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STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 1

CHAPTER 3: KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN

MODULE OVERVIEW

Module Outline:

I. Introduction of Kartilya ng Katipunan

II. Historical Background of the topics
a. Membership
b. Flags
III. Katipuneros
IV. The Katipunan Code of Conduct

Introduction:

The "Kartilya ng Katipunan" is a manual authored by Emilio Jacinto, a well-known revolutionary who
fought for Philippine independence from Spain in the late 19th century. The Katipunan was a revolutionary
group. The Kartilya, which consists of thirteen articles and served as the Katipunan's moral and ethical code,
lays forth the ideals that its members ought to respect, including patriotism, integrity, and bravery. An
overview of the topic and some helpful advice for daily life are provided after each article. Inspiring and
educating readers to become obedient, unselfish citizens committed to the cause of liberty and justice was a
goal of the handbook. For those struggling for social justice and national liberation, the Kartilya continues to
be a significant document in Philippine history and a source of inspiration.

The Kartilya ng Katipunan served as the guidebook for newcomers of the organization, a guidebook
that contains the group’s rules and principles. The original version has 14 paragraphs which laids the values
of a Katipunero. Katipunero or Katipunera mostly a several wealthy patriots joined the society or the
organization, katipunan. As we all know Katipunan known as Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan
ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) was a Philippine revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish colonialist
Filipinos in Manila in 1892. The primary goal was to gain independence from Spain through a revolution.

Kartilya ng Katipunan written originally by the brains of the Katipunan or “Utak ng Katipunan”, Emilio
Jacinto. Later on Andres Bonifacio wrote a revised Decalogue, titled “The Duties of the Son of the People”.
However, the decalogue was never published because Bonifacio believed that Jacinto’s version of Kartilya
was the one that meant to published and red by the people.

Emilio Jacinto’s Kartilya serves as a historical reference on how Katipuneros lived back then. The
document covers moral lesson, norms and guides for them during the Spanish era. Each paragraph is unique
in such a way that they tackle different aspects of a person’s life. In which case, anyone may have different
interpretation. Hence, it is only appropriate to have a better understanding or explanation to its contents. The
Kartilya is a good source to understand how the Katipuneros lived, helps the Katipuneros reflect on
themselves and served as a proof that Filipinos were once united to achieve their goal, the independency of
this country.

In this chapter, we are able to understand and to have knowledge about the historical background, the
purpose and how important this document is. We are also learn that, this is not just a piece of writing but it
more importantly it signifies the moral characters of those katipunero. This Kartilya ng Katipunan was meant
to guide people in living the life to its fullest and highlights the importance of having the attitude towards other
people.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the Module, we are expected to:

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1. To examine the context and historical background of the Kartilya ng Katipunan

2. To understand the Kartiya's importance as an ethical-moral guide for the Flipinos.
3. To appreciate the Katipuneros’ efforts for the Philippines.

LEARNING CONTENTS

Historical Background Of The Document (Kartilya)

Hango sa cartilla, isang gabay para sa mga mag-aaral sa elementarya. Kartilya ng Katipunan was
written by Emilio Jacinto circa 1892. “Kartilya” is the best known of all Katipunan texts. Making manifest the
KKK’s principles and teachings, it was printed as a small pamphlet for new members.

The preamble to the Kartilya echoes the Masonic document’s stated purpose, which is to ensure that
candidates fully understand the association’s objectives before making a commitment they might later repent.

The division in the Kartilya between principles (“layon”) and teachings (“aral”) broadly parallels the
division in the Gran Oriente’s manifesto between the “Programa Masonica” and the “Codigo Masonico.” And
the Kartilya, finally, like the document used in the lodges, asks neophytes to pledge their allegiance to the
association’s objectives and to affirm with their signature that they are becoming members of their own free
will (“ninais ng loob ko”).

The Kartilya ng Katipunan is consist of fourteen lessons that serves the katipunero's guide in living
with morals and good values, it details not only the vison of katipunan but also the vison for equally and
morally sound Filipino nation. It is like a Code of Conduct for katipunan that shows how to be a true Filipino in
words and actions. To teach them how to be intellectual revolutionaries fighting to create and represent a
nation that Filipinos should have.

Founding of Katipunan

The Katipunan or Samahang Kataastaasan, Kagalang-galangan, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng

Bayan(KKK; English: Supreme and Honorable Association of the Children of the Nation; Spanish: Suprema y
Honorable Asociacion de los Hijos del Pueblo), was the revolutionary society founded by anti-Spanish
colonialist Filipinos at a house on Azcarraga Street, Manila (now Claro M. Recto Ave.) in July 7, 1892. The
Katipunan was formally founded on this date by Andres Bonifacio, with the aid of his friends Teodoro Plata,
Ladislao Diwa, Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, in response to the news about the deportation of Rizal. The
men gathered around a flickering table lamp, performed the ancient blood compact, and signed their
membership papers with their own blood.

