Republic of the Philippines

APAYAO STATE COLLEGE

San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

WORKTEXT IN GE 01

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

PREPARED BY:
GE 01 INSTRUCTORS
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LESSON 9
(CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS
IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY: CRY OF BALINTAWAK OR
PUGADLAWIN)

Lesson Objectives:
 Demonstrate the ability to formulate arguments in favor or
against a particular issue using primary sources.
 To interpret primary sources through examining the content and
context of the document.
 To understand the context behind each selected document.

Content

Balintawak: The Cry for a Nationwide Revolution

Millagros C. Guerrero, Emmanuel Encarnacion, Ramon N.
Villegas
June 06, 2003
Nineteenth-century journalists used the phrase “el grito de
rebelion” or “the Cry of Rebellion” to describe the momentous
events sweeping the Spanish colonies; in Mexico it was the “Cry
of Dolores” (16 September 1810), Brazil the “City of Ypiraga” (7
September 1822), and in Cuba the “Cry of Matanza” (24 February
1895). In August 1896, northeast of Manila, Filipinos similarly
declared their rebellion against the Spanish colonial government.
It was Manuel Sastron, the Spanish historian, who
institutionalized the phrased for the Philippines in his 1897 book,
La Insurreccion en Filipinas. All these “Cries” were milestones in
the several colonial-to-nationalist histories of the world.

Raging controversy
Page 1 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

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

Page 2 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

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 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.

Conflicting accounts

Pio Valenzuela had several versions of the Cry. Only after they
are compared and reconciled with the other accounts will it be
possible to determined what really happened.
Was there a meeting at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896, after
the meeting at Apolonio Samson’s residence in Hong Kong?
Where were the cedulas torn, at Kangkong or Pugad Lawin?

Page 3 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

In September 1896, Valenzuela stated before the Olive Court,

which was charged with investigating persons involved in the
rebellion, only that Katipunan meetings took place from Sunday
to Tuesday or 23 to 25 August at Balintawak.
In 1911, Valenzuela averred that the Katipunan began meeting
on 22 August while the Cry took place on 23 August at Apolonio
Samson’s house in Balintawak.
From 1928 to 1940, Valenzuela maintained that the Cry
happened on 24 August at the house of Tandang Sora (Melchora
Aquino) in Pugad Lawin, which he now situated near Pasong
Tamo Road. A photograph of Bonifacio’s widow Gregoria de
Jesus and Katipunan members Valenzuela, Briccio Brigido
Pantas, Alfonso and Cipriano Pacheco, published in La Opinion
in 1928 and 1930, was captioned both times as having been taken
at the site of the Cry on 24 August 1896 at the house of Tandang
Sora at Pasong Tamo Road.
In 1935 Valenzuela, Pantas and Pacheco proclaimed “na hindi
sa Balintawak nangyari ang unang sigaw ng paghihimagsik na
kinalalagian ngayon ng bantayog, kung di sa pook na kilala sa
tawag na Pugad Lawin.” (The first Cry of the revolution did not
happen in Balintawak where the monument is, but in a place
called Pugad Lawin.)
In 1940, a research team of the Philippines Historical
Committee (a forerunner of the National Historical Institute or
NHI), which included Pio Valenzuela, identified the precise spot
of Pugad Lawin as part of sitio Gulod, Banlat, Kalookan City. In
1964, the NHI’s Minutes of the Katipunan referred to the place of
the Cry as Tandang Sora’s and not as Juan Ramos’ house, and the
date as 23 August.
Valenzuela memoirs (1964, 1978) averred that the Cry took
place on 23 August at the house of Juan Ramos at Pugad Lawin.

Page 4 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The NHI was obviously influenced by Valenzuela’s memoirs. In

1963, upon the NHI endorsement, President Diosdado Macapagal
ordered that the Cry be celebrated on 23 August and that Pugad
Lawin be recognized as its site.
John N. Schrumacher, S.J, of the Ateneo de Manila University
was to comment on Pio Valenzuela’s credibility:
I would certainly give much less credence to all accounts
coming from Pio Valezuela, and to the interpretations Agoncillo
got from him verbally, since Valenzuela gave so many versions
from the time he surrendered to the Spanish authorities and made
various statements not always compatible with one another up to
the time when as an old man he was interviewed by Agoncillo.
Pio Valenzuela backtracked on yet another point. In 1896,
Valenzuela testified that when the Katipunan consulted Jose Rizal
on whether the time had come to revolt, Rizal was vehemently
against the revolution. Later, in Agoncillo’s Revolt of the masses,
Valenzuela retracted and claimed that Rizal was actually for the
uprising, if certain prerequisites were met. Agoncillo reasoned
that Valenzuela had lied to save Rizal.

