The Katipunan Code of Conduct
by Emilio Jacinto
The following is the English translation of
Jacinto's Cartilla by Gregorio Nieva. In
popularizing the Tagalog original through the
monthly holding of small-group solemn
commemorations called Pagtitipon ng mga
Anak ng Bayan the Kampanya para sa
Kamalayan sa Kasaysayan (KAMALAYSAYAN) suggests for the tenth point here the
substitution of the word "parents" for "man" and the
cleletion of woman from those being guided. This
enumeration of points reflected the stark gender
imbalance of the period and would run afoul with
present-day feminists; but the tenth point is really
about the responsibility of guiding, in the present
case, both parents together.
THE LIFE THAT IS NOT consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose
is a tree without a shade, if not a poisonous weed.
To do good for personal gain and not for its
own sake is not virtue.
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.
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.
The honorable man prefers honor to
personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.
To the honorable man, his word is sacred.
Do not waste thy time: wealth can be reco-
vered but not time lost.
Defend the oppressed and fight the
oppressor before the law or in the field.
The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping
secrets.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 everlastingjoy 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.
From Health Alert 135, November 1992
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