The Aims of the Katipunan

Andres Bonifacio laid down three primary objectives of the Katipunan: civic, political, and moral. The
civic aim revolved around the principle of self-help and the defense of the poor and the oppressed. The
political aim consisted in working for the separation of the Philippines from Spain. The moral objective focused
on the teaching of good manners, hygiene, good morals and attacking obscurantism, religious, fanatism, and
weakness of character. All members were urged to help sick comrades and their families, and in the event of
death, the organization would pay for the burial expenses. However, for economic reasons, the society
ensured that the funeral was of the simplest form, avoiding unnecessary expenses so common under the rule
of friars.

The Katipunan Government

The Katipunan had three governing bodies: The Kataas-taasang Sanggunian or Supreme Council,

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the Sangguniang Bayan or Provincial Council, and the Sangguniang Balangay or Popular Council.
Respectively, they were the equivalent of the central government, provincial government, and the municipal
government. Sangguniang Hukuman( Judicial Council) was the one that decides cases involving treachery
among the members and quarrels between them. The elected officers of the first Supreme Council were the
following: Deodato Arellano, president or supremo; Andres Bonifacio, comptroller; Ladislao Diwa, fiscal;
Teodoro Plata, secretary; and Valentin Diaz, treasurer.

The Katipunan Membership

It was agreed to win more members to the society by means of the triangle method in which an
original member would take in two new members who did not know each other, but knew only the original
member who took them in. Thus, original member A, for instance, would take in new members B and C. Both
B and C knew A, but B and C did not know each other. Also agreed upon during the meeting was the payment
of an entrance fee of one real fuerte(twenty-five centavos) and a monthly due of a media real (about twelve
centavos). The Secret Initiation of the Katipunan, a candidate for membership was first blindfolded and
entered a secret room. In the room there was a table with a lamp, a skull, and a bolo. The blindfold was
removed from his eyes. He was given a test on the history of the Philippines to show that he knew the
Spaniards had oppressed the Filipinos. He had to pass other tests on his patriotism, courage and sincerity.
The KKK involves three ranks of membership: Katipon, Kawal, and Bayani. The Katipon (member) wears a
black hood that is marked by a white triangle-shaped robbin with letters Z, Ll, and B inside, their password
was “Anak ng Bayan”. The Kawal (Soldier) wears a green hood marked by a triangle of white lines with letters,
Z, Ll, and B placed at three angles, their passwords was “GOM-BUR-ZA”. The Kawal also wears a triangular
medallion with the Baybayin (letter image above) engraved in the middle. The Bayani (Patriot) wears a red
mask with a white triangle containing the letters K, K, K, Zz, Ll, and B. The Bayani also wears a red sash with
green borders, their password was “Rizal”.

Katipunan Flags

 The First KKK Flag (1892). Three big white KKK letters arranged horizontally at the center of a rectangular
piece of red cloth (locally called "kundiman"). The color red symbolized the courage of the Katipuneros who
stood ready to fight for freedom and shed their blood if need be. This was the flag which was unfurled during
the "First Cry of Nationhood" at the vicinity of North Manila in August 1896.
 Early Katipunan One-K Flag. In some localities, only one while letter K was placed on a rectangular piece of
red cloth.
 The Second Katipunan Flag (1892). A red flag with the three white letter Ks arranged in an equilateral triangle
at the center of the rectangular field.
 The Aguinaldo-Magdalo Flag (August 30, 1896). A red flag with the ancient Tagalog script for K ( ~) in white,
placed at the center of a sun with eight pointed rays, again representing the Katipunan and the eight
revolutionary provinces in Luzon. This was the flag adopted by General Emilio Aguinaldo for his Magdalo
faction at Kawit, Cavite on August 30, 1896. General Aguinaldo referred to this flag in his proclamation of
October 31, 1896: "Filipino people!! The hour has arrived to shed blood for the conquest of our liberty.

