The KKK is arguably the most important organization formed in the Philippine history.

It
envisioned a (1) unified Filipino nation that would revolt against the Spaniards for (2) total
independence of the country from Spain. One of the most important Katipunan documents was
the Kartilya ng Katipunan. The original title of the document was “Manga Aral Nang Katipunan
ng mga A.N.B” or Lessons of the Organization of the Sons of Country. The document was
written by Emilio Jacinto in the 1896. Jacinto was only 18 years old when he joined the
movement and was a law student at UST. Jacinto became the secretary of the organization and
took charge of the short-lived printing press of the Katipunan.

On April 15, 1897, Bonifacio appointed Jacinto as a commander of the Katipunan in

Northern Luzon. Jacinto was 22 years old then. He died of Malaria at a young age of 24 in the
town of Magdalena, Laguna. This can be treated as the Katipunan’s code of conduct. It contains
fourteen rules that instruct the way a Katipunan should behave. Generally, the rules stated in the
Kartilya can be classified into two: (1) rules that will make the member an upright individual and
(2) rules that will guide the way he treats his fellow men.

14 RULES IN KARTILYA:

I. The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a
shade, if not a poisonous weed.
II. To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue.
III. It is rational to be charitable and love one’s fellow creature, and to adjust one’s
conduct, acts and words to what is in itself reasonable.
IV. Whether our skin be black or white, we are all born equal; superiority in knowledge,
wealth and beauty are to be understood, but not superiority in nature.
V. The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.
VI. To the honorable man, his word is sacred.
VII. Do not waste thy time; wealth can be recovered but not time lost.
VIII. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.
IX. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets.
X. On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of woman and the children, and if the
guide leads to the precipice, those whom he guides will also go there.
XI. Thou must not look upon woman as a mere plaything, but as a faithful companion
who will share with thee the penalties of life; her (physical) weakness will increase
thy interest in her and she will remind thee of the mother who bore thee and reared
thee.
XII. What thou does not desire done unto thy wife, children, brothers and sisters, that do
not do unto the wife, children, brothers and sisters of thy neighbor.
XIII. Man is not worth more because he is a king, because his nose is aquiline, and his
color white, not because he is a priest, a servant of God, nor because of the high
prerogative that he enjoys upon Earth, but he is worth most who is a man of proven
 and real value, who does good, keeps his words, to worthy and honest; he who does
not oppress nor consent to being oppressed, he who loves and cherishes his
fatherland, though he be born in the wilderness an know no tongue but his own.
XIV. When these rules of conduct shall be known to all, the longest for sun of Liberty shall
rise brilliant over this most unhappy portion of the globe and its rays shall diffuse
everlasting joy among the confederated brethren of the same rays, the lives of those
who have gone before, the fatigues and the well-paid sufferings will remain. If he
who desires to enter has informed himself of all this and believes he will be able to
perform what will be his duties, he may fill out the application for admission.
 The Kartilya ng Katipunanis considered as one of the most important documenst of hhe
organization and irs original title was “Manga [sic] Katipunan ng mga A.N.B.” ior “Lessons of
the Organization of the Sons of the Country.” It has fourteen rules that instruct the way a
Katipunan should behave.
 The Kartilya ng Katipunan was a document written for an organization whose purpose is
to overthrow colonial regime. Thus, it is noticeable that the rules included in the Kartilya are the
Katipuneros’ reaction to their situation during those times. Here are some examples:

As of today, some rules in the Kartilya might be criticized for its provisions. But still, we
need to consider the condition of the Philippines at those times. After all, the document revealed
a more understanding of the Katipunan and the organization’s ideals.