PASSI CITY COLLEGE

City of Passi
School Of Information &
Communications Technology

GE 4
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

MODULE 2
ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL EVENTS

This module presents selected primary and secondary sources that significantly
contribute in the shaping of Philippine history.
Historical analysis is a method of the examination of evidence in coming to an
understanding of the past. It is particularly applied to evidence contained in documents,
although it can be applied to all artefacts. The historian is, first, seeking to gain some
certainty as to the facts of the past.
Historical analysis allows readers to gain a better understanding of a text by
becoming familiar with the time periods in which the piece takes place and when it was
written. Readings outside of its historical context can make it difficult or even impossible
to fully understand the text. Even readers who, upon first reading a text, believe they have
a full understanding of the piece often realize a completely new meaning or interpretation
after making themselves familiar with its historical context.

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
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At the end of this module, the students must have:

1. identified credible and authentic primary sources and know how to evaluate their
provenance;
2. compared the selected primary and secondary sources in terms of credibility of
account and writer of the said account

Section 1. A The Philippine Revolution

In this section, two articles will be analyzed using source criticism on the primary
and secondary sources – The Philippine Revolution and the Tejeros Convention. These two
events contributed much in shaping the history of the Philippines and the formation of the
Filipino nation.
The following readings discuss the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution from the
account of Guillermo Masangkay and article of Teodoro Agoncillo.

Guillermo Masangkay’s Account (Torres, 2018)

In 1932, Guillermo Masangkay, a friend and fellow Katipuneros of Andres

Bonifacio, recounted his experiences as a member of the revolutionary movement. In an
interview with the Sunday Tribune magazine, Masangkay said that the First Cry happened
in Balintawak on August 26, 1896.

The Account

On August 26, a big meeting was held in Balintawak at the house of Apolonio Samson,
then the cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember, were
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Remigio, Briccio Pantas, Teodoro
Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco and Francisco Carreon. They were all leaders of the

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
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Katipunan and composed the board of directors of the organization. Delegates from
Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and Morong (now Rizal) were also present.

At about nine o’clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with Andres
Bonifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as Secretary. The purpose was to discuss
when the uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Pio Valenzuela
were all opposed to starting the revolution too early. They reasoned that the people would
be in distress if the revolution were started without adequate preparation. Plata was very
forceful in his argument, stating that the uprising could not very well be started without
arms and food for the soldiers. Valenzuela used Rizal’s argument about the rich not siding
with the Katipunan Organization.

Andres Bonifacio, sensing the he would lose in the discussion then left the session hall and
talked to the people who were waiting outside for the result of the meeting of the leaders.
He told the people that the leaders were arguing against starting the revolution early, and
appealed to them in a fiery-speech in which he said: “You remember the fate of our
countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return now to the towns, the
Spaniards will only shoot us. Our organization has been discovered and we are all marked
men. If we don’t start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway. What then, do you
say?”

“Revolt,” the people shouted as one.

Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge that they were to revolt. He told them
that the sign of slavery of the Filipino were the Cedula tax charged each citizen. “If it is
true that you are ready to revolt.” Bonifacio said, “I want to see you destroyed your
cedulas. It will be the sign that all of us have declared our severance from the Spaniards.”

With tears in their eyes, the people, as one man, pulled out their cedula and tore them to
pieces. It was the beginning of the formal declaration of the separation from Spanish rule…

When the people’s pledge was obtained by Bonifacio, he returned to the session hall and
informed the leaders of what took place outside. “The people want to revolt, and they
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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
Communications Technology
destroyed their cedulas,” Bonifacio said, “So now we have to start the uprising, otherwise
the people by hundreds will be shot.” There was no alternative. The board of directors, in
spite the protest of Plata, Pantas, and Valenzuela, votes for the revolution. And when this
was decided, the people outside shouted, “Long Live the Philippines Republic.”

Teodoro Agoncillo’s Narrative

In 1956, Teodoro Agoncillo, a nationally renowned historian, published an article

stating that the first cry of the revolution happened in Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896. In
his article, he based the dates and location on the account of Dr. Pio Valenzuela who is an
officer of the Katipunan and both an eyewitness and participant in the said event.

