THE KARTILYA OF THE KATIPUNAN  It was printed as a small pamphlet that was

The KKK distributed to the members of the

Katipunan.
Historical context  Serves as a primer as the primary lessons
The Founding of the Katipunan for the members of the Katipunan.
• Andres Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz, Teodoro  These teachings are expected from the
Plata, Ladislao Diwa, and Deodato Arellano members even after the attainment of
• Met secretly at a house on freedom from the colonizers.
Azcarraga (now Claro M. Recto),  The teachings are followed by a form to be
near Elcano Street, Tondo, on July filled out with name, hometown, age,
7, 1892 and decided to form a new occupation, status, and address.
secret organization called
Katipunan. ASSOCIATION
• Bonifacio saw the futility of the OF THE
efforts of the Filipino propagandist SONS OF THE PEOPLE
and organized an underground To those who want to join this association.
movement against Spain.  
• This was a result of the failure of Reform In order that all who want to enter this Association
Movement in Spain in which Filipinos may have a full understanding and knowledge of its
attempted to demand reforms for the guiding principles and main teachings, it is
Philippines. necessary to make these things known to them so
that they will not, tomorrow or the next day, repent,
The Katipunan and so that they may perform their duties
 KKK was a revolutionary society that wholeheartedly.  
espoused independence and freedom for
the Philippines through force of arms. This Association pursues a most worthy and
 Its main objective was separation of the momentous object: to unite the hearts and minds of
Philippines from Spain, at the same time, all the Tagalogs (*) by means of an inviolable oath,
the development of the Filipino citizens of in order that this union may be strong enough to
their own nation once independence was tear aside the thick veil that obscures thought,  and
achieved. to find the true path of Reason and
Enlightenment.   
Katipunan Membership  
 The recruitment process of the Katipunan (*The word Tagalog means all those born in this
followed Masonic initiation rites. Archipelago; even a person who is a Visayan,
 The new members of the society were Ilocano, or Kapampangan, etc. is therefore a
indoctrinated with the Katipunan rules an its Tagalog too.) 
teachings that emphasized the value of love  
of one’s country and fellow Filipinos. One of the foremost rules here is true love of the
 New members performs the ancient blood native land and genuine compassion for one
compact, and signed their membership another.  
papers with their own blood. Poor, rich, ignorant, wise – here, all are equal and
 The payment of an entrance fee of one real true brethren.
fuerte (25 centavos) and a monthly due of  
media real (12 centavos). As soon as anybody enters here, he shall perforce
 Katipun – first grade members – Anak ng renounce disorderly habits and shall submit to the
Bayan authority of the sacred commands of the Katipunan.
 Kawal – second grade members –  
GomBurZa All acts contrary to noble and clean living are
 Bayani – third grade members – Rizal repugnant here, and hence the life of anyone who
wants to affiliate with this Association will be
Kartilya ng Katipunan submitted to a searching investigation.  
 It was penned by Emilio Jacinto (Pingkian),
the greatest writer of the Katipunan. 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 here the A good deed lacks virtue if it springs from a desire
many who are watching him will already know his for personal profit and not from a sincere desire to
intentions, and will immediately have recourse to an do good.
effective remedy, such as befits traitors.    
  True charity resides in acts of compassion, in love
Here, only actions are demanded and esteemed; for one’s fellow men, and in making true Reason
hence anybody who is not willing to act should not the measure of every move, deed and word.  
enter, no matter how good a speaker he might be. 
Be their skin dark or pale, all men are equal.  One
It is also announced that the duties to be performed can be superior to another in knowledge, wealth
by the members of this association are exceedingly and beauty... but not in being.
hard, especially if one remembers that there can be  
no dereliction or willful evasion of duty without the A person with a noble character values honor
exaction of a terrible punishment.   above self-interest, while a person with an ignoble
  character values self-interest above honor.
If an applicant merely desires financial support  
relief or wants to lead a life of bodily comfort and An honorable man’s word is his bond.
ease, he had better not proceed, for he will  
encounter weighty tasks, like the protection of the Don’t waste time; lost wealth may be recovered, but
oppressed and the relentless fight against all that is time lost is lost forever. 
evil.  In this way, his fate will be a vexatious life.   
Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.
Nobody is unaware of the misfortune that threatens
the Filipinos who contemplate these things that are An intelligent man is he who takes care in
sacred (and even those that are not) and the everything he says and keeps quiet about what
sufferings they are made to endure by the reign of must be kept secret.  
cruelty, injustice and evil.  
  Along the thorny path of life, the man leads the way
Everybody also knows the need for money, which and his wife and children follow.  If the leader goes
today is one of the main things upon which we the way of perdition, then so do those who are led.  
depend to bring sustenance to all.  In this regard, Do not regard a woman as a mere plaything, but as
the punctual payment of dues is required: one peso a helpmate and partner in the hardships of this
upon entry and then twelve and a half centimos existence.  Have due regard to her weakness, and
each month. The custodian of the funds will remember the mother who brought you into this
periodically render an account to the members, and world and nurtured you in your infancy.  
each member has a right to examine the accounts,
should he so wish.  The funds cannot be expended What you would not want done to your wife,
without the consent of the majority. daughter and sister, do not do to the wife, daughter
and sister of another.
All this must be thought over and deliberated upon A man’s worth does not come from him being a
calmly, as it cannot be accomplished or endured by king, or in the height of his nose and the whiteness
anyone who has no love for his native land and no of his face, or in him being a priest, a
genuine desire to promote progress. REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD, or in his exalted
  position on the face of this earth. Pure and truly
  And for the upliftment of your mind and noble is he who, though born in the forest and able
virtue, read the following  to speak only his own tongue, behaves decently, is
true to his word, has dignity and honor, who is not
TEACHINGS OF THE an oppressor and does not abet oppressors, who
KATIPUNAN OF THE SONS OF THE PEOPLE knows how to cherish and look after the land of his
birth.
A life that is not dedicated to a great and sacred
cause is like a tree without a shade, or a poisonous When these doctrines have spread and the brilliant
weed. sun of beloved liberty shines on these poor Islands,
  and sheds its sweet light upon a united race, a
people in everlasting happiness, then the lives lost,
the struggle and the suffering will have been more
than recompensed.

Relevance
 It established the rules not only for the
members of the Katipunan but the
principles for the citizens of a nation once
independence had been achieved.
 Though written in the 19th century, the
Kartilya is significant to the lives of modern
Filipinos as it reads like a simple creed for
living in the light of the many changes
occurring in the present.