Lesson 5: The Kartilya of the Katipunan - After the death of Bonifacio in Cavite in 1897, he continued the fight
 Historical Context
- The Katipunan was established by Andres Bonifacio on July 7, 1892.
- This was the result of the failure of the Reform Movement in Spain in
which the Filipinos attempted to demand reforms for the Philippines
from the Spanish government.
- The Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan or KKK was a revolutionary society that intends independence
and freedom for the country thru force of arms.
- Its main objective was separation of the Philippines from Spain and the
development of the Filipinos as citizens of their own nation once
independence was achieved.
- The latter was done thru the written works by Bonifacio and Jacinto
who wrote a number of poems and essays for the society members.
- The Katipunan’s structure was said to be based on Rizal’s aborted
reformist organization, the La Liga Filipina.
 About the Author
- Emilio Jacinto was born on December 15, 1875 in the district of Trozo in
Tondo, Manila.
- Son of Mariano Jacinto (bookkeeper) and Josefa Dizon.
- He took up his secondary education at the Colegio de San Juan de
Letran. He later studied law at the University of Santo Tomas
- He had to stop his studies when the Philippine Revolution began in
1896.
- He joined the Katipunan in 1894 at the age of 18 and took the symbolic
name Pingkian.
- He wrote the Kartilya as well as the oath of the Katipuneros
- He also edited the Kalayaan which was the Katipunan newspaper and
was the author of several literary writings using pen-name Dimas Ilaw.
- He became secretary, fiscal, editor, and later was appointed General of
the Katipunan by Bonifacio in 1897. He also served as an adviser of the
Supremo.
against the Spaniards even after the truce following the Pact of Biak-na-
Bato.
- He was captured in the battle against the Spaniards in Magdalena,
Laguna.
- He was released after he managed to convince the Spanish soldiers he
was a spy in their service when he showed them a military pass issued
to a man he killed several months ago.
- When he was hiding in Manila, he sent a letter to Apolinario Mabini in
Malolos, Bulacan stating his plan to continue his law studies at the
newly-established Literary University of the Philippines.
- But this plan was not executed due to the reason that he went back to
Laguna to lead his fellow patriots in a war against Americans
- He died in Majayjay where he contracted malaria (April 6, 1899)
 About the Text
- The Kartilya is the best known of all Katipunan texts and the only
document of any length set in print by the Katipunan prior to August
1896 that is known to be still extant.
- Its term was derived from the Spanish cartilla which was the primer
used for grade schools during Spanish period.
- The Kartilya served as the primary lessons for the members of the
Katipunan.
- The Kartilya presents not only the teachings for the neophyte
Katipunero but also the guiding principles of the society.
- The Kartilya ends with a document of affirmation by the member to the
society’s teachings.
- The Kartilya was not just a document for the Katipunan.
- Its importance today is predicted on the teachings that embodied the
moral and nationalistic principles of a nation.
 Relevance
- The current relevance of the Kartilya lies in the fact that it established
not only the rules for the members of the organization but the
principles for the citizens of a nation once independence had been
achieved.
 Kartilya ng Katipunan
Mga Aral ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(Tagalog Version)
1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan
ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag.
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi sa
talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pagibig sa
kapua at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang
Katuiran.
4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y
magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa
ganda…; ngunit di mahihigtan sa pagkatao.
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang
may hamak na kalooban inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.
7. Huag mong sasayangin ang panahun; ang yamang nawala’y
magyayaring magbalik; nguni’t panahong nagdaan na’y di na muli pang
magdadaan.
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi, at kabakahin ang umaapi.
9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, at
matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng asawa’t
mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang patutunguhan ng
iaakay ay kasamaan din.
11. Ang babai ay huag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi
isang katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan
mo ng buong pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang
inang pinagbuhata’t nagiwi sa iyong kasangulan.
12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong
gagawin sa asawa, anak, at kapatid ng iba.
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at
puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Dios wala sa mataas na
kalagayan sa balat ng lupa; wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking
gubat at walang nababatid kundi ang sariling wika, yaong may
magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri; yaong di
napaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at marunong
lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang araw ng
mahal na Kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkalupuan, at sabugan ng
matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkalahi’t magkakapatid
ng ligaya ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagud, at
mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis nang natumbasan. Kung lahat ng ito’y
mataruk na ng nagiibig pumasuk at inaakala niyang matutupad ang mga
tutungkulin, maitatala ang kaniyang ninanasa sa kasunod nito.
Teachings of the Katipunan of the Sons of the People
(English Version)
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.
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.
Lesson 6: The Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People
(Acta De La Proclamacion De La Independencia Del Pueblo Filipino)
 Historical Context
- In December 1897, a truce was declared between the two forces
(Spaniards and Filipino rebels) with the Filipino leaders, led by Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo, agreeing to be exiled to Hong Kong while the
Spaniards paid an indemnity for the damages caused as a result of the
conflict.