The Pugad Lawin Marker

The prevalent account of the Cry is that of Teodoro Agoncillo
in Revolt of the masses (1956): It was in Pugad Lawin, where they
proceeded upon leaving Samson’s place in the afternoon of the
22nd, that the more than 1,000 members of the Katipunan met in
the yard of Juan A. Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino,…in the
morning of August 23rd. Considerable discussion arose whether
the revolt against the Spanish government should be started on the
29th. Only one man protested… But he was overruled in his
stand… Bonifacio then announced the decision and shouted:
“Brothers, it was agreed to continue with the plan of revolt. My

Page 5 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

brothers, do you swear to repudiate the government that oppresses

us?” And the rebels, shouting as one man replied: “Yes, sir!”
“That being the case,” Bonifacio added, “bring out your cedulas
and tear them to pieces to symbolize our determination to take
arms!” .. . Amidst the ceremony, the rebels, tear-stained eyes,
shouted: “Long live the Philippines! Long live the Katipunan!
Agoncillo used his considerable influenced and campaigned
for a change in the recognized site to Pugad Lawin and the date
23 August 1896. In 1963, the National Heroes Commission (a
forerunner of the NHI), without formal consultations or
recommendations to President Macapagal.
Consequently, Macapagal ordered that the Cry of Balintawak
be called the “Cry of Pugad Lawin,” and that it be celebrated on
23 August instead of 26 August. The 1911 monument in
Balintawak was later removed to a highway. Student groups
moved to save the discarded monument, and it was installed in
front of Vinzons Hall in the Diliman campus of the University of
the Philippines on 29 November 1968.
In 1962, Teodoro Agoncillo, together with the UP Student
Council, placed a marker at the Pugad Lawin site. According to
Agoncillo, the house of Juan Ramos stood there in 1896, while
the house of Tandang Sora was located at Pasong Tamo.
On 30 June 1983, Quezon City Mayor Adelina S. Rodriguez
created the Pugad Lawin Historical Committee to determine the
location of Juan Ramos’s 1896 residence at Pugad Lawin.
The NHI files on the committee’s findings show the following:
 In August 1983, Pugad Lawin in barangay Bahay Toro
was inhabited by squatter colonies.• The NHI believed
that it was correct in looking for the house of Juan Ramos
and not of Tandang Sora. However, the former residence
of Juan Ramos was clearly defined.• There was an old
Page 6 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

dap-dap tree at the site when the NHI conducted its survey
I 1983. Teodoro Agoncillo, Gregorio Zaide and Pio
Valenzuela do not mention a dap-dap tree in their books.
 Pio Valenzuela, the main proponent of the “Pugad Lawin”
version, was dead by the time the committee conducted its
research.
 Teodoro Agoncillo tried to locate the marker installed in
August 1962 by the UP Student Council. However, was
no longer extant in 1983.

In spite of the above findings and in the absence of any clear

evidence, the NHI disregarded its own 1964 report that the
Philippine Historical Committee had determined in 1940 that the
Pugad Lawin residence was Tandang Sora’s and not Juan
Ramos’s and that the specific site of Pugad Lawin was Gulod in
Banlat.
The presence of the dap-dap tree in the Pugad Lawin site
determined by Agoncillo and the NHI is irrelevant, since none of
the principals like Pio Valenzuela, Santiago Alvarez, and others,
nor historians like Zaide- and even Agoncillo himself before that
instance- mentioned such a tree.
On the basis of the 1983 committee’s findings, the NHI placed
a marker on 23 August 1984 on Seminary Road in barangay
Bahay Toro behind Toro Hills High School, the Quezon City
General Hospital and the San Jose Seminary. It reads:

Ang Sigaw ng Pugad Lawin (1896)

Sa paligid ng pook na ito, si Andres Bonifacio at mga isang

libong Katipunero at nagpulong noong umaga ng ika-23 Agosto
1896, at ipinasyang maghimagsik laban sa Kastila sa Pilipinas.
Page 7 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Bilang patunay ay pinag-pupunit ang kanilang mga sedula na

naging tanda ng pagkaalipin ng mga Pilpino. Ito ang
kaunaunahang sigaw ng Bayang Api laban sa bansang Espanya
na pinatibayan sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng sandata.

