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DOCUMENTS
OF THE Katipunan |
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Membership documents Initiation rites Source: Philippine Insurgent Records, L.R.53
(Microfilm reel no.160) |
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This document offers the fullest, most exact
depiction of KKK initiation rites yet located, giving the stage directions and
script for each of the officers involved – Brothers President, Sentinel,
Terrible, Secretary, Treasurer and Fiscal.
The document also prescribes how the routine business of KKK meetings
is to be handled – at the door Brother Sentinel will ask everyone to show the
secret signs before letting them enter; Brother Terrible will post look-outs
to ensure the meeting is not disturbed; Brother Secretary will read the
report arising from the previous meeting; and Brother Treasurer will give a
financial report, and then pass round the collection pouch, the suput ng saklolo. There is no reason to suppose the initiation rites
detailed here were atypical, but it is not known how widely they were
observed in precisely this form, because practices changed over time, and
varied from branch to branch. In the
months immediately prior to August 1896, the Katipunan seems generally to
have adopted shorter, simpler rituals in order to cope with the dramatic,
unprecedented surge in recruitment. [1] The ritual set out here would manifestly
have taken a long time, especially if several recruits were being initiated
at once, which might suggest the document dates from before 1896. This impression is supported by the wording
of the questions the initiates are asked about pre-colonial times, Spanish
rule and the future, which differs from the prescribed formula (“¿Ano ang kalagayan
nitong Katagalugan ng unang panahun?”
etc.) known to be in use by early 1896.
It may be, however, that the slips on which the prescribed formula was
printed had not reached whoever wrote this document, so we cannot be
sure. The proceedings begin outside the inner door of the
Lodge, where the initiate is blindfolded.
Brother Terrible places a dagger at his throat, demands to know what
he wants, and who told him about the society.
The initiate then knocks on the door of the Lodge and is permitted to
enter. Once inside he is stripped to
the waist by Brother Secretary, who records any identifying marks on his
body, and questioned at length by Brother President about his family
background, means of livelihood, religious persuasion, and masonic or other
affiliations. The initiate is also
asked to confirm that he recognizes the hardships KKK members must
endure. If he does, he is taken by
Brother Terrible on a symbolic hazardous journey along dark tunnels or across
fast-flowing rivers. Then he is
escorted to the “Chamber of Reflection,” a small room or partitioned-off area
draped in black cloth, on whose walls hang pictures depicting the fate of the
Tagalogs under Spain. [2] Here the initiate is asked to sit at a desk
and answer, in writing, seven questions about the people’s condition in the
past, present and future. After he has
finished this task, he faces further verbal questioning, this time from
Brother Fiscal, about the measure of his manly fortitude, and as a final
“trial” he is ordered to kill a member who has betrayed the society. The document ends at this point, but
presumably the initiate would thereafter be formally accepted into the Lodge, be asked to draw blood from his arm and sign his
oath of allegiance. Accounts of KKK initiations to be found in the
secondary literature[3],
based principally on Isabelo de los Reyes’ Sensacional memoria,
seemingly describe the abbreviated, “1896” variant of the rites, which had
just four stages – the written test in the “Chamber of Reflection”; a brief
caution from the Brother Terrible; the “trials”; and the signing of an oath
in blood. [4] On the walls of the “Chamber of Reflection”, in this
variant, there are not pictures but signs, each bearing an admonition: “Kung
may lakas at tapang, ikaw’y makatutuloy” (”If you
are strong and brave, you may proceed”); “Kung ang pag-uusisa ang nagdala sa iyo
dito’y, umurong ka” (“If
curiosity has brought you here, you should depart”); and “Kung di ka marunong pumigil ng iyong
masamang hilig, umurong ka: hindi kailan man ang pintuan ng Maykapangyarihan
at Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng
mga Anak ng Baya’y bubuksan
dahil sa iyo” (If you do not know how to control your bad desires,
the doors of the Sovereign and Respected Association of the Sons of the
People will never be opened to you.”) [5] Having been led to the Chamber, the
initiate is instructed to sit at a dimly-lit desk on which there is a human
skull, a loaded revolver and a machete.
