Kartilya ng Katipunan (Katipunan Code of Ethics) – by Emilio Jacinto

1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi man
damong makamandag.
(Life which is not consecrated to a lofty and sacred cause is like a tree without a shadow, if not a poisonous weed.)
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili at hindi sa talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay
di kabaitan.
(A good deed that springs from a desire for personal profit and not a desire to do good is not kindness.)
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t
pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.
(True greatness consists in being charitable, in loving one’s fellow men and in adjusting every movement, deed and
word to true Reason.)
4. Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa
dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda; ngunit di mahihigtan sa pagkatao.
(All men are equal, be the color of their skin black or white. One may be superior to another in knowledge, wealth,
and beauty but cannot be superior in being.)
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang
pagpipita sa sarili kaysa puri.
(He who is noble prefers honor to personal gains; he who is mean prefers personal profit to honor.)
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.
(To a man with a sense of shame, his word is inviolate.)
7. Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala’y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan
na’y di na muli pang magdadaan.
(Don’t waste away time; lost riches may be recovered, but time lost will never come again.)
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi at kabakahin ang umaapi.
(Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.)
9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin; at matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
(An intelligent man is he who is cautious in speech and knows how to keep the secrets that must be guarded.)
10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng asawa’t at mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo
sa sama, ang patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.
(In a challenging path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow. If the leader goes the way of
evil, so do the followers.)
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuwang at karamay sa mga
kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitin mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang kahinaan at alalahanin ang
inang pinagbuhata’t nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
(Think not of woman as a object merely to while away time but as a helper and partner in the hardships of life.
Respect her in her weakness, and remember the mother who brought you into this world and who cared for you in
your childhood.)
12. Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
(What you do not want done to your wife, daughter and sister, do not do to the wife, daughter and sister of
another.)
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagka-paring
kahalili ng Diyos, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking-
gubat at walang nababatid kundi sariling wika; yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal
at puri; yaong di napaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa bayang
tinubuan.
(The nobility of a man does not consist in being a king, nor in the highness of nose and the whiteness of the skin, nor
in being the priest representing God, nor in the exalted position on this earth, but pure and truly noble is he who,
through born in the woods, is possessed of an upright character; who is true to his word; who had dignity and
honor; who does not oppress and does not help those who oppress; who knows how to look after and love the land of
his birth.)
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na Kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang
Sangkapuluan at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkalahi’t magkakapatid ng ligayang
walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis nang natumbasan.
(When these doctrines spread and the Sun of beloved liberty shines with brilliant effulgence in these unhappy isles
and sheds its soft rays upon the united people and brothers in everlasting happiness, the lives, labors, and suffering
of those who are gone shall be more than recompensed.
Welcome to this topic entitled Liwanag at Dilim. Liwanag at dilim is the political, philosophical and
literary masterpiece written by Emilio Jacinto, the Brains of Katipunan. Being the best-friend of
Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto served as his secretary and adviser. He likewise served as editor
of Kalayaan (Freedom), the official newspaper of Katipunan. In his writings, he used Dimas-
Ilaw as pen name. After the death of Bonifacio, he became a general of the revolution where he
died due to bullet wounds in Majayjay, Laguna. Liwanag at dilim is a very passionate plea
addressed not only to the Tagalogs but to all the Filipinos in the entire archipelago. The aim is to
educate and enlighten the whole Filipino race about their sacred duty and obligation to uphold the
rule of law and treasure the tenets of love, loyalty, and above all, patriotism. So, hang on and join
me as we examine closely the message Liwanag at Dilim wants to convey.
“Ang kalayaan ng tao ay ang katwirang tinataglay na talaga ng pagkatao na umisip at
gumawa ng anumang ibigin kung ito’y di nalalaban sa katwiran ng iba.” ~ Emilio Jacinto

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