(On this site Andres Bonifacio and one thousand Katipuneros met
in the morning of 23 August 1896 and decided to revolt against
the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines. As an
affirmation of their resolve, they tore up their tax receipts which
were symbols of oppression of the Filipinos. This was very first
Cry of the Oppressed Nation against Spain which was enforced
with use of arms.)
The place name “Pugad Lawin “, however, is problematic. In
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.

Cartographic changes
Was there a Pugad Lawin in maps or literature of the period?

A rough sketch or croquis de las operaciones practicadas in El

Español showed the movements of Lt. Ros against the Katipunan
on 25, 26, and 27 August 1896. The map 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.

Page 8 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

In 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.
According to the government, Balintawak is no longer on the
of Quezon City but has been replaced by several barangays.
Barrio Banlat is now divided into barangays Tandang Sora and
Pasong Tamo. Only bahay Toro remains intact.
Writer and linguist Sofronio Calderon, conducting research in
the late 1920s on the toponym “Pugad Lawin,” went through the
municipal records and the Census of 1903 and 1918, could not
find the name, and concluded that “Isang…pagkakamali… ang
sabihing mayroong Pugad Lawin sa Kalookan.” (It would be a
mistake to say that there is such as Pugad Lawin in Kalookan.)
What can we conclude from all this?
First, that “Pugad Lawin” was never officially recognized as a
place name on any Philippine map before Second World War.
Second, “Pugad Lawin “ appeared in historiography only from
1928, or some 32 years after the events took place. And third, the
revolution was always traditionally held to have occurred in the
area of Balintawak, which was distinct from Kalookan and
Diliman.
Therefore, while the toponym “Pugad Lawin” is more
romantic, it is more accurate to stick to the original “Cry of
Balintawak.”

Determining the Date

The official stand of NHI is that the Cry took place on 23
August 1896. That date, however, is debatable.

Page 9 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The later accounts of Pio Valenzuela and Guillermo

Masangkay on the tearing of cedulas on 23 August are basically
in agreement, but conflict with each other on the location.
Valenzuela points to the house of Juan Ramos in Pugad Lawin,
while Masangkay refers to Apolonio Samson’s in Kangkong.
Masangkay’s final statement has more weight as it is was
corroborated by many eyewitnesses who were photographed in
1917, when the earliest 23 August marker was installed.
Valenzuela’s date (23 August ) in his memoirs conflict with 1928
and 1930 photographs of the surveys with several Katipunan
officers, published in La Opinion, which claim that the Cry took
place on the 24th.

The Turning Point

What occurred during those last days of August 1896?
Eyewitness accounts mention captures, escapes, recaptures,
killings of Katipunan members; the interrogation of Chinese
spies; the arrival of arms in Meycauyan, Bulacan; the debate with
Teodoro Plata and others; the decision to go war; the shouting of
slogan; tearing of cedulas; the sending of letters presidents of
Sanggunian and balangay councils; the arrival of civil guard; the
loss of Katipunan funds during the skirmish. All these events, and
many others, constitute the beginning of nationwide revolution.
The Cry, however, must be defined as that turning point when
the Filipinos finally rejected Spanish colonial dominion over the
Philippine Islands, by formally constituting their own national
government, and by investing a set of leaders with authority to
initiate and guide the revolution towards the establishment of
sovereign nation.

Where did this take place?

Page 10 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The introduction to the original Tagalog text of the Biyak na

Bato Constitution states:
Ang paghiwalay ng Filipinas sa kahariang España sa patatag ng
isang bayang may sariling pamamahala’t kapangyarihan na
pangangalang “Republika ng Filipinas” ay siyang layong
inadhika niyaring Paghihimagsik na kasalukuyan, simula pa ng
ika- 24 ng Agosto ng taong 1896…

The Spanish text also states:

La separacion de Filipinas de la Monarquia Española,

constituyendose en Estado Independiente y soberano con
Gobierno propuio, con el nombre de Repulica de Filipinas, es en
su Guerra actual, iniciada en 24 de Agosto de 1896…
(The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish Monarchu,
constituting an independent state and with a proper sovereign
government, named the Republic of the Philippines, was the end
pursued by the revolution through the present hostilities, initiated
on 24 August 1896…)
These lines- in a legal document at that – are persuasive proof
that in so far as the leaders of the revolution are concerned,
revolution began on 24 August 1896. The document was written
only one and a half years after the event and signed by over 50
Katipunan members, among them Emilio Aguinaldo , Artemio
Ricarte and Valentin Diaz.
Emilio Aguinaldo’s memoirs, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan
(1964), refer to two letters from Andres Bonifacio dated 22 and
24 August. They pinpoint the date and place of the crucial Cry
meeting when the decision to attack Manila was made:

Page 11 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Noong ika-22 ng Agosto, 1896, ang Sangguniang Magdalo ay

tumanggap ng isang lihim na sulat mula sa Supremo Andres
Bonifacio, sa Balintawak , na nagsasaad na isamng mahalagang
pulong ang kanilang idinaos sa ika-24 ng nasabing buwan, at
lubhang kailangan na kame ay mapadala roon ng dalawang
kinatawan o delegado sa ngalan ng Sanggunian. Ang pulong
aniya’y itataon sa kaarawan ng kapistahan ng San Bartolome sa
Malabon, Tambobong. kapagkarakang matanggap ang nasabing
paanyaya, an gaming Pangulo na si G. Baldomero Aguinaldo, ay
tumawag ng pulong sa tribunal ng Cavite el Viejo… Nagkaroon
kami ng pag-aalinlangan sa pagpapadala roon ng aming
kinatawan dahil sa kaselanang pagdararanang mga pook at
totoong mahigpit at abot-abot ang panghuli ng mag Guardia Civil
at Veterana sa mga naglalakad lalung-lalo na sa mag
pinaghihinalaang mga mason at Katipunan. Gayon pa man ay
aming hinirang at pinagkaisahang ipadalang tanging Sugo ang
matapang na kapatid naming si G. Domingo Orcullo… Ang
aming Sugo ay nakarating ng maluwalhati sa kanyang paroonan
at nagbalik din na wala naming sakuna, na taglay ang sulat ng
Supremo na may petsang 24 ng Agosto. Doon ay wala naming
sinasabing kautusan, maliban sa patalastas na kagugulat-gulat na
kanilang lulusubin ang Maynila, sa Sabado ng gabi, ika-29 ng
Agosto, at ang hudyat ay ang pagpatay ng ilaw sa Luneta. Saka
idinugtong pa na marami diumano ang nahuli at napatay ng
Guardia Civil at Veterana sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa lugar ng
Gulod …
(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

Page 12 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Council. The meeting would be timed to coincide with the feast

day of Saint Bartolomew in Malabon, Tambobong. Upon
receiving the said invitation, our President, Mr. Baldomero
Aguinaldo, called a meeting at Tribunal of Cavite el Viejo…We
were apprehensive about sending representatives because the
areas they would have pass through were dangerous and was a
fact that the Civil Guard and Veterans were arresting travelers,
especially those suspected of being freemasons and members of
Katipunan. Nevertheless, we agreed and nominated to send a
single representative in the person of our brave brother, Mr.
Domingo Orcullo… Our representative arrived safely at his
destination and also returned unharmed, bearing a letter from the
Supremo dated 24 August. It contained no orders but the shocking
announcement that the Katipunan would attack Manila at night on
Saturday, 29 August, the signal for which would be the putting
out of the lamps in Luneta. He added that many of his comrade
had been captured and killed by the Civil Guard and Veterans in
Gulod…)
The first monument to mark the Cry was erected in 1903 on
Ylaya Street in Tondo, in front of the house were Liga Filipina
was founded. The tablet cites Andre Bonifacio as a founding
member, and as “ Supreme Head of the Katipunan, which gave
the first battle Cry against tyranny on August 24, 1896.”
The above facts render unacceptable the official stand that the
turning point of the revolution was the tearing of cedulas in the
“Cry of Pugad Lawin” on 23 August 1896, in the Juan Ramos’s
house in “Pugad Lawin” Bahay Toro, Kalookan.
The events of 17-26 August 1896 occurred closer to
Balintawak than to Kalookan. Traditionally, people referred to the
“Cry of Balintawak” since that barrio was a better known
reference point than Banlat.

