14 Rules of Kartilya ng Katipunan ni Emilio Aguinaldo

1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay

kahoy na walang lilim, kun di damong makamandang.

The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree
without
a shade, if not a poisonous weed.

The First code of conduct simple tells us that we must have a purpose-driven life.
We must know how to set our goals and find meaning to our life because without
knowing our purpose, we will suffer from unwanted situations.

2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi talagang

nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan

To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue.

This means that we must not be selfish. We must do good deed not to earn
praises but to show it with our whole heart because a deed done only for fame is
not worthy to be called good.

3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pagibig sa kapwa at

ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang katuiran.

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.
It gives us the real definition of true act of kindness – Being kind is simply seen
by the service and love one gives to his/her fellowmen without asking anything in
return.

4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay:

mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda…, ngunit di
mahihigtan sa pagkatao.

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 4th rule highlights EQUALITY. We are all born to be equal no matter what
rrace, status, and educational background we have. Our society may have
divided us into groups but we must all understant that no one is a superior of
anyone.

5. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may
hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
 The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.

A good person must understand that honoring oneself also means he or she
values honor rather than personal interest. True honor means having a high
moral standard behavior.

6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.

To the honorable man, his word is sacred.

The rule 6 tells us that we must be a man of our own words. Whatever said must
be done. We must do things that we promised because we can never take back
what we have been said so ” walk the talk “.

7. Huwag mong sayangin ang panahun: ang yamang nawala’y mangyayaring

magbalik; ngunit panahung nagdaan na’y di na muli pang magdadaan.

Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost.

Everyone must understand the importance of time. We usually focus ourselves

on worrying from different material things. This code of conduct tells us to
treasure time because we can never take it back. At the end we might end up
having regreting for the things we weren’t able to do. We have make use of our
time wisely.

8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi; kabakahin ang umaapi.

Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.

We don’t have the same strenghts but we can help one another. We must
choose to fight for what is right – Fight with the weak people who needs your
help and comfort and Fight those people who keep on putting others down by
oppressing them.

9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, at matutong

ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.

The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets

This highlights the importance of trust and comfidentiality. A wise man is a man
who thinks of what he says and keeps what is needed to be kept.

10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patugot ng asawa’t mga anak:
kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang pagtutunguhan ng inaakay ay
kasamaan din.
 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.

All of us needs to be a model for everyone because whatever they saw in us will
also be followed by the people who sees us. And a true man leads his family to
the right path by showing them that he is righteous.

11. Ang babai ay huwag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kun di isang
katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo nag boong
pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhatan at
nagiwi sa iyong kasanggulan.

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.

This principle is about women. That every woman deserves to be respected and
no man shall see them as an object nor a past time. Just like what they always
say, a man who don’t respect a woman do not respect his mother who gave him
birth. Girls deserve to be loved with full respect and care.

12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong gagawin
sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.

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.

Every action that any man do is important. Every action has its own
consequences. We must not do bad things against other people if we don’t want
other people to do bad things against us.

13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng
mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahalili ng Dios, wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa
balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking gubat at walang
nababatid kun di ang sariling wika, yaon may magandang asal, may isang
pangungusap, may dangal at puri; yaon di nagpapaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong
marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.

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.
The thirteenth principle is about having the right character and good values. A
Man’s life is not measured by what is his status in life nor with the things that he
possess. Instead, it is in his character and his love for the native land.

14. Paglagalap ng mga aral na itoat maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na
Kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkapuluan, at sabugan ng matamis niyang
liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi’t magkakapatid na ligayang walang
katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis
nang natumbasan.

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 everlasting joy 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.