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Assemble and follow the flag of the Revolution - it stands for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." Due to the
popularity of General Aguinaldo, it was used by the revolutionary forces until December 30, 1897 when it was
hauled down from the flagstaff at Biak-na-Bato, signifying the end of hostilities with Spain after the peace
pact.
 "Sun of Liberty Flag" (March 17, 1897). A red flag with a white sun of eight rays, symbolizing the quest for
liberty. This was adopted by the revolutionary leaders at their assembly in Naic, Cavite on March 17, 1897. It
was a reformed version of the Aguinaldo-Magdalo flag, withe a mythological sun at the center. The last
revolutionary flag represented the aspirations for independence of the Filipino nation as a whole, rather than
the Katipunan society alone, for the sun (nation) had replaced the KKK as the center of their emblem. It was
raised and waved during some of the bloodiest days of the revolution, but alas, it did not last long. On
December 27, 1897, the first phase of the Philippine Revolution ended with the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-
Bato between the beleaguered Spanish colonial government and the poorly armed and unsalaried volunteer
army of Katipuneros. The truce ushered in a period of false peace before another storm was unleashed in the
land.

The Katipuneros

 Andres Bonifacio

A Filipino revolutionary hero who founded the Katipunan, a

secret society which spearheaded the uprising against Spain and laid
the groundwork for the first Philippine Republic.nAndres Bonifacio,
was given the distinct honor of being the architect and the father of
the first nationalist revolution in Asia, the Filipino Revolution of 1896.
He authored the uprising against Spain who set into motion the
emancipation of a people who had been colonized and abused for
over 300 years. Andres Bonifacio was born to a working class family
on November 30, 1863, to his hard-working parents: his father,
Santiago Bonifacio (a tailor) and his mother, Catalina de Castro (a
cigarette factory worker). By birth he was already identified with the plight of the masses. He grew up in
the slums of Tondo, a district of the city of Manila outside the walled City of Intramuros (inhabited by those
in power – the friars and the high government officials). Tondo was a dynamic community of workers,
stevedores, small entrepreneurs, and merchants. This land of the poor, the underprivileged and the
oppressed was a melting pot to all in search of a new life. From practical experience, he knew the actual
conditions of the class struggle in his society. The death of his parents forced him to take over the support
of his 3 brothers and 2 sisters at age 14; he was forced to drop out of school and had an urgent task to
care for his family. A life of poverty and hard work strengthened his capacity for sacrifices and his
tolerance for difficult challenges, but did not dampen his spirit.

 Emilio Jacinto
Emilio Jacinto y Dizon was considered as one of the greatest
military genius during his time. He was very close to Andres Bonifacio. Like
Bonifacio, Emilio also comes from a poor family. He was born in Trozo,
Manila on December 15,1875. His parents were Mariano Jacinto and
Josefa Dizon. Despite being orphaned, he managed to send himself to
Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He was also able to study law at the
University of Santo Tomas although he was not able to finish it because his
Spanish classmates often abused him. Emilio was only 19 when he joined
the Katipunan. He was known as the brains of the Katipunan when it comes
to military matters. His book entitled Kartilya was the one used by the
Katipuneros as their guide in fighting the Spanish colonizers. It contained
the constitution and by-laws ofthe Katipunan. Reading books was one of Emilio’s greatest passions. One
of his favorite books was the one about the French Revolution. He also has in his collection a book on
how to make gunpowder and dynamite. He also learned quite a few things about the art of war, military
strategies and ways of making weapons of war.

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Women Of The Katipunan

At the beginning, the Katipunan was exclusively for men. Women were later admitted to preserve
peace in the family, because the wives of the Katipuneros were becoming jealous of the nightly absences of
their husbands and the reduction of their monthly earnings.

Qualifications for Female Members to ensure the secrecy of the movement:

• Wife of a Katipunero
• Daughter of a Katipunero
• Sister of a Katipunero
• Any close relative of a Katipunero
As great as our brave Katipuneros were, the revolution would not be as successful without the strong
women who fought along with them. These courageous notable women include Gregoria de Jesus, Melchora
Aquino, Teresa Magbanua, Henerala Agueda Kahabangan, and Trinidad Tecson, among others. Even before
the Katipunan was created, there were other women who bravely fought for our country such as Gabriela
Silang.

Philippine revolutionary history is not only about the story of our gallant men but also of the fearless
women.

Prominent Katipuneras
These are just some of the prominent katipuneras:

1. Josefa Rizal
Elected as the President of Katipuneras, and one of the original member of the Katipunan together
with Gregoria De Jesus.

2. Gregoria De Jesus (Vice President)

She also known as “Aling Oriang” was the custodian of the documents and
seal of the organization, founder and Vice-President of the woman chapter of
Katipunan. She joined the Katipunan adopting the
name Lakambini ("noblewoman", also "goddess" or "muse") of the
organization. Started her revolutionary work at a very young age. As the wife
of the Katipunan leader, Andres Bonifacio, she suffered countless privations
in the performance of the dangerous task which only women could do
undetected by the police. Risked her life by keeping Katipunan documents in
her person at a time when the Spanish authorities were watching the
movements of the members.

