GERPH01X

N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y D A S M A R I Ñ A S

RE A D IN G S IN P H ILIP P IN E H ISTO RY

WEEK 04
KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BY E M I L I O JA C I N TO
 AFTER READING THIS PART OF THE MODULE
THE LEARNERS WILL BE ABLE TO:

Enumerate the different points given in the

Kartilya ng Katipunan;

Explain the importance of the Kartilya to the

WEEK 04 grand narrative of Philippine history; and
KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN Evaluate the relevance of the document to the
BY EM I L I O JA CI N TO
present time.
KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BY EMILIO JACINTO

This section sheds light on Emilio Jacinto's Kartilya ng Katipunan which

enumerates the guidelines that new members of the Katipunan have to
follow. The Kartilya served as the guide of the Katipunan. It contains
thirteen "teachings" that the members were required to adhere to.

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your own kartilya
M A K I N G G U I D EL I N ES F O R YO U R O W N G RO U P

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 KEY TERMS

Kartilya - short note or letter of instructions

Revolution - a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.
KKK - The Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan ("Supreme
and Venerable Association of the Children of the Nation", Spanish: Suprema y Venerable
Asociación de los Hijos del Pueblo), a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-
Spanish colonialism Filipinos in Manila in 1892; its primary goal was to gain independence
from Spain through a revolution.
Generalissimo - the commander of a combined military force consisting of army, navy, and
air force units.
Supremo - one who is highest in rank or authority.
Liberalism - a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties,
democracy, and free enterprise.
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TIMELINE RECAP
1380 — Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago.
1521 — Spaniards’ arrival to Philippines, Ferdinand Magellan
1565 — Colonial Government in Cebu, led by Miguel López de Legazpi 1948 — Elpidio Quirino presidency*

1571 — Transferred Seat of Government to Manila — Intramuros built by 1574 1953 — Ramon Magsaysay presidency*

1578 — Arrival of Franciscan Missionaries, Juan de Plasencia 1957 — Carlos P. Garcia presidency*

1720 — Moro pirates attacks Fort Pilar 1961 — Diosdado Macapagal presidency*

1872 — Gomburza were executed by the Spaniards. 1965 — Ferdinand Marcos presidency*
1887 — José Rizal publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere and seers up 1972 — Marcos declares martial law.
independence sentiment. 1986 — People Power | Corazon Aquino presidency*
1892 — Jose Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina 1992 — Fidel V. Ramos presidency*
1896 — August 23, Katipuneros tear their cedulas & Cry of Pugadlawin 1998 — Joseph Estrada presidency*
1896 — December 30, Spanish executes Rizal for instigating revolt 2000 — President Estrada impeachment proceedings
1897 — General Emilio Aguinaldo presidency* at Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan. 2001 — Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became acting president*
1898 — Philippine’s Independence from Spain | Spain sold Philippines to USA $20M 2010 — Benigno Aquino presidency*
1935 — Manuel L. Quezon presidency* 2016 — Rodrigo Duterte presidency*
1941 — The Japanese occupation of the Philippines (until 1945) 2022 — Bongbong Marcos presidency*
1943 - Jose P. Laurel presidency*
1944 - Sergio Osmeña presidency*
1946 — Full independence of the Republic of the Philippines | Manuel Roxas presidency*

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KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

Historians regard Emilio Jacinto as the "Brains of the

Katipunan”. Artemio Ricarte called him the "Moses of the
Filipino people" while Epifanio de los Santos considered
him as the "Soul of the Revolution" and the "Eyes of the
Katipunan."
Emilio Jacinto was born in Tondo, Manila on December
15, 1875. His father was Mariano Jacinto who, according
to Zaide, was a bookkeeper but according to E. de los
Santos, was a merchant. His mother Josefa Dizon was a
manghihilot or midwife.

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KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

Emilio Jacinto was proficient both in Spanish and Tagalog. He was enrolled by his
uncle at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran for his Bachelor's degree, and later
transferred to the University of Santo Tomas to study law. Manuel Quezon (2nd
president), Sergio Osmeña (4th president) and Juan Sumulong (president of the
opposition — main role is to question the government of the day and hold them
accountable) were his classmates. He did not finish college.

He joined the secret society called “Katipunan” in 1894 and was the youngest
member at 19 years old. He was the fiscal, secretary, editor, and later, general of the
Katipunan. He used the pen names Pingkian, Dimasilaw, and Ka Ilyong.

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KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

He also became the director of the printing shop

and library of the Katipunan. The library contained
written works on tactics and weaponry, the French
Revolution, and works of demagogues. Jacinto
was proclaimed generalissimo of the North
(Punong Hukbo sa Hilagaan), became the adviser
of the Supremo, and furnished Bonifacio with
weapons, money, printing materials, and musical
compositions. He was also the editor of the
newspaper Kalayaan. He died of malaria on April
16, 1899 at 23 years old.

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KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

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KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BACKGROUND OF THE KARTILYA

Andres Bonifacio wanted to have a codified document Andres

Bonifacio long listing the duties and responsibilities of every
member of the Katipunan. Incidentally, as Bonifacio was drafting
the said document (Dekalogo ng Katipunan), Emilio Jacinto was
writing one as well. By the time that Bonifacio was about to
consult Jacinto for comments on his draft, the latter presented his
work to the Supremo. After seeing the draft of Kartilya ng
Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto, Bonifacio was impressed with
Jacinto's style of writing and decided to adopt the Kartilya as the
guidebook for the rules and regulations of the Katipunan Aside
from the maltreatment experienced by Filipinos from the
Spaniards, the following are the other factors that were influential
in the forming of the Katipunan and that of the Kartilya:

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FACTORS IN THE FORMING OF THE KATIPUNAN
AND THAT OF THE KARTILYA
The Age of Enlightenment gave way to Liberalism and Classicism and in the 20th
century, Modernism. In this period, secret societies like the Freemasons were
established. Coffeehouses, newspapers, and literary salons flourished as new places
for ideas to circulate and transfer.

Classicism, in all media, Modernism is a period in

Liberalism is a political has been to construct an
and moral philosophy ideal vision and version of
based on the rights of human experience that
the individual, liberty, should inspire and instruct
consent of the by its nobility, authority,
governed and equality rationality and truth and to
before the law. provide convincing models
for imitation.
literary history which started
around the early 1900s and
continued until the early
1940s. Modernist writers in
general rebelled against
clear-cut storytelling and
formulaic verse from the
19th century.

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 N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y D A S M A R I Ñ A S

GERPH01X
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
REFERENCES
De Veyra, L. (2011, April 19). Word of the Lourd: Emilio
Jacinto. TV5 The Evening News. Retrieved from https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myaq1Usq0C0

WEEK 04 Richardson, J. (2013). Emilio Jacinto, Kartilya ng Katipunan.

In Declaration of Principles, pp. 121-137.
KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
BY EM I L I O JA CI N TO Chua, M. (2021, Dec 14. Xiao Talks: Emilio Jacinto. Isa sa
Pinakabatang Heneral ng Himagsikan at ang kanyang
Ideas. NHCP Museo ng Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RU6Amit7cKg&t=1s