896 in Pugad Lawin where the Katipuneros led by Bonifacio
tore their cedulas (resident certificates) and shouted “Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!  Mabuhay ang
Katipunan!”  The uprising of the Katipunan later on flourished to a full-scale revolution against
Spain.
● The heroic deeds of Dr. Pio Valenzuela were recognized by the Philippine Historical Committee
in 1941.   A marker was placed at the former house of Dr. Valenzuela in Lavezares Street which
reads:
● WHERE “ANG KALAYAAN” WAS PRINTED – “This house was occupied by Dr. Pio
Valenzuela, together with Ulfiano Fernandez and Faustino Duque, Filipino printers who turned
out for Dr. Valenzuela and Emilio Jacinto 2, 000 copies of the newspaper entitled “Ang
Kalayaan,” giving Yokohama as the place of publication to avoid suspicion.  The first issue was
dated January 18, 1896 but was not circulated until the middle of March.  The second issue
which was in preparation was seized by the Spanish authorities when the revolution broke out
that year.”
“THE CRY OF BAHAY TORO” BY SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1896
● As early as 10 o’clock in the morning, at the barn of Kabesang Melchora (Melchora Aquino), at a
place called Sampalaukan, Barrio of Bahay Toro, Katipuneros met together. About 500 of these
arrived, ready and eager to join the “Supremo” Andres Bonifacio and hs men….

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1896

● There were about 1,000 katipuneros……, The “Supremo” decided to hold a meeting inside the
big barn. Under his leadership, the meeting began at 10 o’clock in the morning….
● It was 12 o’clock noon when the meeting adjourned amidst loud cries of “Long live the Son of
the Country” (Mabuhay ang mga Anak ng Bayan)
“THE CRY” BY GREGORIA DE JESUS
(AUGUST 25, 1896)

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● The activities of the Katipunan had reached nearly all corners of the Philippine Archipelago, so
that when its existence was discovered and some of the members arrested, we immediately
returned to Caloocan. However, as we closely watched by the agents of the Spanish authorities,
Andres Bonifacio and other katipuneros left the town after some days. It was then that the
uprising began, with the first cry for freedom on August 25, 1896. Meanwhile, I was with my
parents. Through my friends, I learned that Spanish were coming to arrest me. Immediately, I
fled town at eleven o’clock at night, secretly going through the rice field to La Lorna, with the
intention of returning to Manila.I was treated like an apparition, for, sad to say, in every house
where I tried to get a little rest, I was driven away as if people therein were frightened for their
own lives. Later, I found out that the occupants of the houses which I had visited were seized and
severely punished—and some even exiled. One of them was an uncle of mine whom I had visited
on that night to kiss his hands, and he died in exile.
“THE CRY OF BALINTAWAK”
BY KATIPUNAN GENERAL GUILLERMO MASANGKAY
● On August 26th, a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio Samson, then
cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro Plata, Pio
Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They were all leaders of the Katipunan and
composed the board of directors of the organization. Delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan,
Cavite, and Morong were also present.
● At about nine o'clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres
Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary. 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...Andres Bonifacio, sensing that he would lose the discussion
then, left the session hall and talked to the people, who were waiting outside for the result of the
meeting of the leaders. He told the people that the leaders were arguing against starting the
revolution early, and appealed to them in a fiery speech in which he said:"You remember the fate
of our countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return now to the towns, the
Spaniards will only shoot us. Our organization has been discovered and we are all marked men.
If we don't start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway. What then, do you say?"
● Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge that they were to revolt. He told them that the
sign of slavery of the Filipinos were (sic) the cedula tax charged each citizen. "If it is true that
you are ready to revolt... I want to see you destroy your cedulas. It will be a sign that all of us
have declared our severance from the Spaniards.
● The Cry of Balintawak occurred on August 26, 1896. The Cry, defined as that turning point when
the Filipinos finally refused Spanish colonial dominion over the Philippine Islands. With tears in
their eyes, the people as one man, pulled out their cedulas and tore them into pieces. It was the
beginning of the formal declaration of the separation from Spanish rule."Long Live the
Philippine Republic!", the cry of the people. 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. At about nine o'clock in the morning of
August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting
as Secretary. In August 1896, after the Katipunan was discovered, Masangkay joined Bonifacio,
Emilio Jacinto, and others in a clandestine meeting held on the 26th of that month at Apolonio
Samson’s house in Caloocan.

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● Initially, the leaders of the movement quarreled over strategy and tactics, and many of its
members questioned the wisdom of an open rebellion due to the lack of arms and logistical
support. However, after Bonifacio’s intense and convincing speech, everyone destroyed their
cedulas to symbolize their defiance towards Spain and, together, raised the cry of “Revolt".
IV. Teaching and Learning Materials and Resources
Paper and Pen, Internet/Data, Notebook/Book
V. Learning Task
Answer the following questions
1. Why does the Katipunan need to tear their cedulas?
2. Did the cry of Balintawak event contributed to the Philippine independence? Why?
3. Who do you think is the most reliable source of the mentioned event? Why?
VI. Reference
● Ligan, et al., (2018). Readings in the Philippine History, Mutya Publishing, Inc.
● Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. (1990). Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Vol. 5.
Manila:National Bookstore
Reflection part

What are your reflections on this module?

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