The Article

The news of the discovery of the Katipunan spread throughout Manila and the Suburbs.
Bonifacio, informed of the discovery, secretly instructed his runners to summon all the
leaders of the society to a general assembly to be held on August 24. They were to meet
at Balintawak to discuss the steps to be taken to meet the crisis. That same night of
August 19, Bonifacio, accompanies by his brother Procopio, Emilio Jacinto, Teodoro Plata,
and Aguedo Del Rosario, slipped through the cordon of Spanish sentries and reached
Balintawak before midnight. Pio Valenzuela followed them on the next day. On the 21 st
Bonifacio changes the Katipunan code because the Spanish authorities has already
deciphered it. In the afternoon of the same day, the rebels, numbering about 500, left
Balintawak for Kangkong, where Apolonio Samson, a Katipunero, gave them food and
shelter. In the afternoon of August 22, they proceeded to Pugadlawin. The following day, in
the yard of Juan A. Ramos, the son of Melchora Aquino who was later called the “Mother of
the Katipunan”. Bonifacio asked his men whether they were prepared to fight to the bitter
end. Despite the objection of his brother-in-law, Teodoro Plata, all assembled agreed to
fight to the last. “The being the case,” Bonifacio said, “bring out you cedulas and tear
them to pieces to symbolize our determination to take up arms!” The men obediently tore
up their cedulas, shouting: “Long live the Philippines!” This event marked the so-called
“Cry of Balintawak,” which actually happened in Pugadlawin.
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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
Communications Technology
ASSESSMENT

Instruction: Based on the readings above, answer the following questions:

1. From the two accounts, which is the primary source and which is the secondary
source? In not more than two sentences, answer why is it considered primary or
secondary source?
2. Who among the two authors is more credible to talk about the topic? Why? Write in
2 sentences only. (Review Module 1 on “Source Criticism” to guide you in
answering these questions)

Watch the following and make a reaction paper.

1. Cry of Pugad Lawin | Today in History

- Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh7oowrwvJQ dated August 8,
2020
2. Xiao Time: Ang Unang Sigaw ng Himagsikan sa Balintawak, Caloocan
- Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtc9q_V8_hs dated August 8,
2020
Section 1 B. The Tejeros Convention

In this section, you will learn about the controversial events which took place at the
Tejeros between the Magdalo and the Magdiwang factions.

Instruction: Read Ricarte’s account on the Tejeros Convention and Agoncillo’s article
on the same Convention.

Artemio Ricarte’s Account

Early on the morning of the day set for the assembly (March 22), men of the day set for
the assembly them not only the chiefs of the Magdiwang but also men of the Magdalo.
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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
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Among the chiefs of the Magdiwang apart from the Supremo of the Katipunan, were the
following: Mariano, Pascual and Santiago Alvarez; Luciano San Miguel, Mariano Trias
Closas; Severino de las Alas and Santos Nocon. Among those of Magdalo were Baldomero
Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona, Cayetano Topacio, and Antonio Montenegro.

The Session opened under the presidency of Jacinto Lumbreras who, in a few words,
explained the purpose of the meeting, Severino de las Alas rose to address those present
and said that before discussing the defense of a small piece of territory in Cavite, it would
be well to consider first the kind of government then existing in the country, as upon that
government would depend whatever defense might be needed. The chairman replied that
from the time the Katipunan was established the country had been ruled by the Supreme
Council, the provincial and popular councils. He repeated that the purpose for which the
assembly had been called was one of great importance in those critical times, Andres
Bonifacio, with permission of the chair, spoke in support of Lumbreras and his stand in
regard to the government and went to explain the significance of the letter “K” in the
center of the sun of the flag, which stands for liberty, as has already been said in the
description of the insurgent flag. Severino de las Alas again addressed the meeting and
said that neither the letter “K” on the flag, nor the flag itself, has anything to do with the
character of the government then existing that is to say, whether it was a monarchy or a
republic. Bonifacio replied that the Katipuneros, from the president of the Supreme Council
to the most significant members, recognized the principles of Union, Fraternity, and
Equality, on which account it was the very clear that the government of the Katipunan was
rigorously republican in form.

Antonio Montenegro rose and spoke in support of the De las Alas suggestion and in a
louder voice than usual said that unless some definite understanding was arrived at
regarding the matter, the insurgents were mere groups of tulisanes, or, much worse,
brutes.

