The Cry of Pugad Lawin Controversy:

Disparity in the First Cry's Location and Date

The Cry of Pugad Lawin is among the most enduring historical issues in Philippine history.
The Katipuneros, commanded by Andrés Bonifacio, managed to tear their cedulas, symbolizing
the start of the Philippine Revolution and their act of defiance against with the Spanish Empire.
The unclear explanations of what the "cry" signified, as well as conflicting comments by KKK
veterans, have resulted in such disagreements. To be more specific, whether the "cry" occurred in
Pugad Lawin or Balintawak, and whether it occurred on August 23, 1896 or August 24, 1896, are
the primary issues in the debate. Due to the authenticity of the source and its coherence with other
sources, the argument holds that the Cry of Pugad Lawin occurred on August 23, 1896 at Pugad
Lawin. Other historians, however, disagree with this assertion.
Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan (1964), Emilio Aguinaldo's memoirs, mention two messages from
Andres Bonifacio dated August 22 and 24, 1896. People in his day used to reference to the "Cry
of Balintawak" since it was a more well-known reference point than Banlat. In any event, "Pugad
Lawin" cannot be verified historiographically. To provide an example:

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 Bartolome. 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 wouldatta
ck 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 comrades 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 Andres
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 shredding of cedulas in the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" occurred on August 23, 1896, in the
residence of Juan Ramos, Melchora Aquino's son in "Pugad Lawin" Bahay Toro, Kalookan,
according to the aforementioned facts. The events of August 1-7, 1896 took place in Balintawak
rather than Kalookan. A great granddaughter of Tandang Sora also objected to the usage of the
toponym "Pugad Lawin," which she said referred to a hawks nest on top of a tall sampaloc tree
in Gulod, the highest elevated location near Balintawak, during a round-table debate hosted by
the Philippine Historical Association.
The notion that now the place was already in Balintawak, nevertheless, was contradicted by Pio
Valenzuela, a KKK Member who claimed that he had been present when the initial cry in his
testimony. On a trial court in 1917, he remembered making the decision to revolt at a residence
on the Daan Malalim road in Pasong Tamo, Caloocan. The place was "also recognized as
Pacpac-lawin," according to the soldier. Teodoro Agoncilio's book, The Revolt of the Masses,
mostly relied on such assertions and recollections by Valenzuela. The following is the most
widely circulated narrative of the debate:
On the morning of August 23rd, more than 1,000 Katipunan members gathered at the
yard of Juan A. Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino, in Pugad Lawin, where they had gone after
leaving Sam son's residence in the afternoon of August 22nd. The question of whether the
revolution against the Spanish government should begin on the 29th was debated extensively.
Only one guy objected... but he was overridden... Bonifacio then proclaimed the decision,
shouting, "Brothers, it was agreed to continue with the insurrection plan." Do you promise to
oppose the oppressive government, my brothers? " Yes, sir!" shouted the rebels, as one guy
answered. "That being the case," says the narrator. "Bring out your cedulas and rip them up to
indicate our willingness to take arms!" Bonifacio said. ... " . The rebels, tucked away in the heart
of the ceremony

"Long live the Philippines!" yelled in tear-stained eyes. Katipunan, long live!

Furthermore, the first monument commemorating the scream was erected at Balintawak in
September 1911, although it was subsequently relocated to Diliman University owing to road
construction. Balintawak's claim to become the spot of the first Cry has been brought into
question over the years, partly because the monument does not specify the exact location, and
partly because the monument was erected solely because the Katipuneros congregated in
Balintawak, which was the largest and most successful barrio at the time, and its name was
frequently used to refer to that general area. The term Balintawak may be recognizable to locals,
however the Cry wasn't really originated in Balintawak with in tighter, restricted sense specific
area in eastern Caloocan.
This one has been decided that now the Cry of Pugad Lawin occurred on August 23, 1896,
relying on the assertions made and corroborated by the proof, because this matches with the
irrefutable and historic artifacts given. Pio Valenzuela's evidence might be uneven at first, so this
was due to the fact that he was under pressure throughout his prosecution in a Spanish court.
Regardless of the event's timing and location, the Filipino people should concentrate on the
importance of the cry bears. As a result, Filipinos remember the Katipunan's act of ripping their
cedulas apart and proclaiming a war of independence on National Heroes Day, which is based on
that incident. There would be no Cry of Balintawak if it weren't for it.
There would have been a revolution. We, the Filipinos of today, would not have the freedom we
have today if it hadn't been for the revolution.
1. What are the main issues of the first cry?

- The Battle of Balintawak, also known as the Sigaw ng Balintawak, marked the start
of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire. The ripping up of
community tax certificates or cedula in disobedience of their devotion to Spain
might also be referred to by the cry.

2. What important learnings can you get from this controversy?

- The Cry is the turning point in Filipino history when they ultimately
repudiated Spanish colonial authority over the Philippines. The people, with
tears in their eyes, pulled out their cedulas and tore them up as one. The
combatants tore their residency certificates in an emotional ritual ripped
represent the end of their devotion to Spain while yelling the battle cry,
"Long live Philippine independence!" The incident is known as the "Cry of
Balintawak" and is recognized as the beginning of the Philippine revolution.
The spot is now marked with a monument depicting a Filipino farmer
wielding the "bolo," the country's version of the machete. My learning in this
controversy is things shift. It's an unsettling reality that's difficult to refute.
Others who have the necessary talents and traits to deal with the
transformation will survive the battle and go on with their lives, while those
who do not... not going to happen. The world is changing all the time, and
our adversaries are adapting and training to defeat us. Maintaining isn't
enough. Maintaining means fighting the same opponent from yesterday, not
the one who witnessed the fight and is coming after you tomorrow. Don't just
keep going; assess your wins and losses, modify, hone, and experiment.
Grow.

3. Which account do you believe? Explain.

- The account I believed is the Katipuneros "Cry of Pugad Lawin" against

tyrannical Spanish authority in the Philippines in 1896 demonstrated not just
the Filipino people's bravery and fortitude, but also their freedom-loving
character and nature. Because, during the end of August 1896, members of
the Katipunan secret society (Katipuneros), commanded by Andrés
Bonifacio, rose up in revolt somewhere in Caloocan, an area larger than the
jurisdiction of modern-day Caloocan City and maybe overlapping into
Quezon City.