Page 13 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

In any case, “Pugad Lawin” is not historiographically

verifiable outside of the statements of Pio Valenzuela in the 1930s
and after. In Philippine Historical Association round-table
discussion in February this year, a great granddaughter of
Tandang Sora protested the use of toponym “Pugad Lawin”
which, she said, referred to a hawks nest on top of a tall sampaloc
tree at Gulod, the highest elevated area near Balintawak. This
certainly negates the NHI’s premise that “Pugad Lawin” is on
Seminary Road in Project 8.
What we should celebrate is the establishment of a
revolutionary or the facto government that was republican in
aspiration, the designation of Bonifacio as the Kataastaasang
Pangulo (Supreme Presiddent), the election of the members of his
cabinet ministers and Sanggunian and Balangay heads which
authorized these moves met in Tandang Sora’s barn near Pasong
Tamo Road, in sitio Gulod, barrio Banlat then under the
jurisdiction of the municipality of Kalookan. This took place at
around noon of Monday, 24 August 1896.
It is clear that the so-called Cry of Pugad Lawin of 23 August
is an imposition and erroneous interpretation, contrary to
indisputable and numerous historical facts.
The centennial of the Cry of Balintawak should be celebrated
on 24 August 1996 at the site of the barn and house of Tandang
Sora in Gulod, now barangay Banlat, Quezon City.
That was when and where the Filipino nation state was born.

Exercises:
 What is the importance of the Cry of Rebellion in
Philippine History?

Page 14 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Is it important to identify the exact date and place

of the Cry of Rebellion? Why?

References:

Solmerano, et. al (2018), Readings in Philippine History- First

Edition; FastBooks Educational Supply Inc. Manila, Philippines,
Page 181-190.

Candelaria, J,L. et. al. (2018) Readings in Philippine History. Rex

Book Store, Manila, Page 65-68.

LESSON 10
Page 15 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

AGRARIAN REFORM POLICIES

Lesson objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a. Define and Explain RA 6657 or CARP
b. Share their insights regarding the Hacienda Luisita: and,
c. Proposed solutions regarding the problems on the
distribution of lands in the Hacienda Luisita issue.

READINGS:

Agrarian Land Reform

 Refers to the full range of measures that may or should be
taken to improve or remedy the defects in the relations
among men with respect to their rights in land.
 It can be found in 1987 Philippine Constitution wherein it
identifies the basic principles of any Agrarian Reform.
Agrarian Condition In The Philippines
 For a long period of time, the agrarian system of our country
was being controlled by the large landlords. The small
farmers here in the Philippines were struggling for their
rights to the land and other natural resources.

Implementation of Agrarian Reform in Phil.

 The implementation of Agrarian reforms proceeded at a very
slow pace. This was due to the lack of political will. The
redistribution of land was also very slow.

Page 16 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

History and definition of CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian

Reform Program)
 The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
 It was the Philippine state policy that ensures and promotes
welfare of landless farmers and farm workers, as well as
elevation of social justice and equity among rural areas. This
also focus on industrialization.
 Is the redistribution of public and private agricultural lands
to farmers and farmworkers who are landless, irrespective of
tenurial arrangement.
 RA. No. 9700 (August 7,2009) - An act strengthening the
CARP, extending the acquisition and distribution of all
agricultural lands, instituting necessary reforms, amending
for the purpose certain provisions of RA. No. 6657 as
mended and appropriating funds.
 Major Program of CARP - Land Tenure Improvement- to
hasten distribution of lands to landless farmers
COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW
 Known as the Republic Act No. 6657
 It was signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on June 10,
1988
 An Act Instituting a CARP TO promotes social justice and
industrialization, providing the mechanism for it’s
implementation and for other purposes.

Page 17 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

AQUINO ADMINISTRATION 1986-1992

 THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISIONS STATE THAT:
“The state shall promote Comprehensive Rural
Development
In Agrarian Reform.”
 Under the Aquino’s administration, a total of 889,420
landless tenants.

BENEFICIARIES OF CARP
1. Agricultural lessees and share tenants
2. Regular farm workers
3. Seasonal farm workers
4. Other farm workers
5. Actual tillers or occupants of public lands
6. Collective or cooperatives of the above beneficiaries
E.O 229
 180 days for effectively this order
 to all natural and juridical persons including the
Government Entities and, owning leasing or managing
agricultural lands.
E.O 228

Page 18 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Declaring land ownership to qualified farmer beneficiaries

covered with PD27, determining the value of unvalued rice
and corn land subject and providing for the payment
monetary for farmer beneficiaries in made of compensation
to landowner.
Land that has been acquired and distributed so far
 As of December 31, 2013,the government has acquired and
distributed 6.9 million hectares of land, equivalent to 88% of
the total land subject to CARP. (Department of Agrarian
Reform)
 DAR TO FINISH LAND DISTIRBUTION BY 2020: The
Duterte Administration has imposed a tall order on the
Department of Agrarian Reform(DAR):Finish all land
acquisition and distribution (LAD) under the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) by 2020
or before the term of President Duterte ends.
 More than three decades since the Agrarian Reform Law was
enacted during Cory Aquino’s Administration, the
government has yet to complete the distribution of
agricultural lands to landless farmers, but President
Duterte’s directive is expected to bring the country finally
“LAD-free”
 Under CARP, a total of 10.3 million hectares of land were
mandated to be distributed over a span of 10 years. But due
to bureaucratic processes, lawsuits and problems on farmers
registry, among others, there are still more than 600,000
hectares of land waiting to be turned-over.
 Despite the challenging feat which saw the comings and
goings of six administration, Agrarian reform Secretary John
Castriciones said he was positive that the agency would
achieve Mr.Duterte’s mandate.
Page 19 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 To accomplish this, DAR has created a program dubbed