There is also a pen, some ink and the questions, pared down to only
three: “¿Ano
ang kalagayan nitong Katagalugan ng unang panahun?”
(“What was the condition of Katagalugan in early
times?”); “¿Ano ang kalagayan sa ngayon?” (“What is its condition now?”); and “¿Ano ang magiging
kalagayan sa darating na panahun?”
(“What will be its condition in the time to come?). Having been coached beforehand, says De los Reyes, the
initiate was expected to answer to the first question to the effect that the
Filipinos had their own civilization before the Spaniards arrived. They had artillery; wore clothes of silk;
enjoyed political liberty; maintained diplomatic and commercial relations
with their Asian neighbours; and had their own
religion and alphabet. To the second question, the answer
should affirm that the Spaniards, specifically the friars, had done nothing
to advance the civilization of the Filipinos; indeed they saw civilization
and enlightenment as incompatible with their own interests. They taught the catechism, but offered the
people no spiritual depth. They
lavishly celebrated religious festivals, but expected the people to bear the
cost. They abused their power and
privileges; they were oppressors. To
the third question, about the future, the initiate should confidently predict
that with faith, courage and perseverance all the country’s evils would be
overcome. The initiate is then escorted from the “Chamber of
Reflection” and brought before the Brother Terrible, who cautions him that he
is about to take a very momentous step, and advises him to withdraw if he
doubts that he possesses the necessary resolve. If
the initiate persists in his wish to join the society, he is formally
presented to the assembled brethren and asked to prove his mettle by
undergoing the “trials”. He might be
blindfolded, handed a revolver and ordered to shoot dead a supposed “enemy”,
who would of course safely absent himself before the bullet was fired. He might be led to believe his skin was to
be scorched with naked flames. Pio Valenzuela testified that at his initiation, again
whilst blindfolded, he had been asked to throw himself forwards onto the tip
of a dagger that had been placed on his chest. Then he had been handed the dagger, led to
a man – doubtless an “enemy” or “traitor” - who he found by touch to be
seated, and ordered him to stab him to death. [6] Far from being intimidated or repelled by these
trials, De los Reyes writes, initiates were reportedly moved to tears by deep
emotion and enthusiasm. They were
overcome because they were joining a society that pledged to liberate their
country from its present lamentable situation, and to win it a brilliant
future. If the initiate passed the trials, finally, he would
be led to another “room” or partitioned-off area, where he would be asked to
sign an oath of membership in blood drawn from his left forearm. Katipunan rituals are often described as
“quasi-Masonic,” and rightly so. Their
main model, beyond question, was the ritual followed in Manila’s Masonic
lodges. They also blindfolded their initiates, placed daggers at their
breasts, escorted them to the “Chamber of Reflection” for written tests, took
them on symbolic journeys, put them through “trials”, and perhaps ordered
them to “kill the traitor”. They also
guided their initiates from “blindness” to “enlightenment,” and insisted they
cast aside “bad desires”. The authors
of the Katipunan’s rites, very likely Masons themselves, even replicated some
