Michaela Elaine Q.

Azores
BA Communication – 1
Readings in the Philippine History

1. What was the socio-political context when the Kartilya was written? How crucial was
this document in 19th century Philippines?

The Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards when the KKK as a social
organization was created and Kartilya as its code of conduct was written. The country
was governed by the Spaniards that time who abused their power and treat Filipinos
in a cruel and unfair way. Filipinos were abused physically and removed the rights to
decide on their own, leaving them dependent but scared of Spanish government.
There were also a dramatic increased in racial discrimination between Spanish and
Filipinos. The graft and corruption of the Spanish who ruled the country have also
arose. Filipinos were extremely oppressed that time and had no freedom.

2. How would you describe the Kartilya in terms of its form/writing style and content?
What are its main teaching and how it was presented?

The Kartilya is KKK’s code of conduct. It contains the KKK’s principles and
teachings. In terms of form or writing style and content, it is four times longer than
Andres Bonfacio’s Decalogue that presents twelve guiding principles and fourteen
ethical values that those who aspire to join Katipunan and already a Katipunero must
follow. The main teaching of the Kartilya is to express true love of native land and
genuine compassion for others, for everyone shall be treated equal and true brethren.

3. Research on why Andres Bonifacio, who was then the Supremo or Supreme Leader
of the Katipunan, opted to adopt Emilio Jacinto’s Teaching of the Katipunan instead of
his own draft of the Dekalogo ng Katipuanan (Katipunan Code of Conduct). Do you
find this decision sound? How are their perspective different and alike?

Andres Bonifacio originally intended that his Decalogue should be printed and
handed to new recruits, but he then read Jacinto’s Kartilya and decided it was superior
also in his admiration of Jacinto’s literary style. The two texts, though, are not really
comparable because Bonifacio just simply enumerated the duties of the Katipunan
containing only ten obligations, while Emilio Jacinto’s was four times longer, rather as
a statement of aspiration and ethical values that contains twelve guiding principles and
fourteen teachings.

4. Why can the Kartilya be considered timeless and relevant to the industrializing and
globalizing present?

Kartilya as the guide of a revolutionary organization to have an orderly group and to

succeed their objective to free the country from Spaniards. Nowadays, the Kartilya is a
reminder of the nation’s inherent solidarity and of our people’s strength as the Kartilya bind
the Filipinos by increasing their nationalism. It is there to remind and be the guide on how
industrializing and globalizing should be. In industrializing the country and while in the process
of uncontrollable globalization, it should still consider the rights of the people such as having
equality and exercising the right way of treating others in every situation while not declining
own country’s culture and tradition to show genuine love for it. And, teachings like this are
what the Kartilya contains.