Emilio Jacinto
Author of the Kartilya ng Katipunan
The flag the Katipunan adopted in 1897
The Katipunan or short for Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalang, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (“Highest, Most-Honorable Assembly of the Sons of the Nation” or simply the Supreme Assembly) was the revolutionary society founded in the late 19th century that aimed to overthrow Spanish rule over the Philippines. Some of its members later became heroes of this nation. They were united in their longing for an independent Philippines free from the yoke of colonization and oppression.
Kartilya derives form the Spanish for a primer for pupils in school. It was created as a guidebook for the new members of the Katipunan to present them with the principles it stood for. The first edition was created by Emilio Jacinto who was known as the “Utak ng Katipunan” (Brains of the Katipunan) for his guiding intellect in their efforts.
If solely on the context by which it is considered, a primer for indoctrinating new recruits into a resistance movement, it seems similar with the higher martial ideals of Japanese Bushido (Way of the Warrior) or the code of chivalry of the medieval European knights.
Then again the lofty words and gentle admonitions counseling one to conduct himself to a more noble way of life seems very much akin to the tone of the Chinese philosopher and moralist Confucius.
Or it might simply be the words one passes to his fellowman as his way of strengthening the love for one’s country.
Its message though is eternal and provides direction even today. Below is the script for the Kartilya in its original Tagalog language coupled with its English translation taken from this site:
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Kartilya_ng_Katipunan
1. Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy(puno) na walang lilim, kundi (man) damong makamandag.
A life that is not dedicated to a noble cause is like a tree without a shade or a poisonous weed.
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa paghahambog o papipita sa sarili (paghahangad na makasarili), at hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
A deed lacks nobility if it is motivated by self-interest and not by a sincere desire to help.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.
True piety consists of being charitable, loving one’s fellow men, and being judicious in behavior, speech and deed.
4. Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigitan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda; ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
All persons are equal, regardless of the color of their skin. While one could have more schooling, wealth, or beauty than another, all that does not make one more human than anybody else.
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang (dangal o) puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
A person with a noble character values honor above self-interest, while a person with a base character values self-interest above honor.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumpa.
To a person of honor, his/her word is a pledge.
7. Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan nay di na muli pang magdadaan.
Don’t waste time; lost wealth can be retrieved, but time lost is lost forever.
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi;kabakahin (labanan) ang umaapi.
Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.
9. Ang taong matalino'y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin;matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
The wise person is careful in all he/she has to say and is discreet about things that need to be kept secret.
10. Sa daang matinik ng buhay, lalaki ang siyang patnugot ng asawa at mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din. (Ang simula nito ay obserbasyon sa ugnayan ng babae at lalaki sa panahon ng Katipunan; para sa kasalukuyan, iminumungkahing ipalit ang sumusunod: "Sa daang matinik ng buhay, ang mga magulang ang patnugot ng mag-anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, and patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.)
On the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow. If the leader goes the way to perdition, so do the followers. (Note: This begins with an observation of the vertical relationship of husband and wife during the time of the Katipunan; now, we can say that the parents lead the way and the children follow.)
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isnag katuwang at karamay (ng lalaki) sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; gamitin mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang (pisikal na ) kahinaan, alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
Never regard a woman as an object for you to trifle with; rather you should consider her as a partner and helpmate. Give proper consideration 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. Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
Don’t do to the wife, children, brothers, and sisters of others what you do not want done to your wife, children, brothers, and sisters.
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao'y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Diyos, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri, yaong di nagpaaapi't di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdam-dam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
A man’s worth is not measured by his station in life, neither by the height 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 a tribesman from the hills and speaks only his tongue, a man has fine perceptions and is loyal to his native land.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan at sabungan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi't magkakapatid, ng liwanag ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang matutumbasan.
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 lives lost, all the struggle and the sacrifices will not have been in vain.
Kartilya derives form the Spanish for a primer for pupils in school. It was created as a guidebook for the new members of the Katipunan to present them with the principles it stood for. The first edition was created by Emilio Jacinto who was known as the “Utak ng Katipunan” (Brains of the Katipunan) for his guiding intellect in their efforts.
If solely on the context by which it is considered, a primer for indoctrinating new recruits into a resistance movement, it seems similar with the higher martial ideals of Japanese Bushido (Way of the Warrior) or the code of chivalry of the medieval European knights.
Then again the lofty words and gentle admonitions counseling one to conduct himself to a more noble way of life seems very much akin to the tone of the Chinese philosopher and moralist Confucius.
Or it might simply be the words one passes to his fellowman as his way of strengthening the love for one’s country.
Its message though is eternal and provides direction even today. Below is the script for the Kartilya in its original Tagalog language coupled with its English translation taken from this site:
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Kartilya_ng_Katipunan
1. Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy(puno) na walang lilim, kundi (man) damong makamandag.
A life that is not dedicated to a noble cause is like a tree without a shade or a poisonous weed.
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa paghahambog o papipita sa sarili (paghahangad na makasarili), at hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
A deed lacks nobility if it is motivated by self-interest and not by a sincere desire to help.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.
True piety consists of being charitable, loving one’s fellow men, and being judicious in behavior, speech and deed.
4. Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigitan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda; ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
All persons are equal, regardless of the color of their skin. While one could have more schooling, wealth, or beauty than another, all that does not make one more human than anybody else.
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang (dangal o) puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
A person with a noble character values honor above self-interest, while a person with a base character values self-interest above honor.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumpa.
To a person of honor, his/her word is a pledge.
7. Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan nay di na muli pang magdadaan.
Don’t waste time; lost wealth can be retrieved, but time lost is lost forever.
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi;kabakahin (labanan) ang umaapi.
Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.
9. Ang taong matalino'y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin;matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
The wise person is careful in all he/she has to say and is discreet about things that need to be kept secret.
10. Sa daang matinik ng buhay, lalaki ang siyang patnugot ng asawa at mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din. (Ang simula nito ay obserbasyon sa ugnayan ng babae at lalaki sa panahon ng Katipunan; para sa kasalukuyan, iminumungkahing ipalit ang sumusunod: "Sa daang matinik ng buhay, ang mga magulang ang patnugot ng mag-anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, and patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.)
On the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow. If the leader goes the way to perdition, so do the followers. (Note: This begins with an observation of the vertical relationship of husband and wife during the time of the Katipunan; now, we can say that the parents lead the way and the children follow.)
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isnag katuwang at karamay (ng lalaki) sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; gamitin mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang (pisikal na ) kahinaan, alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.
Never regard a woman as an object for you to trifle with; rather you should consider her as a partner and helpmate. Give proper consideration 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. Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
Don’t do to the wife, children, brothers, and sisters of others what you do not want done to your wife, children, brothers, and sisters.
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao'y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Diyos, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kundi sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri, yaong di nagpaaapi't di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdam-dam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
A man’s worth is not measured by his station in life, neither by the height 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 a tribesman from the hills and speaks only his tongue, a man has fine perceptions and is loyal to his native land.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan at sabungan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi't magkakapatid, ng liwanag ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang matutumbasan.
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 lives lost, all the struggle and the sacrifices will not have been in vain.
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