Analysis of the

Kartilya of the Katipunan

Kartilya ng Katipunan was primarily written by Andres Bonifacio. Emilio Jacinto later
made revisions creating a new rulebook known as Decalogue. It served as a guidebook for
newcomers those people who are willing to join the group.
The original version has 14 paragraphs that contains the values that a Katipunero should
have. Each paragraph is unique in such a way that they tackle different aspects of a person’s
life. In which case, anyone may have different interpretation. Hence, it is only appropriate to
have a better understanding or explanation to its contents.

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. A Katipunero 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.
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.
 And while we have different interpretation with what was intended by Bonifacio, there is
one thing that everyone can agree on:

Kartilya ng Katipunan was meant to guide us in living our everyday life its fullest. More
importantly, it highlights the importance of having the right attitude towards other people.

ANOTHER ANALYSIS

1. The first highlights the significance of living life with a purpose. “A Katipunero
who does not have a purpose lives is a useless life.” This tenet actually defines
what life is. Life is a gift given to everyone that must be treasured by making
it meaningful through setting up goals and achieving it no matter how hard it is.

2. The second rule is about doing what is right. “A deed carried out for the sake of
fame is not worthy of praise.” There are certain things in life that would make
others proud because of you but sometimes it’s done just to be popular.
Everyone must bear in mind that doing good must be accompanied with
humbleness. A deed that is done must be because of what someone really feels
like doing to help other people.

3. The third shows what the true meaning of kindness is. “True act of kindness
for a Katipunero is in the love and service he render to other people and not the
other way round.” It only means that having an open hand to give help without
expecting in return is one of the best example to show an act kindness.

4. The fourth rule highlights equality among people. “Every Katipuneros are treated
equally no matter what race or educational background he has. “Status and
Identity will never be the reason for unequal treatment of people. Whether
they are Filipinos or not, rich or poor, men or women, and white or black,
nobody deserves to be discriminated.

5. The Fifth shows what honor should mean for a Katipunero. “A true Katipunero
values Honor more than his personal interests.”

6. The sixth is about doing the “walk the talk” concept or putting into action the
words that has been promised. “A Katipunero who has a sense of shame must
be a man of his own word.”

7. The seventh rule gives importance to how we manage our time and give
our best like tomorrow ends because time is as precious as a gold. “A
Katipunero must give importance to time. For the Katipunan, a time lost will
never be back.”
 8. The eighth lesson simply tells everyone to fight for what is right and fight with
the persons who is at the right side. “A Katipunero must protect the weak and
fight for those who oppress the weak.”

9. The ninth is about the significance of trust that everyone must know
how to keep confidential things in order to keep the trust that other people
give. “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 the family. “A Katipunero must
lead his family to the right path. If the leader is consumed by evil, so does his
followers.”

11.The eleventh highlights everything a man must look at woman’s identity. “A

Katipunero must give importance to woman. He must not see her as an object,
nor 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 action that one has to make. “A
Katipunero must not do the things that he does not want to be done by him.”

13.The thirteenth rule is about one’s knowledge on how to have a right character in
dealing with life. “A Katipuneros’ life is not measured by what is his status in life
nor with the things he possess. Instead, it is in his character and his love for the
native land.

14.The Last shows the idea of the author’s desire. It emphasizes the hope he has
for everyone and believes that every sacrifices that a Katipunero make will
always be worth it.

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

kahoy na walang lilim, kun di damong makamandang.
 The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree
without a shade, if not a poisonous weed.
The First code of conduct simple tells us that we must have a purpose-driven life. We
must know how to set our goals and find meaning to our life because without knowing
our purpose, we will suffer from unwanted situations.

 Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi talagang

nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan
  To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue. 
This means that we must not be selfish. We must do good deed not to earn praises but
to show it with our whole heart because a deed done only for fame is not worthy to be
called good.

 Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pagibig sa kapwa at

ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang katuiran.
 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. 
It gives us the real definition of true act of kindness – Being kind is simply seen by the
service and love one gives to his/her fellowmen without asking anything in return.

 Maitim man at 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.
 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 by nature. 
The 4th rule highlights EQUALITY. We are all born to be equal no matter what race,
status, and educational background we have. Our society may have divided us into
groups but we must all understant that no one is a superior of anyone.

 Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may
hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
 The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to
honor. 
A good person must understand that honoring oneself also means he or she values
honor rather than personal interest. True honor means having a high moral standard
behavior

 Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.

 To the honorable man, his word is sacred. 
The rule 6 tells us that we must be a man of our own words. Whatever said must be
done. We must do things that we promised because we can never take back what we
have been said so ” walk the talk “.