of the fine detail of Masonic ritual. One of the signs mentioned by De los
Reyes, for instance, “If curiosity has brought you here, you should depart”
was identical to a sign used in Masonic initiations. When the candidate Mason was led to the
inner door of the Lodge, for instance, he was expected, as here, to knock in
an “irregular” manner, in other words in the manner of someone who was not
yet a brother. Before the candidate
was subjected to the “trials,” he would be advised, as here, to withdraw if
he felt fearful. [7] But there were also obvious differences between the
Masonic and Katipunan rituals. In the
Masonic lodges, it would appear, the proceedings
were invariably conducted in Spanish, whilst the KKK, at least in Manila,
invariably used Tagalog. The leading
officers of a Masonic lodge were known as the Venerable Maestro, Vigilante (Primero and Segundo), Orador, Secretario and Tesorero, not as
the Pangulo, Taliba etc. [8] The questions asked of candidate masons in
the “Chamber of Reflection” were about man’s duties to God, his fellow men
and himself, not about the state of the nation. And when lectured on their duties as
Masons, most strikingly, the initiates were instructed to “observe the laws
of the country”. [9] Recruits to the Katipunan, by contrast,
were embraced by their brethren as fellow outlaws. › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › |
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Tagalog text Pagbubukas ng Karurukan ------ ng ----- K.K.K.N.M.A.N.B ------------------------------- Sa paglapit sa pinto ng Karurukan, ay magpakilala
sa Taliba, kung pauang kapatid, alinsunod sa mga hudiatang lihim, sapagkat
kung hindi makapagpakilala, bukod sa di pasukin, ay ibibilango pa. Ang Tagausig, ang siyang namamahalang maglagay ng
mga tanod sa paliguid liguid ng Karurukan. Kung narating na ang oras na taning na pagbubukas
ng Mahal na Karurukan, at nakaupo na ang lahat sa kanikanilang dapat upoan,
ang Pangulo ang magsasalita ng gayon: Pangulo = Kapatid na Taliba, napasiyasat na baga
ninyo ayon sa mga hudiatang lihim, kun ang mga kaharap ay pauang mga Kapatid? Taliba = Oo po Kapatid na Pangulo, ang mga kaharap
ay pauang mga kapatid. Pangulo = Kapatid na Tagausig, guinaua na baga
ninyo ang mga karapatan sa Mahal na Karurukan? Tagausig = Oo po, Kapatid na Pangulo, may mga
kapatid ng tumatanod ng ating kapayapaan. Pangulo = Kung gayon, yayamang ganap na ang lahat
ng nararapat sa pagbubukas ng ating Mahal na Karurukan, tayo’y, magsitindig
at sumaayos, Minamahal kong mga Kapatid. Kung sila’y, nakatindig na at nakaayos magsasalita
ang Pangulo ng susunod: Pangulo = Sa ngalan ng Bayang pinaghahadugang lubos
ng Ating linalayon, ipinauunawa kong bukas na Ang Mahal ng Karurukan ng
M.A.N.B. Kung matapos mauika ito, ang Pangulo ay magsasaysay
muli ng gayon: Pangulo = Tayo’y magsiupo, mga kapatid, at simulaan
nating pagtalakayan ang mga bagay bagay na ikalalauig at ikaaayos ng K.K.K.
natin. Kung
pagkabukas ng Karurukan ay dahil lamang sa karaniwan (Junta Ordinaria) ang
Pangulo ay maguiuika: Pangulo = Kapatid na Kalihim, mangyari ngang
basahin ninyo ang kasulatang ibinangon sa kahuli huliang pagkapulong natin. Kalihim = Sa bayan ng
-----------------------------------etc etc ---------------ika --------ng
------------- ng taong -----------------------etc etc Pangulo = Mga kapatid, napagtalastas na baga ninyo
ang nasasabi sa kasulatan ng ating huling pagkatipon? ¿Uala na
bagang dapat idagdag o alsin ? Dito nila
