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Readings in Philippine History: Importance of The Text

I. The Kartilya ng Katipunan acted as a guidebook for members of the Katipunan secret society, outlining rules and virtues they should uphold such as compassion and sympathy. II. The text was written by Emilio Jacinto, who was a brilliant member and secretary of Katipunan leader Andres Bonifacio. III. The Kartilya provided the moral and intellectual foundation for Katipunan members and laid out principles to guide them in their fight against Spanish tyranny and for Philippine independence.

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Myssikeah Dariagan
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168 views

Readings in Philippine History: Importance of The Text

I. The Kartilya ng Katipunan acted as a guidebook for members of the Katipunan secret society, outlining rules and virtues they should uphold such as compassion and sympathy. II. The text was written by Emilio Jacinto, who was a brilliant member and secretary of Katipunan leader Andres Bonifacio. III. The Kartilya provided the moral and intellectual foundation for Katipunan members and laid out principles to guide them in their fight against Spanish tyranny and for Philippine independence.

Uploaded by

Myssikeah Dariagan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Readings in Philippine History

Hessy Keah B. Dariagan BSBA 1B

Critical Essay

Importance of the text

For the new members of the association, Kartilya ng Katipunan has acted as a guidebook
for the rules and regulations. Those who wish to join the company should have a profound
understanding of its guiding principles and principal instruction in order for them to be
completely engaged in their duties. Generally speaking, Kartilya ng Katipunan teaches the virtue
of compassion for indigenous countries and sincere sympathy for the others, which will eradicate
the former disorderly practices of the Katipuneros and lead them into the true way of reason and
light.

Background of the text’s author

Emilio Jacinto was born on December 15, 1875 at Trozo, Tondo, Manila, named "the
Katipunan brain." It was Jacinto's and Josefa Dizon's son Mariano. He spoke Spanish and
Tagalog fluently, but he spoke more Spanish. He did not finish college and joined the Katipunan
at 20. He studied in the Unibersity of Santo Tomas. He became the fiscal advisor and Andres
Bonifacio's secretary as a result of being really clever. He edited and wrote in Tagalog for the
Katipunan daily "Kalayaan." He wrote the pen name of Dimasilaw in the newspaper and the
name Pingkian was named in Katipunan. The Kartily ng Katipunan was written by Emilio
Jacinto.

Context of the document

The Katipunan was established by Andres Bonifacio, whose purpose is to unite the
people and prepare them for an armed struggle to free the country in the Spanish tyranny.
Katipunan's moral and civic goal is the unification of the Philippines, propaganda work and civic
education of the katapuneros must take place. Bonifacio made his now well-known decalog of
the duties of his son, which centered on one's duties to God, his neighbor and himself, the
country families, and then Jacinto's popular "Kartilya ng Katipuan."

I. That 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 a 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 is black or white, we are all born equal: superiority in knowledge,
wealth and beauty are to be understood, but not superiority by nature.
V. The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel gain 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 part 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 dost not desire done unto thy wife, children, brothers, and sisters, that do not
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, keep 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.
XIV. 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 remain. If he who desires to enter (the
katipunan) has informed himself of all this and believes that he will be able to perform
what will be his duties, he may fill out the application for admission.

Text’s contribution to understanding the Philippines history

The Kartilya ng Katipunan was the moral and intellectual foundation used to guide the
Katipuneros and lays out the rules and principles that needed to be obeyed upon joining the
secret society. It is one of the few recorded documents of the Philippine Revolution that survived
today, and hence provides a perspective to modern generations on how this code contributed to
understanding our history and how it shaped the present.

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