These last words of Antonio Montenegro wounded the pride of Santiago Alvarez, who rose
with glaring eyes and, addressing Montenegro, said: “We insurgents of Cavite and
especially of the Magdiwang Government recognized and obey the government

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
Communications Technology
established by the Katipunan; if you wish to establish any other kind of government suited
to your fancy, retire to your province and conquer territory from the Spanish government
as we have done here, and establish there whatever government you like, and no one will
interfere with you…”

The session broke up in disorder, but one hour later, when the passion of the adherents of
Santiago Alvarez and Antonio Montenegro had been pacified, it convened against under
the presidency of Andres Bonifacio because Jacinto Lumbreras said that inasmuch as they
were discussing a subject which was provided for in the call for the meeting, but which
concerned the establishment of a general government for the insurrection, he ought not to
preside at the continuation of the meeting. Then Andres Bonifacio was chosen by the
acclamation to be the president of the meeting.

Order being restored, Bonifacio opened the session: As you wish to establish a supreme
government to direct the insurrection, abolishing that already organized by the Katipunan
and agreed upon in the Imus Assembly.

I, as Supremo of the Supreme Council of the Katipuan, agree to your just petitions; but I
must first invite you all to join us in recognizing a principle upon which we must based our
decisions in this or in any other session; this principle is that we respect and obey in
everything the vote or decision of the majority.” Those present signified their unanimous
conformity and the Philippine Republic was agreed upon and proclaimed amid repeated
and enthusiastic applause. They then proceeded to the election of the following officers of
the Republic: President, Vice-President, Captain General, and Directors of War, Interior,
State, Finance, Commerce and Justice….

Ballots were then distributed and one hour later the votes were counted. As a result of this
vote, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected President of the Republic defeating Andreas Bonifacio
and Mariano Trias. The result was proclaimed amidst applause.

They then proceeded to the election of a Vice-President, Severino de las Alas remarked
that inasmuch as Andres Bonifacio had secured the second largest number of votes in the
election for President, he should be proclaimed Vice President. No one expressed a wish to

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
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speak in favor or against the suggestion of De las Alas, wherefore the chairman ordered
that the election be proceeded with, and this being done it resulted in a majority of votes
being cast for Mariano Trias Closas as against Andres Bonifacio, Severino de las Alas, and
Mariano Alvarez.

They then immediately proceeded to the election of a Captain-General. The secretary of

this session, Artemio Ricarte, was elected by a large majority over Santiago Alavarez.
Ricarte rose and protested against his own election… Those present disapproved the
protest viva voce, and the chairman called the meeting to order saying that as night was
falling, it was advisable to continue the election for the other position. It was unanimously
proposed and approved that, to cut short the voting, those who favored any person for a
position should stand on one side, and those who favored other person should stand on
the other side in groups, and in that way, they votes a Director of War, Emiliano Reigo de
Dios…

The election of a Minister of the Interior was proceeded with in the same way, with the
result that Andres Bonifacio was elected… In the midst of the acclamation that was
accorded Andres Bonifacio, Daniel Tirona demanded the floor and said: “Fellow
countrymen: The position of Minister of Interior is a very important one and should not be
occupied by a person who is not a lawyer. We have in our province a lawyer Jose del
Rosario; hence we must protest against the election of the person elected and acclaimed.”
Thee, shouting at the top of his voice, he cried: “Let us vote for Jose del Rosario, the
lawyer!”

Bonifacio’s pride being wounded, he rose and spoke thus: “Have we not agreed that we
shall obey the will of the majority, whatever might be the social position of the person
elected?” Having said this, he asked Daniel Tirona to repeat what he had said, or to
apologize to the assembly for the insult offered to the person elected, because up to that
time not one these elected was fitted by reason of his culture for the position to which he
had been designated. As Tirona tried to hide himself among the crowd, without paying
attention to what Bonifacio demanded of him, the latter drew his revolver and was about
to fire at Tirona, but secretary of the session (Ricarte) seized his hand and the incident

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
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passed without more ado. As those present were about to leave the room, Bonifacio said in
a loud voice: “I, as a president of the session, and also as president of the supreme council
of the Katipunan as you all know, declare this assembly closed, and annul everything that
has been done therein.” He then left, followed by his adherents.