pag-uusapan, ang kung ualang dapat bagohin, kanilang pagpipilmahanan; ngunit
kung mayroroon, ibobota [?] ng Kalihim sa dulo ng kasulatan, at saka nila
pagpipilmahanan. Kung
matapus na ang bagay na ito, ay kanila ng sisimulaan ang pag-uusap sa mga
bagay na nararapat sa pagka katipong ito, at kung uala na silang
pagtalakayan, bago sila nagsitindig, ang Tagaingat-yaman, ay igagala niya sa
bauat isa sa mga kapatid ang suput ng saklolo at saka niya bibilangin sa
harapan ng lahat ng matipon. Kung ito
maganap na, ang Pangulo ang magsasalita ng sumusunod: Pangulo:
Kapatid na Tagaingat-yaman, inyo ngang ipahayag ang kabooan ng
salaping inyo ngayon ini-ingatan at gayon din, ang pinaggugulan ng iba’t,
ibang bagay buhat sa huling pagkapulong hangan ngayon. Ipahahayag
lahat ng Tagaingat-yaman ang mga bagay bagay na ikalilinis ang [?] kaniyang
tinataglay na tungkol. Kung ang
pagkabukas ng Karurukan, ay dahil sa may mga nasang makisanib, pagkatapus
masalita ng Pangulo ang “Tayo’y magsiupo etc. etc., ay maguiuikang sumusunod: Pangulo = Kapatid na Kalihim, inyo ngang ipahayag
sa lahat ang mga ngalan ng mga nagnanais makisanib dito sa K.K.K.N.M.A.N.B. Kalihim = Fulano etc. Pangulo = Sino baga sa inyo, mga Kapatid, ang
nakatatalastas sa mga taong itong nakikisanib, kung paano ang kanikanilang
buhay at pamumuhay? Kanilang
dadalisaying magaling ang buhay at pamumuhay ng baua’t isa sa mga
nakikisanib, at pagkatapus, magsasalita ang Pangulo, ng sumusunod: Pangulo = Ngayon at atin ng napag-unaua ang mga ugali
ng mga makikipagisa sa atin, atin ngang sila’y ipailalim sa mga mahihigpit na
subuk na dinadaanan ng lahat, na sa Katipunang ito’y pumapasok. Samantalang
pinagdadalisayan sa Karurukan, ang mga buhay at pamumuhay ng mga nakikisanib,
ang Mabalasik, ay tatanung niya ng isa’t, isang sa mga nakikisanib na
nakapiring ng kanilang mga mata, ng mga sumusunod na tanong: Mabalasik = ¿Ikaw
ay sino? Kasabay
ng pagsasalita niya, ay kaniyang ilalagay sa may lalamunan ng sino mang nakikisanib,
ang dulo ng kaniyang taglay na bararaw. Nakikisanib = Fulano de tal. Mabalasik = ¿Ano ang
dito’y, iyong hinahanap? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Napabatid mo baga, kapagkaraka’y, dito
iyong matatagpuan ang hinahanap? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = ¿Sino
ang may sabe sa iyo? Pagkasabi
niya nito, ang dulo ng bararaw, ang kaaalsin sa pinaglalamunan, at ilalagay
sa may sikmura. Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Sino ang nagbunsod sa iyo at nagkaroon
ka ng gayong hangad? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Di mo baga nababatid na kapagkarakang
ikao’y, masanib sa Katipunang ito, ikaw ay mabibingit sa katakot takot na
kapahamakan, gaya ng matapon sa iba’t, iba o malayong lupa, o ang maualay,
kaya sa piling ng iyong pinakaguiguiliw na asaua’t, anak o kapatid kaya ¿hindi ka
baga natatakot? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Di ka nalalaguim na dumaluhong sa
gayong karami’t ualang pag itan na kamatayan? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Ikaw ay magtapat. Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Kung gayon na ikaw ay napapumilit
mapakisanib sa Katipunang ito, ikaw ay sumama. Kung
matapos na niya ang lahat, at pag kauay ng Taliba sa kaniya, ay kaniyang
akayin ang mga nakikisanib at pagdating sa pinto ng Karurukan, ay tutuktok ng
paano paano, sa makatuid, tuktok ng hindi nasasanib pa. Ang
Pangulo pagkarinig [?] niya ang gayong pagtauag ay magpasalitang .....[?]...
