The KKK and the

“Kartilya ng Katipunan”
• The KKK (Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) 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.
Importance of the Document
• The Kartilya ng Katipunan guided the
organization as a collective aspiring for a single
goal and can be treated as the Katipunan’s Code
of Conduct.

• The document provided a wider perspective on

the real aspirations of the Katipuneros and on
how the Katipunan strived to exist during those
years.
 Content and Contextual Analysis
The KKK is arguably the most
important organization formed
during the Spanish colonial
regime.

It united the Filipino nation that would It envisioned a total separation of the
revolt against Spaniards. Philippines from Spain.
• Generally, the rules can be classified into two:

First Group:
Second Group:
The rules that
The rules that will
will make the
guide the way he
member an
treats his fellow
upright
men.
individual.
 RULES INDICATION

Inherent inequality between and

4 and 13 Rules
th th
among men regardless of their race,
and life status.

Equality, freedom, and liberty.

12th,
13 , and 14 Rules
th th

Chivalrous Actions – honor and

9 , 10 , and 11 Rules
th th th
respect for women.

Rules for self-development.

5th, 6th, and 7th Rules
• 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.