Teodoro Agoncillo’s Description

As months passed by and as the rebel found themselves on the receiving end of the
armed power with the Spaniards, their leaders thought it timely and wise to call another
meeting of both factions in order to solve their internal problem. Consequently, on March
22, 1897, the two faction again met at Tejeros, a barrio of San Francisco de Malabon. The
convention was held at the estate-house of the friars which the rebels had capture earlier.
The session opened at about two o’clock in the afternoon with Jacinto Lumbreras, a
Magdiwang, as president officer, and Teodoro Gonzales, Madiwang, as secretary. Severino
de las Alas, a Magdiwang, took the floor and suggested that the convention assembled
should solve the problem of whether anew government should be established to take the
place for the Katipunan. This suggestion led to one heated argument after another until
both camps almost came to blows. Lumbreras sensed the seriousness of the situation and
immediately called for a recess to cool off the hotheads. After an hour, the session was
resumed with Bonifacio as chairman. To resolve the issue, he prudently acceded to the
wish of some that a new government be established to replace the Katipunan. However,
he stated, the principle that the will of the majority should be respected and obeyed must
be followed. The convention adopted this principle unanimously.
With this thorny question resolved, the Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed.
Before the election, Bonifacio reminded the convention that whoever should get elected to
any position should be respected. This proposal was approved and the election got
underway. Elected were:
Emilio Aguinaldo ……………………………………………….. President
Mariano Trias ……………………………………………………. Vice-President
Artemio Ricarte …………………………………………………. Captain-General
Emiliano Reigo de Dios ……………………………………… Director of War

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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
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Andress Bonifacio …………………………………………… Director of the Interior
When Bonifacio was being proclaimed, Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo, stood up and said:
“The position of Director of the Interior is an exalted one and it is not proper that a person
without lawyer’s diploma should occupy it. We have in our province a lawyer, Jose Del
Rosario!” Bonifacio was hurt and felt that he was insulted, for it had been previously
agreed that whoever got elected was to be respected. He demanded, therefore, that
Daniel Tirona retract what he said. But Tirona, instead of apologizing to Bonifacio,
disappearing from the scene. Bonifacio in his anger whipped his pistol and was about to
fire at Tirona when Ricarte held his arm, thus preventing what might have been a tragic
affair. The people began to leave the hall, and Bonifacio, still angry, cried aloud: “I, as
chairman of this assembly, and as President of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan, as
all of you do not deny, declare this assembly dissolved, and I annul all that has been
approved and resolved.” With this statement, he left the hall, followed by his men.

Stop Over!
ASSESSMENT

Instruction: Answer the questions below.

1. Which of the preceding articles is the primary source? Which is the secondary
source? Support your answer in not more than two sentences.
2. Who among the two authors is more credible to talk about the topic? Why?
Scoring Rubric on Source
Criteria Qualitative Assessment Scale Score
A. Clarity in Criticism Score 1 to 4 _____
B. Scholarly Application of Source Criticism Score 1 to 4 _____
C. Ability to follow Instructions Score 1 to 2 _____
SUM: _____ (TOTAL SCORE: 10 points on each
number)

5 4 3 2 1
Clarity in The The The The The
Criticism explanation explanation explanation explanation explanation
is clear and shows shows somehow have no
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GE 4- READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY MODULE NO. 2
 PASSI CITY COLLEGE
City of Passi
School Of Information &
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critical substantial substantial shows criticism clarity and
throughout clarity and criticism but but no clarity. criticism
the criticism. with little
paragraph. clarity.
Scholarly The The The answer The answer The
Application explanation explanation shows shows little explanation
of Source shows shows moderate comprehension shows no
Criticism complete substantial understanding in the analysis. analysis.
understandin understanding in analysis.
g in analysis. in analysis.
Ability to All There are All given
follow instructions instructions instructions
Instructions were perfectly that were not were
followed. followed. neglected.
Scoring Protocol:

High Score 8 – 10
Passing6 - 7
Failing 5 and below

Agoncillo, T.A. (1956). Revolt of the masses. University of the Philippines Press

Agoncillo, T.A. (1990). History of the Filipino people. Quezon City, Philippines: Garotech
Publishing.

Torres, J.V. (2018). Batis: sources in Philippines history. C & E Publishing, 2018

Candelari, J.L. & Alporha, C.V. (2018). Readings in Philippine history. Rex Book
Bookstore.

Retrieved August 8, 2020 from URL:

https://sites.google.com/site/katipunandocumentsandstudies/studies/notes-on-the-cry-of-
august-1896 dated August 8, 2020

Retrieved August 8, 2020 from URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh7oowrwvJQ

Retrieved August 8, 2020 from URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtc9q_V8_hs

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