3. Melchora Aquino

A Filipina Revolutionary who became known as “Tandang

Sora” because of her age during the Philippine Revolution. She is
the “Mother of Katipunan” as she played an important role in the
Philippine Revolution. She provided medical care to the soldiers who
were fighting in war and her store served as a secret meeting place.

4. Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang

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She was best known as the “first female revolutionary leader” against Spain. She took over and
assumed the legacy of her husband Diego Silang after his assassination. She became the Ilocano rebel
army’s commander for four months before being caught and executed by the Spaniards. Even today, she
is remembered as the bolo-wielding leader on horseback

5. Teresa Magbanua
When the revolt against Spanish colonizers broke out at her province in Iloilo, Magbanua joined the
rebel troops with her uncle and two brothers. She became the “Commander of the Northern Zone”.
Fighting in several key battles during the Spanish era, Magbanua led her troops of rifle sharpshooters and
bolo men to victory at the Battle of Barrio Yoting in Pilar, Capiz.

6. Trinidad Tecson
“Mother of Biak na Bato” and “Mother of the Philippine Red Cross”. At age 47, she joined the
Katipunan and was the first-ever Filipino woman to undergo the ‘sandugo,’ signing her name with her own
blood.

7. Magdalena Leones
A Filipino spy during World War II. Called the “Lioness of Filipino Guerilla Agents,” Leones became
the only Asian to be awarded the United States’s third-highest military decoration, the Silver Star Medal.

8. Agueda Kahabagan
The only woman listed in the roster of generals in the Philippine Army. Called the "Tagalog Joan of
Arc," she fought against the Spanish forces, and is best known for her role in the three-day battle in San
Pablo, Laguna. She fought together with General Pio del Pilar in the Southern Tagalog region and
was given the title "Generala." She is one of history's unsung heroes, as little has been known of her
whereabouts after the war.

9. Nieves Fernandez
A teacher turned into a guerrilla leader. She is best known for her special technique in silently killing
Japanese soldiers using her bolo. “Captain Fernandez”, as she was called, knew how to use her knife to
attack her enemy to immediate unconsciousness, resulting in a quiet death. Fernandez was skilled
in hand-to-hand combat using the bolo and could make improvised guns using gas pipes, called
the 'paltik' or crackshot. The female captain became such a force to be reckoned with, that the Japanese
offered P10,000 for her head.

10. Carmen Rosales

A popular pre-World War II Filipina actress and singer, many may not be aware of Carmen Rosales'
other life as a guerrilla warrior.

11. Trinidad Rizal

 She was a Filipina feminist leader and co-founder of the Philippines' first feminist organization, the
Asociación Femenista Filipina. She was the younger sister of the national hero, physician and writer, Dr.
José Rizal.

Services Of The Women In The Katipunan

• They guarded the secret documents and paraphernalia to help the male members in their work of
propagating the ideas and ideal of the Society.
• They helped recruiting new members of the society.
• The women engaged in dancing and singing in full view of the people on the street. While the Katipuneras
were doing this, the male members were holding a meeting in a room behind the sala, where the women
were singing and dancing. In this way, the authorities were not able to detect the meetings of the
Katipunan in places designated by Bonifacio.

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The Katipunan Code Of Conduct

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 for its own sake is not virtue.
3. 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.
4. 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.
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 leads 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) weakness 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, those whom he guides will also go there.
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 be 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 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 (the Katipunan) 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.

REFERENCES

Andres Bonifacio (2015). Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from
https://philippinefolklifemuseum.org/collection/andresbonifacio/#:~:text=A%20Filipino
%20revolutionary%20hero%20who%20founded%20the%20Katipunan%2C,revolution%20in%20Asia
%2C%20the%20Filipino%20Revolution%20of%201896.

Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan (September 4, 2012). National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Archived from the original on April 17, 2014.

Cultural Center of the Philippines (1994). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Philippine literature. Cultural
Center of the Philippines. ISBN 978-971-8546-43-7.

Full text of Kartilya ng Katipunan. Published in Filipiniana.net Digital Library. Accessed on 7 January 2008.

Filipino Heroines That You Need to Know (2019). Esquire. Retrieved March 25, 2023 from
https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/what-she-wants/filipino-heroines-to-know-a1868-
20190826-lfrm2 (esquiremag.ph)

The Katipunan (n.d). The Philippines Revolution. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from
http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/katipunan.html

“Z.Ll.B” was the Katipunan code for “A.N.B.” – “Anak ng Bayan” or “Sons of the People”.

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