“LAD-FREE 2022” which will see the creation of a “well-
coordinated strategy to distribute- owned lands, distribute
collective CLOA’s (certificate of Land Ownership Award)
and achieve a zero backlog in the resolution of cases related
to Agrarian Justice.
 DAR recently held a three day national conference to
properly account for the remaining land for distribution to
Agrarian Reform beneficiaries. Strategies were also
formulated to speed up LAD, including the creation of an
inter-agency task force that build expedite the processing of
requests to convert Agricultural lands for residential,
commercial and industrial use, and submit a report on the
anomalies in the conversion processes.
 The agency said it was also working hard to implement
executive order 75,which orders the acquisition of all
government-owned land devoted to or suitable for
agriculture but are no longer actually directly and
exclusively use for the purpose for which it has been
reserved.
Government office involved in the program
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM(DAR) &
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) - has the
responsibility in carrying out the principal aspects of the
program, which are Land Tenure Improvement (LTI),
Program Beneficiary Development (PBD), and the Agrarian
Justice Delivery (AJD).
How much land is subject to land reform?

Page 20 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Under the CARP, a total target of 10.3 million hectares of

land was programmed to be distributed over a span of ten
years. Out of the total land, 6.5 million hectares of public
disposal lands and Integrated Social Forestry areas are to be
distributed by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) while 3.8 million hectares of private
agricultural lands are to be distributed by the DAR. From
July 1987 to June 1992, the DAR was able to distribute 1.77
million hectares benefiting .933 million beneficiaries, while
the DENR has distributed 1.88 million hectares to .760
million farmers.
 Under the CARP, no person may own or retain, directly or
indirectly, any public or private agricultural land, the size of
which shall vary according to factors governing a viable
family-size farm as may be determined by the Presidential
Agrarian Reform Council, exceeding five hectares.
 Three hectares may be awarded to each child of the
landowner, subject to the following qualifications: (a) that
he is at least 15 years of age; and (b) that he is actually tilling
the land or directly managing the farm.
 The landowner shall exercise the right to choose the land to
be retained. But in case the area selected for retention by the
landowner is tenanted, the tenant shall have the option to
choose whether to: (a) remain in the retained land; or (b) be
a beneficiary in the same or another agricultural land with
similar or comparable features.
 The Comprehensive Land Reform Program Extension with
Reforms (CARPER), which was enacted to extend the
acquisition and distribution of agricultural land under
CARP, expired on June 30, 2014, with thousands of hectares
of land still to be distributed to farmers.

Page 21 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 In fact, according to the Official Gazette, the Department of

Agricultural Reform (DAR) and Department of
Environment and Natural Resources still needed to acquire
a total of 906,652 hectares of agricultural land for its
distribution between 2014 and 2016.
 Furthermore, according to DAR Secretary Rafael V.
Mariano, pending cases of conversion and protests on
coverage impede the distribution of lands to the farmers. In
a report by the DAR, 58,220 agrarian law implementation
cases remain pending from July 2016 to June 2017.
 Of these, 27,981 cases were resolved and covered, including
209 dialogues involving 12,292 farmers, which was more
than double the 97 consultation-dialogues held and 12 times
the number of farmers accommodated from July 2015 to
June 2016.
Qualification Of tenants
▪ (1) The tenant shall be free to work elsewhere whenever the
nature of his farm obligation warrants his temporary absence
from his holdings.
▪ (2) The tenant shall, aside from his labor, have the right to
provide any of the contributions for production whenever he
can do so adequately and on time.
▪ (3) The tenant's dwelling shall not, without his consent, be
removed from the lot assigned to him by the landholder,
unless there is a severance of the tenancy relationship
between them as provided under Section nine, or unless the
tenant is ejected for cause, and only after the expiration of
forty-five days following such severance of relationship or
dismissal for cause.