- The truce lasted for only a few months before it collapsed.
- The deteriorating diplomatic relations between Spain and the United
States over the another revolution in Cuba was the reason of the
Spanish-American War in 1898
- Even before the battle in Manila in 1898, Aguinaldo had already been
meeting with the Americans in Singapore. He talked with E. Spencer
Pratt with regards to the US-Filipino collaboration against the Spaniards
before he went back to Hong Kong to meet up with Commodore George
Dewey, commander of the Asiatic Fleet.
- Unfortunately, Dewey had already left for the Philippines to attack the
Spanish fleet following America’s declaration of war against Spain in
April.
- Aguinaldo remained in Hong Kong and met with the American consul
general Rounseville Wildman.
- Aguinaldo paid Wildman a total of ₱117,000 to purchase rifles and
ammunition. A first shipment worth ₱50,000 was made but the other
half was never delivered and Wildman never returned the money given
to him.
- On May 19, 1898, Aguinaldo finally returned to the Philippines on board
the U.S. cruiser McCulloch.
- From Aguinaldo’s headquarters in Cavite, he announced the resumption
of the revolution against the Spaniards, thus beginning the second
phase of the revolution.
- By the end of May 1898, he was in command of an army of 12,000
troops.
- On May 28, 1898, the Filipino forces won their first victory in Alapan,
Imus. The newly-made Filipino flag was hoisted or raised in Alapan then
later unrolled at the Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City)
in front of the Filipinos.
- Earlier on May 24, Aguinaldo announced the creation of the dictatorial
government. He emphasized that the dictatorship was only temporary
as it would be a prelude to the establishment of a republican form of
government.
- On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from
Spanish rule at a ceremony in his house in Kawit, Cavite.
- Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista read the declaration that was later signed
by 177 persons.
- The Philippine National Anthem was known as Marcha Nacional Filipina
and was composed by Julian Felipe. Moreover, the anthem was played
by the Banda de San Francisco de Malabon.
 About the Author
- The author of the proclamation was Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista and
the initiator of the proclamation was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.
- Emilio Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite (Cavite el
Viejo).
- The son of Carlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy.
- The Aguinaldos were a wealthy and influential family with Carlos being
gobernadorcillo for several terms.
- Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan choosing the name Magdalo, a name
that was also given to another branch of the Katipunan which he set up
in his province.
- When the revolution began in 1896, the Katipunan in Cavite succeeded
in driving away the Spaniards from the province.
- But, the territorial and logistical problems between the two groups soon
forced Aguinaldo to ask for help from Supremo Andres Bonifacio in
settling the conflict. However, Bonifacio’s intervention only worsened
the situation and the only solution the two factions saw was to create a
revolutionary government.
- Elections for a pamahalaang panghihimagsik were held in Barrio
Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) on March 22,
1897.
Note: Emilio Aguinaldo (President); Mariano Trias (Vice-President); Artemio
Ricarte (Captain-General); Emiliano Riego de Dios (Director of War); Andres
Bonifacio (Director of the Interior)
- But, the elections were disrupted following a protest over Bonifacio’s
educational qualification for such a position.
- Bonifacio angrily declared the result of the elections null and void and
walked out.
- When Bonifacio tried to put up his own government with an armed
group, he was arrested and tried for sedition. Found guilty, the Supremo
and his brother Procopio were executed on May 10, 1897.
- The internal dissent caused by Bonifacio’s death weakened the
Katipunan further. The Spanish troops regained Cavite and Aguinaldo
was forced to retreat to the mountains of Biak-na-Bato.
- After the Americans won the battle of Manila Bay in 1898, Aguinaldo
returned to the Philippines with their help and announced the
resumption of the revolution against Spain.
- After winning several victories against the Spaniards, he declared
Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.
- But, the Filipinos soon realized that the Americans were to become their
new colonizers.
- After the Spanish defeat in 1898, the United States began to send fresh
troops to the Philippines.
- In 1899, Aguinaldo convened a Congress in Malolos, Bulacan in which
the delegates wrote a Constitution and established the Philippine
Republic with Aguinaldo as president in January 1899.
- Three weeks later, the continuing friction with the Americans erupted
into a conflict in February 1899.
- The Philippine-American War eventually ended in 1901 with the capture
of Aguinaldo.
- Soon after, he pledged allegiance to the United States and returned to
private life on his family farm. He briefly hugged the limelight when he
ran for the presidency of the Philippine Commonwealth but lost to
Manuel L. Quezon
- Aguinaldo was charged with collaboration by the Americans for helping
the Japanese during World War II but was later freed in a general
amnesty.
- As a private citizen, he devoted his time to the cause of veteran
revolucionarios until his death at the age of 94 on February 6, 1964.
