Kartilya ng Katipunan

The Kartilya ng Katipunan (English: Primer of the Katipunan) served as the guidebook for new members of the organization, which laid out the group's rules and principles. The first edition of the Kartilya was written by Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto will later pen a revised Decalogue.

The Teachings of the Katipunan

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.

Decalogue of the Katipunan

Originally titled Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z. Ll. B. (Duties of the Sons of the People) It was never published because Bonifacio believed that Jacinto's Kartilya was superior than what he had made.

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 your self, 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.

External links

• Manila Statues: Kartilya Ng Katipunan Shrine

References

• Kartilya in Filipino. Accessed 1 September 2006.
• Full text of Kartilya ng Katipunan. Published in Filipiniana.net Digital Library. Accessed on 7 January 2008.