Page 22 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

▪ If the tenant is dismissed without just cause and he is

constrained to work elsewhere, he may choose either to
remove his dwelling at the landholder's cost or demand the
value of the same from the landholder at the time of the
unjust dismissal.
▪ 4) The tenant shall have the right to be indemnified for his
labor and expenses in the cultivation, planting, or harvesting
and other incidental expenses for the improvement of the
crop raised in case he is dispossessed of his holdings,
whether such dismissal is for a just cause and not, provided
the crop still exists at the time of the dispossession.

EXERCISES:
I. Answer the following questions. Explain your
answers briefly. (You may use extra sheet of paper)
1. What do you think is/are the benefit/s of the reform?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

2. How does Department of Agrarian Reform related to

CARP?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

3. If you were to propose a project for our farmers, what

would it be and why?

Page 23 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

4. What is your insight regarding the hacienda luisita issue?

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. How does the Hacienda Luisita Massacre affects the
socio-political and economic life of every Filipino
people?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

REFERENCES:

 Solmerano, et al (2018). “Reading in Philippine History”,

first edition. Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc. Manila
Philippines
 Antonio I. Tamayao (2019)”Readings in Philippine
History.”

Page 24 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LESSON 11
CONSTITUTION
Lesson objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a. Compare and Contrast two constitutions using Venn
Diagram;
b. Proposed and amendment or revision on the present
constitution; and,
c. Share their insights regarding the trend and issues at
present which is related to the present constition.
READINGS:
Page 25 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

CONSTITION
 It is the basic principles and laws of a nation, or social group
that determine the powers and duties of the government and
guarantee certain rights to the people in it. It is a written
instrument embodying the rules of a political or social
organization.
 It is the fundamental and entrenched rules governing the
conduct of an organization or nation state, and establishing
its concept, character, and structure. It is usually a short
document, general in nature and embodying the aspirations
and values of its writers and subjects.
THE 1897 CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-BATO
 On march 22, 1987 at San Fransisco de Malabon, Cavite
where, the first presidential and vice-presidential elections
in the Philippine history were held, although the election was
only among the Katipuneros and not the general population.
 On November 1, 1897 at Biak-na Bato in the town of San
Miguel de Mayumo in Bulacan, the Republic of Biak-na-
Bato was established. The Biak-na-Bato republic had a
constitution drafted by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer
which was based on the Cuban Constitution. The
constitution was known as the “Constitution Provisional de
la Republica de Filipinas” (Provisional Constitution of the
Philippines). It was riginally written in and promulgated in
the Spanish and Tagalog languages.
THE 1899 MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
 On January 20, 1899 at Barasoin Church in Malolos,
Bulacan, the Malolos Congress proclaimed, enacted and

Page 26 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

ratified “Constitucion politica” ( Political Constitution). This

document was written in Spanish.
 The malolos constitution was the first republican
constitution in Asia:
a. It declared that sovereignty resides exclusively in the
people
b. It stated basic civil rights
c. It separated the church and state
d. It called for the creation of an Assembly of
Representatives to act as the legislative body.
e. It called for a parliamentary republic as the form of
government. The president was elected for a term of four
years by majority of the Assembly.
 PHILIPPINE ORGANIC ACT OF 1902 – The Philippine
organic act of 1902, also known as the ”Philippine Bill of
1902,” was the first organic law for the Philippine Islands
enacted by the United States Congress.
 PHULIPPINE AUTONOMY ACT OF 1916 – also known
as the “Jones Law,” modified the structure of the Philippine
government by removing the Philippine Commission as the
legislative upper house and replacing it with a Senate elected
by Filipino voters, creating the Philippines’ first fully elected
national legislature.
 TYDINGS – MCDUFFIE ACT (1934) – provided
authority and defined mechanism for the establishment of
formal constitution via a constitutional convention.

THE 1935 CONSTITUTION (1935-1943 , 1945-1973)

Page 27 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 It was approved and adopted by the Commonwealth of the

Philippine (1935-1946) and later used by the Third Republic
(1946-1972).
 The original 1935 constitution provided for unicameral
National Assembly and the President was elected to a six
year term without re-election. It was amended in 1940 to
have a bicameral Congress composed of a Senate and House
of Representatives, as well as the creation of an independent
electoral commission. The Constitution noe granted the
President a four-year term with a maximum of two
consecutive terms in office.

