TITLE

LESSON 4: THE FIRST CRY OF

THE REVOLUTION (AUGUST
1896)
The Philippine Revolution of 1896

•began with what was later known

as the “First Cry” or the initial move
of the Filipinos to begin the
revolution for independence
The tearing up of cedulas and proclaiming the start of the
fight for independence happened after the Katipunan was
exposed on August 19, 1896 and the Spaniards began to
crack down on suspected rebels.
It was believed that the first cry occurred there on August
26, however it was contradicted by the different Katipunan
personalities who claimed that they were there at that time.
National Historical Commission of The
Philippines claimed that, the First cry of the
Philippine Revolution of 1896 happened on
August 23, 1896 at Pugadlawin, now part of
Project 8 in Quezon City.
Different Accounts
of the Nationwide Cry
Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s “Cry of PugadLawin”
an official of the Katipunan and a friend of Andres Bonifacio, who
was present during the event.
In 1935, Pio Valenzuela, along with Briccio Pantas and Enrique
Pacheco said (in English translation).“
The first Cry of the revolution did not happen in Balintawak where
the monument is, but in a place called PugadLawin."
“…It was at Pugad Lawin, 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, 1896. The discussion
was on whether or not the revolution against the Spanish
government should be started on August 29, 1896... After the
tumultuous meeting, many of those present tore their cedula
certificates and shouted "Long live the Philippines! Long live
the Philippines “
Guillermo Masangkay
a friend and fellow Katipunero of Andres Bonifacio
In his interview with the Sunday Tribune magazine, Masangkay said
that the first Cry happened in Balintawak on August 26, 1896.
 In the first decade of American rule, it was his account that was used
by the government and civic officials to fix the date and place of the
First Cry
In another interview published in the newspaper Bagong Buhay on
August 26, 1957, Masangkay changed his narrative stating that the
revolution began on August 23, 1896, similar to the assertion of Dr.
Pio Valenzuela.
But later changed again when his granddaughter, Soledad Buehler-
Borromeo, cited sources, including the Masangkay papers, that the
original date was August 26.
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".
Santiago Alvarez

one of the leaders of the Cavite revolution.

Alvarez presents an account devoid of any
dramatic description as it is merely a
narration of the events that happened in
Bahay Toro.
Santiago Alvarez The “Cry of Bahay Toro”
i.An uprising to defend the people's freedom was to be started at midnight
of Saturday, 29 August 1896;
ii.To be on a state of alert so that the Katipunan forces could strike should
the situation arise where the enemy was at a disadvantage. Thus, the
uprising could be started earlier than the agreed time of midnight of 29
August 1896 should a favorable opportunity arise at that date. Everyone
should steel himself and be resolute in the struggle that was imminent; and
iii.His immediate objective was the capture of Manila.
After the adjournment of the meeting at twelve noon, there were
tumultuous shouts of "Long live the Sons of the Country” (Mabuhay anf mga
Anak ng Bayan)!
Gregoria de Jesus
the “Lakambini of the Katipunan”.
"Oriang",
the "Maria Elena" in a Santacruzan in Caloocan when she first met
Andres Bonifacio who was introduced by her cousin Teodoro Plata,
also a katipunero.
Right after Gregoria de Jesus and Andres Bonifacio were maried in
March 1893, Oriang was immediately sworn into the Katipunan and
she took the name "Lakambini".
As wife of the Supremo, she was kept the seal of the Society and its
secret lists of recruits and supporters.
The town beauty married not only the Supremo of the Katipunan but
the cause of liberty.
More than a year after Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio
were killed, Gregoria de Jesus married Julio Nakpil who was
commander of all the Katipunan troops in the north.
 Oriang and Julio Nakpil had eight children.
Gregoria de Jesus wrote:
• ". . . . . As the Katipunan’s activities had reached nearly all corners of the
Philippine Archipelago and some of its secrets had already been divulged, we
returned immediately to Kalookan. However as we were being watched closely,
most of the men, including Andres Bonifacio, after a few days, left town. It was
then that the uprising began with the cry for liberty on 26 August 1896. While I
was with my parents, through friends, I learned that I too would apprehended. I
therefore decided to escape right away and I did so at eleven o’clock at night with
the intention of returning to Manila under cover going through the ricefields
direct to La Loma. I was treated like an apparition, for, sad to say, from every
house where I tried to get a little rest, I was driven away as if the people therein
were mortally frightened. However, I learned later that the occupants of the
houses I visited were seized and severely punished and some even exiled – one of
them was an uncle of mine whom I visited that night to kiss his hand, and he died
in exile. My father and two brothers were also arrested at this time.. . . .”
Kalookan, Rizal 5 November 1928
Check it out…
 The debate has long been clouded by a lack of consensus on exactly
what is meant by the “Cry.”
The term has been applied to three related but distinct events –
• The “pasya” – the decision to revolt;
• The “pagpupunit” – the tearing of cedulas; and
• The “unang labanan” – the first encounter with the Spanish forces
Check it out…

These three events did not all happen at the
same time and place. When and where the
“cry” should be commemorated thus
depends on how it is defined.