⌛ The First Skirmish at Balintawak

The Philippines had been under the oppressive rule of Spain for more than 300 years. The Spaniard’s iron-grip soon came to an end starting with the heroic armed efforts of Andres Bonifacio. This patriotism is celebrated by the National Shrine of Pugad-Lawin in Balintawak. The Cry of Balintawak was the vocal expression of our ancestors’ yearning for independence.

But was there a “First Cry” in Balintawak?

In those days, the forested areas in what are now Kangkong, Baesa, Pasong Tamo, Banlat, Bahay-Toro, Kaingin were not clearly defined. Non-residents of the area simply referred to these places as “Balintawak.” One of the educated Katipuneros present in the “First Cry” and very close to Bonifacio was Dr. Pio Valenzuela. He specified in his memoirs that the “First Cry” took place in Pugad-lawin, Bahay-Toro.

Sylvia Mendez-Ventura, in her book Supremo, specifies in the Chapter “Cry of Balintawak” that on the night of August 21, Bonifacio called a meeting at the home of Katipunero Vidal Acab of Kalookan, but changed the venue to Apolonio Samson’s yard in Kangkong. With foreboding that one of the many letters of invitation sent by Emilio Jacinto could have been intercepted by the authorities, he moved the meeting to “…Bahay-Toro which was in the jurisdiction of Balintawak.”

Thus early historians called the “Cry of Pugad-Lawin” as the “Cry of Balintawak.”

Pugad-Lawin is a sitio of Bahay-Toro. It is squatter country. But once at the entry point, either via EDSA or Congressional Avenue, tricycle drivers can take visitors to the Shrine with no hassle.

The Shrine is not yet open to the public. It is still undergoing modification and beautification. The 26 bronze statues (out of projected 100 by National Artist Napoleon Abueva) are sights to behold. Abueva has sculptured the bronze statues of men, women, children, and animals as they could have been snapshot at the yard of Katipunero Ramos that August 23, 1896. The statues have been painted grey, removing their patina of age and venerability. They now stand on ceramic tiles instead of the wet weedy earth as they chorused their cry for liberty.

Two years ago, a group of grade school and high school student leaders of Quezon City District 1. met in Quezon City Academy with their principals and teacher-advisers to discuss the pitiable condition of what was supposed to be a National Shrine. At that time, the statues were lying side by side on the ground, caked with grime and dust. Some of the bronze statues lacked an arm, sawed off by vandals. Dogs and goats roamed the fenceless site. A make-shift basketball goal beckoned juveniles into the area.

Dr. Corazon Santiago, then NCR DepEd director was the guest speaker in the QCA forum. She appealed to the participants to “—give the Pugad-Lawin Shrine a face.” Barangay Bahay-Toro (where sitio Pugad-Lawin is ) Chairman Dennis Caboboy, invited as a resource speaker was pilloried with questions by grade six pupils and high school students. He promised to make improvements like putting up directional signs leading to the shrine.

Director Santiago created a special Pugad-Lawin Shrine committee chaired by Dr. Joel San Luis (assistant supervisor for Quezon City) with Dr. Cynthia Vidal (principal, Pugad-Lawin High School, Dr. Jocelyn Marcial and Dr. Norza Lopez (elementary and secondary education supervisors of DepEd (NCR) respectively, as members. QCA president Tomas Ongoco was designated as adviser. But the committee was unceremoniously ended when members got transferred to other districts.