Where did the Cry of Rebellion Happen?
The Cry
The “Cry of Rebellion” marks the start of the revolutionary events that swept the Spanish colonies in the
late 19th century. This happens on August 1896, northeast of Manila.
Controversies arise as to when and where this event happened.
Teodoro Agoncillo said it was when Bonifacio tore the cedula before the Katipuneros while others says it
was when Aguinaldo commissioned the “Himno de Balintawak” after the pact of Biak – na – Bato failed.
A monument for the heroes of 1896 was erected at the corner of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA)
and in Bonifacio Drive on 1962 and then on the Cry was celebrated every 26th of August.
Various accounts says different places and dates of the Cry.
Lt. Olegario Diaz
The Cry happened in Balintawak on August 25, 1896 according to him.
Teodoro M. Kalaw (a historian)
The Cry happened in Balintawak on August 25, 1896 according to him.
Says it happens in Kangkong, Balintawak, last week of August 1896.
Dates and Places of the Cry
Primary Sources
Santiago Alvarez
A Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez, a leader of Magdiwang Faction in Cavite said it happened in
Bahay Toro in Quezon City on August 24, 1896.
Pio Valenzuela
Also a Katipunero and privy in many events concerning Katipunan said it happened at Pugad Lawin on
23rd of August.
Guillermo Masangkay’s Account
August 26, 1896
A big meeting was held at Antonio Samson, Cabeza of Balintawak in Caloocan.
Present were Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas,
Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco and Francisco Carreon: all leaders of Katipunan and
Board of Directors of the organization. Also present are delegates from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite and
Morong.
The meeting was opened by Bonifacio at 9 o’clock in the morning while Jacinto act as secretary with the
agenda of when the uprising would take place.
Plata, Pantas , and Valenzuela opposed the idea for it is too early for the rebellion for them. Bonifacio
went out sensing he would lose the discussion.
Bonifacio appealed to the people outside saying his speech:
The people responded shouting:
“You remember the fate of our countrymen who were shot at Bagumbayan ……
Our organization has been discovered and we are marked men. If we don’t start the uprising the
Spaniards will get us anyway. What then you say?”
“Revolt!”
Bonifacio asked the people’s pledge and told them that the sign of Spanish slavery to Filipinos were the
cedula.
“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”
Pio Valenzuela’s Account
August 19, 1896
Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata and Aguedo del Rosario arrived at
Balintawak.
August 20, 1896
Pio Valenzuela arrived on that place.
August 22, 1896
The first place where some 500 Katipuneros met was the house of Apolonio Samson at Kangkong. Also
present were Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others.
August 23, 1896
The debate to whether the revolution starts on August 29, 1896 or not was carried out in Pugad Lawin,
in the yard of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino, where 1000 Katipuneros were gathered.
After the turbulent meeting, many of those present tore their cedula certificates and shouted:
“Long live the Philippines! … Long live the Philippines!”
Analysis and conclusion
With the accounts presented, there is a markable disagreement to where and when the Cry happenned.
Using primary and secondary sources, it happened in four places: Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin
and Bahay Toro, while the dates differ: 23, 24, 25, or 26th of August 1896.
In Valenzuela’s account, he once told the Spanish investigators that the Cry happened on Wednesday,
26th of August in Balintawak but later in his work “Memoirs of the Revolution” he said it happened at
Pugad Lawin on 23rd of August.
According to Guerrero, Encarnacion and Villegas, these places are in Balintawak, formerly in Caloocan,
now, in Quezon City.
For the dates, this is due to Bonifacio’s movement from different place from time to time in evading the
Spanish Government who were pursuing the Katipuneros. This explains why there are several accounts
of the Cry.