THE 1973 CONSTITUTION (1973-1986)

 The 1973 constitution, promulgated after the Marcos’
declaration of martial law, was proposed to introduced a
parliamentary-style government. Legislative power was
vested in a unicameral National Assembly whose members
were elected for six-year terms. The President was ideally
elected as the symbolic and purely ceremonial head of the
state chosen from amongst the Members of the National
Assembly for a six-year term and could be re-elected to an
unlimited number of terms. Upon election, the president
ceased to be a Member of the National Assembly.
 The 1973 constitution was further amended in 1980 and
1981. In 1980 amendment, the retirement age of the
members of the judiciary was extended to 70 years. In the
1981 amendments, the false parliamentary system was
formally modified into a French-style semi-presidential
system:
a. Executive power was restored to the President;
Page 28 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

b. Direct election of the President was restored;

c. An Executive Committee composed of the Prime
Minister and not more than 14 members was created to
“assist the president in the exercise of his powers and
functions and in the performance of his duties as he may
prescribe;” and the Prime Minister was a mere head of
the cabinet.

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION (1987 – PRESENT)

a. Structure and Contents
 Preamble –it introduces the constitution and the
source of sovereignty, the people. It follows the
pattern in the past constitutions, including an
appeal to God.
ARTICLE I – NATIONAL TERITORY
 The national territory comprises Philippine
archipelago, with all the islands and waters
embraced therein, and all other territories over
which the Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial,
and aerial domains, including its territorial sea,
the seabed, the subsoil, the connecting the islands
of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and
dimensions, from part of the internal waters of
the Philippines.

ARTICLE II – DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE AND

STATE POLICIES

Page 29 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Lays out the basic social and political creed of the

Philippines, particularly the implementation of
the constitution and sets forth the objectives of
the government .
ARTICLE III – BILL OF RIGHTS
 Enumerates specific protections against the
abuse of state power, most of which are similar
to the provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
ARTICLE IV – CITIZENSHIP
 It enumerates two kinds of citizens: natural-born
citizen and naturalized citizens.
ARTICLE V – SUFFRAGE
 Mandates various age and residence
qualifications to vote and a system of secret
ballots and absentee voting. It also mandates a
procedure for overseas and disabled and illiterate
Filipinos to vote.
ARTICLE VI – LEGISLATIVE DPARTMENT
 Provides a bicameral legislature called the
Congress composed of the Senate and the House
of Representatives. It vests upon Congress,
among others, the power of investigation and
inquiry in aid of legislation, the power to declare
the existence of a state war, the power of the
purse, the power of taxation and the power of
eminent domain.
 They make laws

Page 30 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

 Provides for a presidential form of government
where the executive power is vested on the
President.
 They approve laws
ARTICLE VIII – JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
 Vests the power upon the the Supreme Court and
other lower courts as many be established by law .
ARTICLE IX – CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS
 Establishes three constitutional commissions: the
Civil Service Commission, Commission on
Elections, and the Commission on Audit.
ARICLE X – LOCAL GOVERNMENT
 Pursues for local autonomy and mandates Congress
to enact a law for the local government, now
currently the Local Government Code.
ARTICLE XI – ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC
OFFICERS
ATICLE XII – NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
PATRIMONY
ARTICLE XIV – EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND
TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, CULTURE, AND SPORTS
ARTICLE XV – THE FAMILY
ARTICLE XVI – GENERAL PROVISIONS

Page 31 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

ARTICLE XVII – AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS

ARTICLE XVIII – TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
EXERCISES:
I. Compare and contrast of Philippine
Constitutions.
Use these Venn diagrams to compare and contrast
any two Philippine Constitutions.
1. Choose any two Philippine Constitutions
2. Get a copy of the original documents
3. Compare and Contrast the preambles
4. Choose any two articles to compare and
contrast,.

II. Answer the following questions briefly. (USE

EXTRA SHEET OF PAPER)
1. If you were to suggest revision on our present
constitution, what would it be and why?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

2. If you have given the chance to put back some

amendments and revision from the other
constitutions, what would it be and why?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Page 32 of 33
 Republic of the Philippines
APAYAO STATE COLLEGE
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

3. In the article 1 of the 1987 Constitution (National

Territory), What is your insight about the dispute
of China and Our country on the West Philippine
Sea? What is the claim of China? And what is the
claim of the Philippines?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

4. If you have given the chance make laws that

would help our fellow citizen with this pandemic,
what would it be?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_____________________________________

REFERENCES:
 Solmerano, et al (2018). “Reading in Philippine History”,
first edition. Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc. Manila
Philippines
 Antonio I. Tamayao (2019)”Readings in Philippine
History.”

Page 33 of 33