Kartilya ng Katipunan

De Guzman, Donnabie

Fabre, Caryl

Ravina, Almer Lianne Shaine

Zaballero, Angela Rafaela

Zaballero, Kezia Keren

The Kartilya ng Katipunan was penned by Andres Bonifacio in 1896 who was
the Father of the Philippine Revolution, and once the President of the Supreme
Council of the Katipunan. It is a list of duties and responsibilities to be followed
strictly by every member of the organization. It constituted a decalogue, and
embodied Bonifacio’s passionate beliefs. Bonifacio would later adapt Emilio
Jacinto’s Kartilya as the official teachings of the Katipunan in admiration of his
literary style. These are some of the principles that the Kartilya ng Katipunan.

"Do not waste time: wealth can be lost and recovered; but time that already passes
will not pass again."

Nothing in this world is constant except change. We may not want things to just
pass by but we can't do anything for it to stop and remain the same. In our daily life
we deal with change uncontrollably. It is a fact that no one can bring back time the
way it is. What happens now happens only just for now and from that, we must live
and savor every moment of our lives.With regards to the Kartilya ng Katipunan, the
seventh rule gives importance to time. A Katipunero must give importance to time.
For the Katipunan, a time that is lost will never be back. Just like in our day to day
living, we people as bypassers shall know how to live life without regrets afterwards.
We cannot bring back the past, all we have is the need to live in the present for the
upcoming future. Wasting it won't make progress within us, it will just cause trouble
and delays. Knowing that time is gold, it contributly teach us to be more flexible and
responsible on the way we handle life and situations. It reminds us how every
second is essential. We should never use time in chasing wealth or any earthly
things around us because it can totally be retrieved and somehow we can't bring
that all the way in our journey. Let's focus on the things that is more relevant.

Even though time has its own setbacks for us humans trying to be alive in
everything we do, it also teaches us insights in realizing how great it is to experience
an imperfectly perfect world that will later on becoming memories to be remembered
through time. At some point, time as it is makes us realize how beautiful life is. It all
takes time to appreciate what we have and when we do, it would then be as simple
as loving and accepting the things God intended for us. It is indeed a huge lesson-
bringer. We have to really use time efficiently with its own vitality. We must not
waste the time we have, instead treasure it; do things that will definitely result to
good things and of course avoid doing evil. We live only once, let's make the most
out of it. Let us be alive by making good deeds inspired by following God's will and
sharing it with his people.

"The intelligent person is one who is careful in all that he or she says; and learns to
keep secret that which should be kept in confidence."

It vividly states that a wise man is someone who is cautious or careful with
everything he says and has the ability to keep things that are intended to be kept in
secret. It is not always necessary to tell things, to utter words that evokes
someone’s feelings or ideas or the knowledge you are contained because some
things are best untold. It is always essential to scrutinize the words that one delivers.
A wise man was connoted as a man who is able to control his words, additionally, a
man who learns to keep secret things that are necessary to be kept. However, in
Mark 4:22 says ‘For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was
anything kept secret but that it should come abroad.’ Yes nothing will stay hidden,
but a wise man will know when and where is the right time to keep things and
thoughts hidden. In today’s society, being a wise man is a must. We have to be
careful of our words and we need to keep things that are needed to be kept. For
example, in juridical matters, confidential cases, unforbidden teachings of such
institutions, organizations or religious affiliation if there may.
Being a wise man as one of the Katipunan teaching protects and promote goodly
character which benefits all.

"Thou must not look upon woman as a mere plaything, but as a partner and
sympathetic companion in the hardships of life; in your strength, consider her weakness,
and remember the mother who birthed thee and reared thee."

It talks about never regarding a woman as a plaything, but rather a man should
consider her as a partner and a friend in times of need. And that whenever a
Katipunero sees a woman, he will remember his mother who nurtured him. This
shows equality between men and women, women should also be respected as a
person for without women men would not grow healthy and become adults. In
relation to this day, many men use women to satisfy their pleasures and desires.
Respect for women gradually fades, just like before women have to beg and fight for
their rights. More women struggle to inspire and empower their fellow women to be
strong and never let men manipulate them into their wants.

"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."

The twelfth principle gives importance to every actions that one has to make. A
Katipunero must not do the things that he does not want to be done to him or to his
family. This also means that we should think and act wisely according to what is
right and proper. We should be thinking and reflect on what other people would feel
about your actions towards them for every action have a corresponding effect on
people's feelings. If you do good to others, conflict and misunderstanding will be
avoided and also good things will also happen to you. According also to Confucius'
golden rule, which is quite similar to the twelfth principle, the “Golden Rule” or ethic
of reciprocity simply means treat others as you would like to be treated. Be kind and
help others just because it makes your soul smile. This golden rule of ethics only
demands that we see beyond ourselves and are willing to treat others better than
they treat us at times. It is about love and it comes with no reward, revenge or
recognition desired. It requires discipline, patients, and strength to love ones enemy.
I believe that kindness is contagious on every continent. All humans have an innate
sense of morality, of what is right and wrong. It is only by our free will that we ignore
this sense. It is however, that same free will that allows us to change our actions
and reactions to others. We should be good to others and do the right thing.

Therefore, although we may have different interpretation with the codes and rules
for the members of the organization to follow, there is a universal theme that we can
learn in their code and that is to guide us in living our everyday life to its fullest. It
also teaches us the importance of having the right attitude towards other people no
matter black or white, rich or poor, beautiful or not.