Readings in Philippine History

KKK & THE KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN

By Emilio Jacinto

Submitted by:

GROUP 4 BSGE_2A
Members:

Matol, Tresha Marie

Padernal, Christine Jocel

Perez, Maria Angelica

Nene, Nathan

Namata, Delbert

Preciado, Khent James

Poquita, Ikie Joseph

Submitted to:

Ma’am Noelle Rodio

Who is the Author?

Emilio Jacinto Y Dizon

 Born on December 15, 1875 in Tondo, Manila & died on April 16, 1898.

 Son of Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dizon

 He was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and was one of the

highest-ranking officers of the revolutionary society Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-

galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK)

 He was proficient both in Spanish and Tagalog.

 He attended San Juan de Letran College, and later transferred to the

University of Santo Tomas to study law.

 He became the advisor on fiscal matters and secretary to Andrés Bonifacio. He

was later known as Utak ng Katipunan (“The Brain of Katipunan”).

 He wrote the society’s newspaper called the Kalayaan.

 He wrote in the newspaper under the pen name "Dimasilaw", and used the

alias "Pingkian" in the Katipunan.

How do the author’s gender and socioeconomic class compare to the people he or

she is writing about?

Emilio Jacinto was an articulate and fearless young man renowned as the soul

and brain of Andres Bonifacio's revolutionary organization, the Katipunan. Jacinto

contributed to spearheading the campaign for Filipino independence from Spain

throughout his brief life. He outlined the ideals for the future republic envisioned by

Bonifacio; nevertheless, neither man lived to see the Spanish destroyed. Compared to

the Early Katipunero thinks that altering how Filipinos think and conduct is the most
crucial factor to consider. It speaks of dignity, generosity, and self-sacrifice for the

cherished land, as well as of traitors and rebellious subjects.

Why did he or she write the source?

Emilio Jacinto wrote the source to set as a guidebook/document for the

revolutionary society's new members, outlining rules and principles of the party. The

original title of the document was "Lessons of the Organization of Sons of Country".

Who was the intended audience?

A revolutionary society dedicated to the independence and liberation of the

Philippines from foreign rulers and colonizers. The new members of the society (late

Katipuneros) were indoctrinated with the Katipunan rules an its teachings that

emphasized the value of love of one’s country and fellow Filipinos.

In the conduct of their struggle, Katipunan created a complex structure and a

defined value system that would guide the organization as a collective aspiring for a

single goal. It was only Katipunan that envisioned a united Filipino against the

Spaniards.

What unspoken assumptions does the text contain?

The Kartilya ng Katipunan was more literary, philosophical and pragmatic. 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 eminence.

Are there detectable biases in the source?

As the primary governing document which determines the rules of conduct in

the Katipunan, its main purpose is to overthrow a colonial regime, the content and
provisions of the Kartilya as a reaction and response to certain value system that they

found despicable in the present state of things that they struggled against with.

When was the source composed?

The document was written prior to the August 1896 revolutionary movement

of the Katipunan. The Katipuneros upon joining the Katipunan were required to read

the Kartilya and adhere to its code of conduct.

What is the historical context in which the source was written and read?

Influencing factors causing the creation of Katipunan and the conceptualization of

Kartilya:

 Enlightenment in Europe

 Enlightened rationality gave way to the rise of Romanticism. By the 19th-

century it pave its way to Liberalism and Classicism then in the 20th-century,

Modernism.

 During this period, secret societies like the Freemasons, the Bavarian

Illuminati, the Rosicrucian—flourished.

