Kartilya ng Katipunan

• KKK (Kataastaasan,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan)
 The Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan
ng mga anak ng Bayan (KKK) or Katipunan is arguably
the most important organization formed in the Philippine
history. While anti-colonial movements, efforts, and
organizations had already been established centuries
prior to the foundation of the Katipunan, it was only this
organization that envisioned
• A united Filipino nation that would revolt against the
Spaniards.
• The total independence of the country from Spain.
 Katipunan created a complex structure and a defined
value system that would guide the organization as a
collective aspiring for a single goal. One of the most
important Katipunan documents was the Kartilya ng
Katipunan. The original title of the document was Mga Aral
ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. The document was
written by Emilio Jacinto in the 1896.
 The Kartilya can be treated as the Katipunan’s code of
conduct. It contains fourteen rules that instruct the way a
Katipunero should behave, and which specific values
should be uphold. Generally, the rules stated in the Kartilya
can be classified into two. The first group contains the rules
that will make the members an upright individual and the
second contains the rules that will guide the way he treats
his fellow men.
The Rules in Kartilya

1. The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a

tree without a shade, if not a poisonous weed.
2. To do good for personal gain and not not for its own sake is not a
virtue.
3. It is rationable to be charitable and love one’s fellow creature, and to
adjust ones’ conduct, acts and words to what is in itself reasonable.
4. Whether our skin be black or white, we are all born equal: superiority
is knowledge, wealth and beauty are to be understood, but not
superiority by nature.
5. The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel,
gain to honor.
6. To the honorable man, his word is sacred,
7. Do not waste thy time; wealth can be recovered but not time
lost.
8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law
or in the field.
9. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping
secrets.
10. On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of woman and the
children, and if the guide lead to the precipice, those whom he
guides will also go there.
11. 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) weaknesses will increase thy interest in her and she
will remind thee of the mother who bore thee and reared thee.
12. 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.
13. 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 is born in the wilderness and know no tongue but
his own.
14. When these rules of conduct shall be known to all, the longed-for the
sun of Liberty shall rise brilliant over this unhappiest 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.
Analysis of the Kartilya ng Katipunan

• As a document written whose main purpose is to overthrow a colonial

regime, we can explain the content and provisions of the Kartilya as a
reaction and response to certain value systems that they found despicable
in the present state of things that they struggled against with.

• Equality, tolerance, freedom and liberty were values that first emerged in
the 18th century French Revolution, which spread throughout Europe and
reached the educated class of the colonies. Jacinto, an ilustrado himself,
certainly got an understanding of these values. Aside from the liberal
values that can be dissected in the document, we can also decipher certain
Victorian and chivalrous values in the text.
The Proclamation of the Philippine Independence

Every year the country commemorates the anniversary of the

Philippine Independence proclaimed on June 12, 1898, in the province
of Cavite. Indeed, such event is a significant turning point in the
history of the country because it signalled the end of the 333 years of
Spanish colonization. There have been numerous studies done on the
events leading to the independence of the country but very few
students had the chance to read the actual document of the declaration.
 The proclamation commenced with a characterization of the conditions in the
Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. The document specifically mentioned
abuses and inequalities in the colony. The declaration says:

“…. Taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already weary of bearing the
ominous yoke of Spanish domination, on account of the arbitrary arrests and harsh
treatment practiced by the Civil guard to the extent of causing death with the connivance
and even with the express orders of their commanders, who sometimes went to the
extreme of ordering the shooting of prisoners under the pretext that they were attempting
to escape, in violation of the provisions of the regulations of their Corps, which abuses
were unpunished and on account of the unjust deportations, especially those decreed by
General Blanco, of eminent personages and of high social position, at the instigation of
the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish
and avaricious purpose, deportations which are quickly brought about by a method of
procedure more execrable than that of the Inquisition and which every civilized nation
rejects on account of a decision being rendered without a hearing of the persons
accused.”
 “In the town of Cavite, Viejo, in this province of Cavite, on the 12th day
of June 1898, before me, Don Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Auditor of
War and Special Commissioner appointed to proclaim and solemnize this
act by the Dictatorial Government of this Philippine Islands, for the
purposes and by virtue of the circular addressed by the Eminent Dictator
of the same Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy.”
 “We acknowledge, approve and confirm together with the orders that have
been issued therefrom, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio
Aguinaldo, whom we honor as the Supreme Chief of this Nation, which this
day commences to have a life of its own, in the belief that he is the
instrument selected by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effect the
redemption of this unfortunate people, as foretold by Doctor Jose Rizal in
the magnificent verses which he composed when he was preparing to be
shot, liberating them from the yoke of Spanish domination in the punishment
of the impunity with which their government allowed the commission of
abuses by its subordinates.”
 “And finally, it was unanimously resolved that this nation, independent from this day,
must use the same flag heretofore, whose design and colors and described in the
accompanying drawing, with design representing in natural colors the three arms
referred to. The white triangle represents the distinctive emblem of the famous
Katipunan Society, which by means of compact of blood urged on the masses of the
people to insurrection; the three stars represent the three principal islands of the
Archipelago, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, in which the insurrectionary movement
broke out; the sun represents the gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this
land on the road of progress and civilization, its eight rays symbolizing the eight
provinces of Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and
Batangas, which were declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first
insurrectionary movement was initiated, and the colors blue, red and white,
commemorate those of the flag of the United States of America, in manifestation of our
profound gratitude towards that Great Nation for the disinterested protection she is
extending to us and will continue to extend to us.”
Analysis of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence

The declaration of independence can reveal some often

overlooked historical truths about this important event in Philippine
history. Aside from this, the document reflects the general revolutionary
sentiment of that period.
The Treaty of Paris was an agreement signed between Spain and
the United States of America regarding the ownership of the Philippine
Islands and other Spanish colonies in South America. The agreement
ended the short-lived Spanish-American War. The treaty was signed on
December 10, 1898, six months after the revolutionary government
declared the Philippiine Independence. The Philippines was sold to the
United States at 20 million dollars and effectively undermined the
sovereignty of the Filipinos after their revolutionary victory. The
Americans occupied the Philippines immediately which resulted in the
Philippine-American War that lasted until the earliest years of the 20th
century.
 The proclamation also gives us the impression on how
the victorious revolutionary government of Aguinaldo
historicized the struggle for independence. There were
mentions of past events that was seen as important turning
points of the movement against Spain.

Jose Rizal’s legacy and martyrdom was also mentioned in the

document, However, the Katipunan as the pioneer of the
revolutionary movement was only mentioned once toward
the end of the document. There was no mention of the
Katipunan’s foundation. Bonifacio and his co-founders were
also left out.
THANK YOU !