NAVARRETE, Madeleine J.

BS ECE II-3

I think the Primer of the Katipunan should really be adapted in the Philippine society, even
though the society we live in and when this was drafted is a bit different. I’m aware that this was
made in accordance to the pressing situation of slavery and oppression back in the days of Spanish
regime in our country, but these moralities, I’ve noticed, can also be used to address different
situations and concerns the modern era is currently facing.
The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade,
if not a poisonous weed. This is telling us to be useful, to have purpose, not one who is aimless
and living as scum of the society.
To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue. A deed carried out for
the sake of fame is not worthy of praise.
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. We should always look after our neighbors. We
should, at the very least, be kind. Stop being mean. We should do things that are reasonable, and
not condone unreasonable behavior.
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 by nature. This highlights equality. No matter
the race, the color, the educational background one has, at the end, we are all humans. We were
born equal and die just the same.
The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor. We
should always uphold an honorable life. We should not cheat on people just to gain our own
interests.
To the honorable man, his word is sacred. We must have a sense of shame, and value our
word. If we give a word, we must see it through.
Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost. This is an important part.
There’s so much things that can be done in our idle time. We must make use of it well. Also,
making money is important, but family is as well. We make money for them, but they won’t be
able to appreciate you much if you don’t give them a bit of your time. This is a common situation
in our country.
Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field. We should
fight for what is right, not favor the more powerful one over the weak, which is also common in
our justice system.
 The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets. This code highlights
trust. We should know which words were to be said and which were to be kept.
On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of woman and the children, if the guide leads
to the precipice, those whom he guides will also go there. This means that the leader of the family
should be able to lead well. If he is bad, then so will his family be. If he doesn’t give his children
a right model to emulate then how will they grow as righteous useful member of the society?
Thou must not look upon woman as a mere plaything, but as a faithful companion who will
share with thee the penalties of life. A woman is not an object, not a pastime. She is someone who
will accompany you and share your burdens. She isn’t to be played with, but rather to be cherished.
Her (physical) weakness will increase thy interest in her and she will remind thee of the
mother who bore thee and reared thee. In treating a woman, you should always be lenient of her
shortcomings, her weakness not something you should admonish her about, but rather remember
how your mother birthed you and raised you.
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. This is similar with the Golden Rule
of Confucius, but the difference makes this tenet all the more honorable. In the Golden Rule, we
don’t do things we don’t want done to us, but in this one, we always think of our family. We will
not do things that we don’t want to be done to them. It’s so simple and so raw that we could see
how the Katipuneros value their family very much. I believe that this tenet can wrap up the whole
Primer of Katipunan.
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, 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. The thirteenth principle is about having the right character. Our life should not be
measured by what is our status in nor with the things that we possess. Instead, it is in our character
and our love for the native land.
The Primer of the Katipunan was meant to guide us in living our everyday life its fullest.
It highlights the importance of having the right attitude towards other people. If these codes of
conduct are followed by our society, and each one treats the other like his/her family, then everyone
will live a better life. When each one of us helps the other, and think of the greater good, the
betterment of our country, then how powerful of a nation would we be? We won’t shame our
ancestors, and will, in fact, make them proud for their sacrifices have been worth it with how
progressive we would be. I believe that it is not the society that dictates whether a person can have
a moral life. Rather, it's a man with a moral life that will mandate and keep moving the society he
lives in.