The KKK and The Kartilya ng Katipunan

The KKK and The Kartilya ng Katipunan The Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish Filipinos in Manila in 1892, whose primary aim was to gain independence from Spain through revolution. During the said revolutionary period, in the conduct of their struggle, Katipuneros created a complex structure and a defined value system that would guide the organization as a collective aspiring for a single goal. This was the document called “Kartilya ng Katipunan”. The Kartilya ng Katipunan acted as the guidebook for the organization's new members, which set out the rules and principles of the party. The original title of the document was "Lessons of the Organization of the Sons of Country". The first edition of Kartilya was written by Emilio Jacinto in the 1896. Who is he? Born on December 15, 1875, Emilio Jacinto was a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. He was one of the highest-ranking officers of the Philippine Revolution and, as a member of its Supreme Council, was one of the highest-ranking officers of the Katipunan revolutionary society. He was elected Secretary of State for the revolutionary government "Haring Bayang Katagalugan," formed during the outbreak of hostilities. In Philippine history textbooks, he is widely recognized as the "Utak ng Katipunan," while others argue that he should be rightfully remembered as the "Brains of the Revolution." On April 16, 1899, Jacinto contracted malaria and died in Brgy. Alipit, Laguna, Santa Cruz. The revised Decalogue was later published by Andrés Bonifacio. Originally named 'Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z. Ll. B. (Duties of the People 's Sons).' The Decalogue. It is said that it was never published because Bonifacio thought that Kartilya of Jacinto was superior to what he had produced. Here is the content of the Kartilya wriiten by Jacinto. 1. Love God with all your heart. 2. Bear always in mind that the love of God is also the love of country, and this, too, is love of one's fellowmen. 3. Engrave in your heart that the true measure of honor and happiness is to die for the freedom of your country. 4. All your good wishes will be crowned with success if you have serenity, constancy, reason and faith in all your acts and endeavor. 5. Guard the mandates and aims of the K.K.K. as you guard your honor. 6. It is the duty of all to deliver, at the risk of their own lives and wealth. anyone who runs great risks in the performance of his duty. 7. Our responsibility to ourselves and the performance of our duties will be the example set for our fellowmen to follow. 8. Insofar as it is within your power, share your means with the poor and the unfortunate. 9. Diligence in the work that gives sustenance to you is the true basis of love —love for yourself, for your wife and children, for your brothers and countrymen. 10. Punish any scoundrel and traitor and praise all good work. Believe, likewise, that the aims of the K.K.K. are God given, for the will of the people is also the will of God. TEACHINGS OF THE KATIPUNAN OF THE SONS OF THE PEOPLE (also a content from Jacinto’s written Kartilya: 1. A life that is not dedicated to a noble and divine cause is like a tree without a shade, if not, a poisonous weed. 2. A deed that is motivated by self-interest or self-pity and done without sincerity lacks nobility. 3. True piety is the act of being charitable, loving one's fellowmen, and being judicious in behavior, speech and deed. 4. We are all equal, regardless of the color of their skin; while one could have more education, wealth or beauty than the other, none of them can overpass one's identity. 5. A person with a noble character values honor above self-interest, while a person with a base character values self-interest above honor. 6. To a man with a sense of shame, his word is inviolate. 7. Do not waste your time; lost wealth can be retrieved, but time lost is lost forever. 8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor. 9. A wise man is someone who is careful in all that he says; learn to keep the things that need to be kept secret. 10. In the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow; If the leader goes the way of evil, so do the followers. 11. Never regard a woman as an object for you to trifle with; rather you should consider her as a partner and a friend in times of need: Give proper considerations to a woman's frailty and never forget that your own mother, who brought you forth and nurtured you from infancy, is herself such a person. 12. Do not do to the wife, children and brothers and sisters of others what you do not want others to do to your wife, children and brothers and sisters. 13. A (person's) worth is not measured by his/her status in life, neither by the length of his nose nor the fairness of skin, and certainly not by whether he is a priest claiming to be God's deputy. Even if he is a tribesman/tribeswoman from the hills and speaks only his/her own tongue, a (person) is honorable if he/she possesses a good character, is true to his/her word, has fine perceptions and is loyal to his/her native land. 14. When these teachings shall have been propagated and the glorious sun of freedom begins to shine on these poor islands to enlighten a united race and people, then all the loves lost, all the struggle and sacrifices shall not have been in vain. Now, what are these rules and principles that are written in the Kartilya? To those who want to join the Katipunan, he/she must observe the following: First, true love of native land and genuine compassion for others, for everyone shall be treated equal and true brethren. Next is perforce renounce disorderly habits and shall submit to the authority of the sacred commands of the Katipunan. Then, if the applicant merely wishes to know the secrets of the Association, or to seek personal gratification, or to know who is here in order to sell them for a handful of silver, he cannot proceed, for the many who are watching him will already know his intentions, and will immediately have recourse to an effective remedy, such as befits traitors. Lastly, punctual payment of dues is required. One peso upon entry, and 12 and a half centavos each month. Reading the Kartilya Jacinto have written, I can sense the reason that drives his mind to why he wanted to set this principles to all his companions. Jacinto wanted to help achieve Filipino independence from Spain. For the new government imagined by Bonifacio, he wanted to set out values that would build a stronger community. The document is needed to be the doctrine and ideology of the Katipunan. He is a person with a vision for an equitable and morally sound Filipino country, to which he believed is needed to be the vision of the Katipuneros too. Today in this modern world, Kartilya ng Katipunan made people especially Filipinos aware that the Katipunan was a revolutionary Philippine society in which its main purpose was to achieve independence from Spain. This document demonstrates that there were intellectual and moral revolutionaries fighting for the independence of the Philippines. The Kartilya of the Katipunan was not just important to the Katipuneros but also to all the Filipinos during a time where the country is under the control of powerful forces. The rules and duties made by Emilio Jacinto made Filipinos realize that the only way to save the country and be a better Filipino is to be disciplined and follow what is given to them. Changing Filipino’s attitudes by renouncing any bad habits and following the rules made by the authority helped us to become a better citizen. It is also very important to us, modern Filipinos to follow the footsteps of our ancestors. We can learn a lot from them especially in being a disciplined citizen.