 Huwag mong sayangin ang panahun: ang yamang nawala’y mangyayaring

magbalik; ngunit panahung nagdaan na’y di na muli pang magdadaan.
 Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost. 
Everyone must understand the importance of time. We usually focus ourselves on
worrying from different material things. This code of conduct tells us to treasure time
because we can never take it back. At the end we might end up having regreting for
the things we weren’t able to do. We have make use of our time wisely.

 Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi; kabakahin ang umaapi.

 Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.
We don’t have the same strenghts but we can help one another. We must choose to
fight for what is right – Fight with the weak people who needs your help and comfort
and Fight those people who keep on putting others down by oppressing them.

 Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, at matutong

ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
 The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets
This highlights the importance of trust and comfidentiality. A wise man is a man who
thinks of what he says and keeps what is needed to be kept.

10

 Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patugot ng asawa’t mga anak:

kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang pagtutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan
din.
  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. 
All of us needs to be a model for everyone because whatever they saw in us will also
be followed by the people who sees us. And a true man leads his family to the right
path by showing them that he is righteous.
 11

 Ang babai ay huwag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kun di
isang katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo nag
boong pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan
at nagiwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
 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. 
This principle is about women. That every woman deserves to be respected and no
man shall see them as an object nor a past time. Just like what they always say, a man
who don’t respect a woman do not respect his mother who gave him birth. Girls
deserve to be loved with full respect and care.

12

 Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong gagawin
sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
 What thou dost not desire done unto thy wife, children, brothers and sisters,
that do not unto the wife, children, brothers and sisters of thy neighbor. 
Every action that any man do is important. Every action has its own consequences.
We must not do bad things against other people if we don’t want other people to do
bad things against us.

13

 Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng

mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Dios, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat
ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid
 kun di ang sariling wika, yaon may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may
dangal at puri; yaon di nagpapaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at
marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
 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, is 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 and know no tongue but his
own. 
The thirteenth principle is about having the right character and good values. A Man’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.

14

 Paglagalap ng mga aral na itoat maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na

Kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkapuluan, at sabugan ng matamis niyang
liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi’t magkakapatid na ligayang walang
katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis
nang natumbasan.
  When these rules of conduct shall be known to all, the longed-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 (the Katipunan) 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 last code of conduct shows the desire of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Kartilya ng Katipunan is a guiding principle for all the katipuneros – Emilio Jacinto
Born: December 15, 1875
Joined katipunan – 1894 youngest member
Call hin brain
24 – died because of malaria

Conceptualization of Kartilya – factors involved

Enlightenment in Europe– question what they believe in (the authority of those in
power, those in the church). Rational people, reason
Immanuel kant - Dare to know– 17th-18th century

French Revolution – between 1789 - lasted for more than a decade

Monarch/king in France – people questioned because he exploited the rights
Napoleon Bonaparte – general who led France in many battles, died in the battle of
waterloo, great contribution to the French revolution
Inspired other countries that were oppressed by authorities to gain freedom

Coming of Masonry in the Philippines

Masonry - Brotherhood of a group of educated people who wants reforms
Started when graciano lopez jaena organized the logia revolucion in Barcelona through
the support of Grande Oriente
Masonic groups support charity works

Propaganda movement – created following the death of Gomburza in 1872

awakened strong feeling of anger and resentment (pagsisisi). Thus, they questioned the
Spanish authority and demanded reforms.
Gomburza was accused of the happening of cavite naval yard mishap. Accused to
influence the workers na mag aklas against Spanish authorities. Accused of sedition/
pagtatraydor/ pagtataksil sa higher authorities.
Gomburza were Executed that angered the Filipinos
Gomburza supporters of revolution, equal rights with the Spanish people, stop the
oppression of the Filipinos

Propaganda movement was formed in 1880 – assimilation of the Philippines as a

province of spain rather than a colony
Kkk was formed in 1892 that seeks complete independence from Spain

La liga and the Cuerpo de Compromisarios

La liga Filipina formed by Rizal in 1892 – unify the whole archipelago, and have equal
rights between the Filipinos and the Spanish people (diplomatic)
4 days after the group was created, rizal was sent to exile

Cuerpo de Compromisarios – faction/subgroup formed after the la liga formed by

bonifacio amd other member of the logia Taliba

Reforms were no longer attainable, thus, KKK was created for complete separation from
spain
Formation of katipunan was influenced by marcelo h del pilar who wrote to his brother-
in-law Judato Arellano
Judato arellano – arellano collected the remaining la liga members to create a more
radical group KKK