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. 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 i nstead of his own draft of the Dekalogo ng Katipuanan (Katipunan Code of Conduct). Do you find this decision sound? How are their t heir perspective different and alike? Andres Bonifacio originally intended that his Decalogue should be printed and handed to new recruits, but he then read Jacinto’ Jacinto’s s Kartilya and decided it was superior also in his admiration of Jacinto’s literary style. 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 Jacinto’s was four times longer, rather as a statement of aspiration and ethical ethi cal values that contains twelve guiding principles and fourteen teachings. 4. Why can the Kartilya Ka rtilya 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 country’s culture and tradition to show genuine love for it. And, teachings like this are what the Kartilya contains.