 French Revolution

 The ideas of enlightenment and the French Revolution inspired the Ilustrados

in Europe and in the island. These two events in the globe encouraged the

Filipinos to take up a stand for reforms and later independence. Books from

Europe easily reached the Philippines thru the Suez Canal and thus this leads

to the spread of the idea of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

 Coming of Masonry in the Philippines

 In 1856, Freemasonry was introduced in the Philippines, however, native

Filipinos were not allowed to join the organization

 In 1889, Graciano Lopez-Jaena organized the Logia Revolución in Barcelona

thru the support of Grande Oriente Español hence the root of true Philippine

Masonry

 As the Fraternity grew, the Spanish friars were alarmed and therefore branded

all Masons as insurrectos. Masons were arrested, tortured, exiled. These

events became the voice for freedom and democracy

 Most of the prominent personalities in the Katipunan were members of the

Masonry. The influence of this fraternity to the members were very evident in

the Kartilya written by Emilio Jacinto.

 Propaganda Movement

 The death of Gomburza in 1872 awakened strong feelings of anger and

resentment among the Filipinos. They questioned Spanish authorities and

demanded reforms. The Filipino ilustrados aimed for reforms and so they

created a systematic movement and they used a peaceful means of battling the

Spanish government called the Propaganda Movement.

 The writings produced by the Propaganda Movement inspired Andres

Bonifacio and other radicals to establish the Katipunan and set the Philippine

Revolution in place.
 La Liga and the Cuerpo de Compromisarios

 In 1892, Jose Rizal arrived home and with the support of the Masonic

Leaders, he established the La Liga Filipina. However, he was arrested and

soon deported to Dapitan.

 Andres Bonifacio and other members of Logia Taliba saw Rizal’s deportation

as asign that reforms were no longer attainable. Before the revival of the Liga,

Andres Bonifacio had conceptualized a new secret society called the

Katipunan to advocate separation from Spain. Thus, Katipunan was

established on July 7, 1892.

 On April 3, 1893, Andres Bonifacio of Logia Taliba, Domingo Franco and

Apolinario Mabini, both of Logia Balagtas, led the revival of the Liga Filipina.

 Six months after the Liga’s revival two factions emerged: one that wanted to

continue the society’s aim of peaceful reforms, and another which advocated

the overthrow of the colonial government. In October of 1893, the Liga was

dissolved.

 Mabini and other moderates formed the Cuerpo de Compromisarios, they

tried to continue sending funds to finance the Propaganda Movement in

Spain. However, most of the members became increasingly disappointed over

the apathy of the central government in Madrid.

 Some Filipinos were convinced that separation from Spain was the only

alternative – some members united with the radical movement - Katipunan of

Bonifacio, Arellano, Plata and other Logia Taliba members.

Are there other contemporary sources to compare against this one?

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.

Andres Bonifacio’s Decalogue of “The Duties of the Sons of the People” was

intended to be given to the recruits. Nevertheless, the two texts have different

approaches. The Decalogue talks about obligations, while the Kartilya is about

“guiding principles” and teachings.

Decalogue of “The Duties of the “Kartilya ng Katipunan”

Sons of the People”
By Emilio Jacinto
By Andres Bonifacio

What is your (group's) overall analysis and critique of this source?

 One can analyze, the values upheld in the document as consistent with

burgeoning rational and liberal ideas in the 18 th century and 19th century. Kartilya of

the Katipunan was instructive not just of the Katipunan’s conduct toward other

people but also for the member’s development as individuals in their own rights.

The idea of mga aral ng Katipunan is about the ethical codes, important

values, and oath that every Katipunero must embody. It is to guide the Katipuneros

have the moral, intellectual, and nationalistic foundation upon joining the

organization.

In conclusion, the proper reading of the Kartilya ng Katipunan will reveal a

more thorough understanding of the Katipunan and the significant role that it played

in the revolution and in the unfolding of the Philippine history.

Summary

The Kartilya serves as a guidebook for new Katipunan's, telling them how they

shouldact morally correct and abide by the principles their organization follows. The

Kartilya consists of 12 guiding principles and fourteen teachings. It teaches true love

of native land and genuine compassion for others. It aimed to promote peace

and unity in the Filipino people's hearts and minds since by keeping those teachings

in mind.

DOCUMENTATION