The Cry of Pugad Lawin Controversy:

Introduction

These events vitalized the unity of the Filipino People and brought "thirst" for
independence. The Cry of the Rebellion in Pugad Lawin, marked the start of the
Philippine Revolution in 1896 which eventually led to Independence of the country in
1898. There are different versions on the dates and venues for the first cry of the
revolution. It is believe that so-called “Cry” took place in Balintawak. But others would
say that it happened in Pugad Lawin. Nevertheless, there are four versions to consider
in knowing the real date and place of the cry. These paper aim firstly to clarify the issues of
geography and terminology that have complicated the “Cry” debate over the years; secondly to
summarize the current state of knowledge about the “Cry.

Sides and/or Evidences of the Controversy:

The inscription on the marker at the site says that “In the
vicinity of this place, Andres Bonifacio and about one
thousand Katipuneros met on the morning of August 23,
1896 and decided to launch the revolution against the
Spanish government in the Philippines. They affirmed their
decision by tearing their cedulas, symbols of the
enslavement of the Filipinos. This was the first cry of the
oppressed people against the Spanish nation, and was
given force by means of arms.”  In 1896, according to the
National Historical Commission (NHCP), the house and
yard of Juan Ramos had stood on this site.

NHCP Marker in Pugad Lawin Shrine

Historians agree the precise date and location are not vitally important. They concur, a
few mavericks excepted, that the “Cry” took place between August 23 and 26, 1896 in
what was then the municipality of Caloocan.  The doubt about the exact site could be
put aside, as Ambeth Ocampo has suggested, simply by calling the occasion the “Cry of
Caloocan”. But this fudge would not end the controversy.  Official history demands
precise dates to commemorate and exact places to mark and historians feel uneasy that
decades of debate have not produced any clear answers. Pinpointing the “Cry” is a
challenge they have failed to meet. Nicolas Zafra voiced such a view back in 1960.  The
detail of the “Cry” might seem insignificant in relation to the broader sweep of events, he
acknowledged, and indeed it might seem “pointless and unprofitable” to pursue the
matter, but the historical profession had a duty to ensure the facts of public history were
as accurate as humanly possible.  Settling the problem, he said, would redound to the
“credit, honor and glory of historical scholarship in our country.”
These notes aim firstly to clarify the issues of geography and terminology that have
complicated the “Cry” debate over the years; secondly to summarize the current state of
knowledge about the “Cry”; and thirdly, at some length, to discuss the long evolution
and the credibility of the official version of events, that the “Cry” took place on August
23, 1896; at a site known as Pugad Lawin, situated in what today is Bahay Toro,
Quezon City; which in 1896 had been the house and yard of Juan Ramos.  

This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorize by no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who happened to be eyewitness himself of the event. In
his first version, hetold that the prime staging point of the cry was in Balintawak on
Wednesday of August 26, 1896. He held this account when the happening or events
are still vivid in his memory. On the other hand, later in his life and a fading memory, he
wrote his Memoirs of the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the
Philippine Revolution and claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August
23, 1896. Below is his account:

“The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and myself was 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.
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, 1986. The discussion was on
whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started on
August 29,
1986. Only one man protested and fought against a war, and that was Teodora
Plata
[Bonifacio’s brother-in-law-Z]. 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 the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!
First place of the refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Teodoro Plata, Aguedo Del Rosario, and myself was balintawak, the first five arriving
there on August 19 and I, on August 20, 1896. The first place where same 500
members of the Katipunan met on August 22, 1896, was the house and yard of
Apolonio Samson at Kangkong. Aside from the persons motion above, among those
who were there were Bricco pantas. Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio
Samson, and others. Here we views were only exchanged, and no resolutions 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 Katipunan met and
carried out considerable debate and discussion on August 23, 1986. The discussion
was on whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government should be started
on August 29, 1986. Only one man protested and fought against a war, and that was
Teodiro Plata [Bonifacio’s brother-in- law-Z]. Besides the persons named above, among
tose present at this meeting were Enrique Capriano, 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 Philippines! Long live the
Philippines!”

This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on
This controversial version of the “Cry of the Pugad Lawin” has been authorized by
no
other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela,
who happened to be the eyewitness himself of the event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other hand, later in his life and with a fading memory, he wrote his
Memoirs of
the Revolution without consulting the written documents of the Philippine
revolution and
claimed that the “Cry” took place at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. Below is his
account on

This controversial version

of the “Cry of the
Pugad Lawin” has been
authorized by no
other than Dr. Pio
Valenzuela,
who happened to be the
eyewitness himself of the
event. In his
first version, he told 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. On the other
hand, later in his life and
with a fading memory, he
wrote his Memoirs of
the Revolution without
consulting the written
documents of the
Philippine revolution
and
claimed that the “Cry”
took place at Pugad
Lawin on August 23,
1896. Below is his
account o

Reference

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vge-
MDV563bUrIXaqATy0tE3QdlWFeO3uqxWKRfXeB8/mobilebasic
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/ateneo-de-davao-university/philippine-
history/lecture-notes/cry-of-balintawak-or-pugad-lawin/8599383/view