Readings in Philippine History SY 2018-2019

KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN

It was Andres Bonifacio who first formulated a code of conduct and to whom the
Dekalogo ng Katipunan was attributed. But it was not published; instead, it was said
that upon reading the Kartilya drafted by Jacinto, Bonifacio decided that it was
superior to his Dekalogo, and adopted it as the official primer of the Katipunan.
Emilio Jacinto, then became the chief theoretician and adviser of Bonifacio and later
earned for him the title Brains of the Katipunan. Joining the Katipunan in 1894, he
was the youngest member and nicknamed, according to historian Dr Isagani R.
Medina (1992), Emiliong Bata to distinguish him from Emiliong Matanda, or Emilio
Aguinaldo.

The Dekalogo had only ten points and dealt primarily with one’s duties to God,
country, family, neighbor, the Katipunan and himself. It spoke of honor, charity and
self-sacrifice but warned of penalty to the traitor and disobedient.

The Kartilya was longer, more literary and philosophical. It presented its concept
of virtuous living as lessons for self reflection, rather than as direct prescriptions. It
asserted that it was the internal, not the external qualifications that make human
greatness. In the third statement, Jacinto defined true piety (kabanalan) as charity,
love for one another, and actions, deeds and speech guided by judicious reasons
(“talagang katuiran”, literally, true reason). Written more than a hundred years ago at
a time when the idea of nationhood was still a dream, the Kartilya reflected a vision,
“bright sun of freedom in the islands, spreading its light upon brothers and a race
united.”

The Kartilya can be better appreciated in its original Tagalog form because its
essence was expressed using Tagalog syntax. It should also be appreciated within the
context of the social and political environment of that colonial era, amid local
traditions, spiritual beliefs, family concepts and ethnic diversity.

Kartilya ng Katipunan

ni Emilio Jacinto
 Readings in Philippine History SY 2018-2019

 Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay

kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag.

 Ang gawang magaling na nagbuhat sa paghahambog o pagpipita sa sarili, at

hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.

 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.

 Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay;

mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda...; ngunit di
mahihigtan sa pagkatao.

 Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang
may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili kaysa sa puri.

 Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumba.

 Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring

magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan ay di na muli pang magdadaan.

 Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi; kabakahin ang umaapi.

 Ang mga taong matalino'y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin; matutong
ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.

 Sa daang matinik ng buhay, lalaki ang siyang patnugot ng asawa at mga anak;
kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang pagtutunguhan ng inaakay ay
kasamaan din

 Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi
isang katuwang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; gamitin mo nang
buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang
pinagbuharan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.

 Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa
asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
 Readings in Philippine History SY 2018-2019

Analysis

1. The first tenet highlights the importance of living a purpose-driven life. A

Katipunero who does not have a purpose lives a useless life.

2. The second rule is all about doing the right thing. A deed carried out for the sake of
fame is not worthy of praise.

3. The third tenet shows what kindness really means. True act of kindness for a
Katipunero is in the love and service he render to other people and not the other way
around.

4. The fourth tenet highlights equality. Every Katipuneros are treated equally no
matter what race or educational background he has.

5. The fifth shows what honor should mean for a Katipunero. A true Katipunero values
honor more than his personal interest.

6. The sixth tenet is all about being a man of word. A Katipunero who has a sense of
shame must be a man of his word.

7. The seventh rule gives importance to time. A Katipunero must give importance to
time. For the Katipunan, a time that is lost will never be back.

8. The eighth tenet is all about fighting for what is right. A Katipunero must protect
the weak and fight those who oppress the weak.

9. The ninth tenet highlights the importance trust. A Katipunero is careful with what
he says and keeps the things that must be kept secret.

10. The tenth principle is all about being able to lead a family. AKatipunero must lead
his family to the right path. If the leader is consumed by evil, so does his followers.

11. The eleventh principle is all about women. A Katipunero must give importance to a
woman. He must not see her as an object, nor a past time. That whenever a
Katipunero sees a woman, he will remember his mother who nurtured him.

12. The twelfth principle gives importance to every actions that one has to make. A
Katipunero must not do the things that he does not want to be done to him or to his
family.

13. The thirteenth principle is about having the right character. A Katipunero’s life is
not measured by what is his status in life nor with the things that he possess. Instead,
it is in his character and his love for the native land.
 Readings in Philippine History SY 2018-2019

14. The last tenet, shows a glimpse of what the author desire. It shows the sense of
hopefulness for the motherland and that all the sacrifices made is not all for nought.