OSIAS COLLEGES INC.

F. Tañedo St., San Nicolas, Tarlac City

Department of College of Education
2022-2023

LESSON 3:
KARTILYA NG
KATIPUNAN
(GE2- Readings in Philippine History)
 SUBJECT GE 2: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
MODULE NUMBER MODULE 2
TOPIC CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY
SOURCES
• First Voyage Around the World by Magellan
• Customs of Tagalogs
• Kartilya ng Katipunan
• Declaration of the Philippine Independence
LEARNING At the end of the lesson the students shall be able to
OUTCOMES • Analyze the context, content, and perspective of the different kinds of primary
sources.
• Identify the historical importance of the historical texts.
• Develop critical and analytical skills from one’s exposure to primary sources.
• Examine the author’s main argument and point of view

III. KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR Emilio Jacinto

15 December 1875 – 16 April 1899
• Was a Filipino General during the Philippine Revolt Philippine Revolution.
• He was one of the highest-ranking officers in Philippine Revolution and was one of highestranking officers
of the revolutionary society, Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, or
simply and popularly known as Katipunan
• He was elected as Secretary of State for the Haring Bayang Katagalugan, a revolutionary government
established during the outbreak of hostilities
• He is popularly known in Philippine history textbooks as “Brains of the Katipunan”
• Some contend he should be rightfully recognized as the “Brain of the Revolution” or “Utak ng
Himagsikan” which is the title that was given to Apolinario Mabini
• Jacinto was present in the so-called Cry of Pugad Lawin (or Cry of Balintawak) with Andres Bonifacion,
the Supremo (Supreme President) of the Katipunan

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DOCUMENT

The KKK or Katipunan is arguably the most important organization formed in the Philippine History.
The organization envisioned:
• A united Filipino nation that would revolt against the Spaniards.
• The total independence of the country from Spain.

Previous armed revolts had already occurred before the foundation of the Katipunan, but none of them envisioned a
unified Filipino nation revolting against colonizers. For example:
• Diego Silang was known as an Ilocano who took up his arms and led one of the strongest running revolts
in country. His mainly concerned about is locality and referred to himself as El Rey de Ilocos (The King of
Ilocos) The Imagination was largely absent in the aspirations as the local revolt before the Katipunan.
• The Propaganda movements led by the Illustrado like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena
and Jose Rizal did not envision a total separation of the Philippines from Spain, but only wants is equal
rights, representation, and protection from the abuses of the friars.
The Katipunan was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose
primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The name
Katipunan is actually a shorter version of the official name, which is in Tagalog: Kataastaasang,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (translated as, Supreme and Venerable
Society of the Sons of the People or Highest and Most Honorable Society of the Children of the Nation)

The Katipunan is also known by its acronym, KKK. The word “Katipunan”, literally meaning “association”, comes
from the root word “tipon”, a Tagalog word, meaning “society” or “gather together.” Katipunan was a secret
organization until its discovery in 1896 which led to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution.

CONTENT PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL INFORMATION

FOUND IN THE DOCUMENT

On the night of July 7, 1892, Andres Bonifacio, a member of the La Liga Filipina, founded the Katipunan in a
house in Tondo, Manila. Bonifacio did establish the Katipunan when it was becoming apparent to anti-Spanish
Filipinos that colonial authorities would suppress societies like the La Liga Filipina. The Katipunan was founded
along Azcarraga St., (now Claro M. Recto Avenue) near Elcano St. in Tondo, Manila

The Katipunan had four aims, namely:

• To develop a strong alliance with each and every Katipunero;
• To unite Filipinos into one solid nation;
• To win Philippine independence by means of an armed conflict (or revolution); and
• To establish a republic after independence.

The rise of the Katipunan signals the end of the crusade to secure reforms from Spain by means of a peaceful
campaign.

The KKK members agreed on the following objectives:

• The political goal was to completely separate the Philippines from Spain after
• declaring the country’s independence.
• The moral goal was to teach the Filipinos good manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine morals, and how to
guard themselves against religious fanaticism.
• The civic goal was to encourage Filipinos to help themselves and to defend the poor oppressed.