 About the Text
- On June 10, 1896, Emilio Aguinaldo issued a one-sentence decree
appointing his Auditor General of War, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, as
 a “special commissioner” to write the Act of the Declaration of the
Independence.
- The result was a sixteen-page document that contained the aspirations
of freedom from Spanish rule, the sacrifices made, and the revolution
that resulted from it.
- The declaration was read in Kawit in the afternoon of the celebration of
the declaration of independence.
- The copies of theproclamation was classified under Philippine
Revolutionary Papers (PRP) in the National Library had varying numbers.
Later research by historian-writer Jim Richardson placed the total
number of signees at 177.
 Relevance
- The Declaration is that sole document that proves the value of Filipinos
place on their freedom.
- At present, our independence has been questioned especially in relation
to our dealings with the United States of America.
- It must be understood that the independence we attained in 1898 was
freedom that was fought for with the lives of Filipinos.
- The goal or objective of this independence is something that we might
have failed to achieve and protect properly.
- It in this context that the Acta must be studied again.
 The Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People (notes)
- Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista was the War Counselor and Special
Delegate designated to proclaim and solemnize the Declaration of
Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines.
- There are arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards who causes
deaths in connivance with and even under the express orders of their
superior officers.
- The said superior officers would order the shooting of those placed
under arrest under the pretext that they attempted to escape in
violation of known rules and regulations.
- Many abuses were left unpunished.
- Because of unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those
decreed by General Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop and the
friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic and selfish
ends.
- The deportations were carried out through process more execrable than
those of the Inquisition which every civilized nation repudiates as a trial
without hearing.
- The revolution started in August 1896 to regain the independence and
sovereignty of which the people had been deprived by Spain through
Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
Note: The early Spaniards colonize various islands or archipelagos through
blood compact or by means of Pact of Friendship.
- Magellan landed on the shores of Cebu and occupied the island by
means of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas.
- Magellan was provoked by Chief Kalipulako of Mactan who suspected
Magellan’s evil designs.
- Magellan also landed on the island of Bohol by entering into a Blood
Compact with its chief Sikatuna with the purpose of taking by force the
island of Cebu.
- Since Tupas did not allow Magellan to occupy the island, Magellan went
to Manila winning likewise the friendship of its Chiefs Soliman and
Lakandula, later taking possession of the city and the whole archipelago
in the name of Spain by virtue of an order of King Philip II.
- The legitimacy of the revolution cannot be put in doubt which was
calmed but not completely stifled by the pacification proposed by Don
Pedro A. Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato and
accepted by Governor-General Don Fernando Primo de Rivera.
- After the bombardment of the plaza of Cavite, Aguinaldo returned to
the Philippines in order to initiate a new revolution and no sooner had
he given the order to rise on the 31st of May.
- The revolutionary movement spread like a wild fire to other towns of
Cavite and other provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan,
Laguna, and Morong
- In Bataan, only the Detachments in Naic and Indang remained to
surrender
- In Pampanga, all Detachments had been wiped out - The eight rays of the sun represent the eight provinces (Manila, Cavite,
- In Batangas, the resistance of the Spanish forces was localized in the Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas) that
town of San Fernando where the greater part of them are concentrated, declared themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was
the remainder in Macabebe, Sexmoan, and Guagua. initiated.
- In Bulacan, in the town of Lipa. - The colors of blue, ted, and white commemorate the flag of the United
- In Laguna, in the capital and in Calumpit. States of North America as a manifestation of our profound gratitude
- In the last two remaining provinces, only in their respective capitals. towards the Great Nation.
- The redemption of this unfortunate country was foretold by Dr. Don
Jose Rizal in his magnificent verses which he composed in his prison cell
prior to his execution.
- Abuses of the Spanish officials, the unjust execution of Jose Rizal, and
others who sacrificed in order to please the insatiable friars in their
hydropical thirst for vengeance against and extermination of all those
who oppose their Machiavellian ends.
- The Spaniards trampled the Penal Code of several islands.
- Those suspected persons arrested by the Chiefs of Detachments at the
instigation of the friars, without any form or semblance of trial and
without any spiritual aid of our sacred religion.
- Doctor Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto Zamora
were hanged whose innocent blood was shed due to the intrigues of the
so-called religious organizations that made the authorities to believe
that the military uprising at the fort of San Felipe in Cavite on the night
of January 21, 1872 was instigated by those Filipino martyrs.
- The first spark of revolution broke out in Caloocan, spread out to Santa
Mesa and continued its course to the adjoining regions of the province
where the unequalled heroism of its inhabitants fought a one-sided
battle against superior forces of General Blanco and General Polavieja
for a period of three months
- The white triangle in the Philippine flag the distinctive emblem of the
famous Society of Katipunan which by means of its blood compact
inspired the masses to rise in revolution
- The three stars signifies the three principal islands of the Philippines
which are the Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao)
- The sun represents the gigantic steps made by the sons of the country
along the path of progress and civilization.