The Katipunan was governed by the Supreme Council (Tagalog: Kataastaasang Sanggunian) The first Supreme
Council of the Katipunan was formed around August 1892, a month after the founding of the society. The Supreme
Council was headed by an elected president (Pangulo), followed by the secretary/secretaries (Kalihim); the
treasurer (Tagaingat-yaman) and the fiscal (Tagausig) The Supreme Council also had its councilors (Kasanguni);
the number varied through presidencies. To distinguish from presidents of lower sanggunian or councils (below)
the president of the Supreme Council was called the Supreme President (Tagalog: Kataastaasang Pangulo; Spanish:
Presidente Supremo).

In each province where there were Katipunan members, a provincial council called Sangguniang
Bayan was established and in each town was an organized popular council called Sangguniang Balangay. Each
Balangay were given a chance to expand their own spheres of influence, through triangle system in order to elevate
their status to Sangguniang Bayan.

It was the original plan of Bonifacio to increase the membership of the Katipunan by means of sistemang patatsulok
or triangle system. He formed his first triangle with his two comrades, Teodoro Plata and Ladislao Diwa. Each of
them re-instituted Katipunan thoughts into another two new converts. A new system of initiation, modeled after the
Masonic rites was then adopted.
Bonifacio divided the members into three grades. In the meeting of the society, Katipon wore a black hood with a
triangle of white ribbon having the letters "Z. Ll. B.", corresponding to the roman "A.N.B.", meaning Anak ng
Bayan (Son of the People). Kawal wore a green hood with a triangle having white lines and the letters "Z. LL. B."
at the three angles of the triangle, and also wore a green ribbon with a medal with the letter (ka) in Baybayin script
above a depiction of a crossed sword and flag. The password was Gom- Bur-Za, taken from the names of the three
martyrs. Bayani (Hero) wore a red mask and a sash with green borders, symbolizing courage and hope. The front of
the mask had white borders that formed a triangle with three Ks arranged as if occupying the angles of a triangle
within a triangle, and with the letters " Z. Ll. B." below. Another password was Rizal. A member meeting another
member placed the palm of his right hand on his breast and, as he passed the other member, he closed the hands to
bring the right index finger and thumb together.

Color designations:
• (Black)Katipon. First-degree members. Other symbols: Black hood, revolver and/or bolo.
• (Green) Kawal. Second-degree members. Other symbols: green ribboned- medallion with Malayan K
inscription.
• (Red and Green) Bayani. Third degree members. Other symbols: Red hood and sash, with green border

Any person who wished to join the Katipunan was subjected to certain initiation rites to test his courage, patriotism,
and loyalty. New recruits underwent the initiation rite three
at a time so that no member knew more than two other members of the society. The neophyte was first blindfolded
and then led into a dimly lighted room with black curtains where his folded cloth was removed from his eyes.
Inside the candle-lit room, they would be brought to a table adorned with a skull and a bolo. There, they would
condemn the abuses of the Spanish government and vow to fight colonial oppression.

The next step in the initiation ceremony was the lecture given by the master of ceremonies, called
Mabalasig/Mabalasik (terrible brother), who informed the neophyte to withdraw if he lacked courage since he
would be out of place in the patriotic society, If the neophyte persisted, he was presented to the assembly of the
brethren, who subjected him to various ordeals such as blindfolding him and making him shoot a supposedly a
revolver at a person, or forcing him to jump a supposedly hot flame. After the ordeals came to final rite –the pacto
de sangre or blood compact – in which the neophyte signed the oath with blood taken from his arm. He was then
accepted as a full-pledged member, with a symbolic name by which he was being known within Katipunan circles

KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN NI EMILIO JACINTO

PRINCIPLES
1. The life is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if not a poisonous
weed.
2. To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue.
3. 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
4. Whether our skin is black or white, we are all born equals: superiority in knowledge, wealth and beauty
are to be understood, but not superiority by nature.
5. The honourable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.
6. To the honourable man, his word is sacred
7. Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost.
8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.
9. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets.
10. On the thorny path of life, man is guide of woman and the children, and if the guide leads to the precipice,
those whom be guides will also go there.
11. 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.
12. What thou dost not desire done unto thy wife, children, brother, and sister that do not unto the wife
children, brother and sister neighbour.
13. 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 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 loves and cherishes his fatherland, though he be born in the wilderness and know no tongue but his
own.
14. 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 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 suffering
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.