ng sumusunod: Pangulo = Kapatid na Taliba sa pinto ng Karurukan
may tumatauag na di kakilala. Mga
kapatid, ihanda ang inyong mga sandata, at tila may sasalakay sa atin na di
kaalam. Silang
lahat ay magsisitindig at bubunutin nila ang kanilang mga bararaw, at sa
ganitong anyo, magsasalita ang Pangulo = Kapatid na Taliba inyong tingnan kung
sino, at tuloy itanong kung ano ang ibig. Paparoon
ang Taliba at pagdating niya sa may pinto, ay magsasalita ng gayon. Taliba = ¿Sino
kayo? Mabalasik = Ako po Kapatid na Taliba, may akay na
mga taong buhat sa lusak ng pagkaalipin, inagaw sa kuko ng bulag,
kapagkatapos ay naglagos sa balabalaking kapansanan at kapahamakan, ngayo’y,
naririto’t, tumatauag sa Mahal na pinto ang na [?] iyo pong tinatanuran at
hinahanap ang Kalayaan. Taliba = Kung gayon, kayo’y, magantay. Paparoon
sa harap ng Pangulo at kaniyang ipagsasaysay ang kaniyang narinig ng sagot;
[?] matapus niyang masabi, ay magsasalita ng susunod ang Pangulo = Kung gayon, inyong papasukin, si Kapatid
na Mabalasik at hingian ng hudiatang lihim, at kung siya’y, tunay na kapatid,
ay kaniyang ipasok dito ang mga akay, kaya kaya [?] po Kapatid na Tagausig ng
[?] pakingang [?] akbayan si Kd. na Taliba at ng [?] may aagapay [?] sa mga
taong kasama sapagkat kung ang nagdala rito ay di makapagpakilala, nahiya’y
[?] tunay na Kd. siya at kasamahan niya, inyong ibilango, at ng mautas natin
ang kanikanilang mga hininga, at sinisira ang ating kapanatagan. Gagawin
nilang lahat ang natatagubilin, at kung ipasok na nila, ay itutuloy sa harap
ng Pangulo, at ito maguiuika ang sumusunod: Pangulo = Kapatid na Kalihim, inyong hubaran ng mga
baro, itong mga taong naririto, at inyong itala ang kanilang pangala’t mga
pangalawang pangala sampu ng tandang pagkakilanlan sa katauan nila. Aakayin
ng Kalihim ang mga nakikisanib at ilalayo sa harap ng Pangulo at saka niya
gaganapin ang natatagubilin sa itaas nito, at pagkagawa, sa harap [?] naman
niya sa Pangulo ang lahat ng taong nakikisanib at tuloy iyayabot niya ang
talaan ng ngala’t, tanda ng baua’t, isa, at sa pagaabot ay mag-uiuika ang Kalihim = Naganap ko na po ang inyong itinungkol sa
akin at naito na silang lahat pati talaan ng kanilang mga ngala’t, mga
pangalawang pangalan pati tandang nakita ko sa kanilang mga katauan. Aabutin
ng Pangulo, at tatauaguing niya ang isa sa kanila, kung sila’y marami, at ang
iba’y, ilalayo muna ng Taliba hangang di niya tauaguin, at sa tinauag, ay
tatanungin ng Pangulo ng gayon mga sumusunod, at isusulat naman ng Kalihim
ang mga sagot. Pangulo = Ikaw baga, kababayan, tunay na
si............... Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Alin bagang bayan at hukuman dito sa Filipinas
ang iyo pong tinuboan? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = ¿Ano
bagang mga pangalan ang inyo [?] pong mga magulang? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Buhay po baga ang iyo pong ama’t, ina. Nakikisanib = Pangulo = May kapatid po kayong buhay? At kung mayroroon
ano po ang pangalan? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Ikao po baga ay ano ang kalagayan at ilan
ka pong taong edad? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Ikao po baga murong bumasa’t, sumulat? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Ano po bagang pinagkakakitaan ng
ikabubuhay? Nakikisanib = Pangulo =
Ano bagang pinananaligan ninyong religion? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Uala baga kayong kinasasanibang ibang
Katipunan, gaya baga ng Masoneria? Nakikisanib = Pangulo =
Ano pa ang inyong pakay at kayo’y, maparito? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Sa pakikisanib sa Katipunan ito, ay
marami at sarisaring hirap na pagdadaanan, at lalot higuit kung nasasanib na,
¿Ano kababayan, na hahanda baga ang inyong loob sa
magdauas ng hirap? Nakikisanib = Pangulo =
Kung gayon, humanda kayo.
Kapatid na Mabalasik gawin ninyo ang inyong tungkol sa dito [?]
kababayang nakikisanib sa K.K.K. natin. Kukunin
ni Mabalasik at kaniyang pasusutin sa isang lunga o paduluksulim [?] kaya sa
isang maluat na [?] ilog o balou [?], at pagkatapus niya nito, kaniyang
papasukin sa silid ng panilayan, at doon niya iiwan, ngunit kaniyang
ipagbibiling [?] na aalsin ng taong nakikisanib ang piring ng mga mata niya,
pagkasiya nakarinig ng apat na tuktok sa pinto. Ang
tinatauag na Silid na Panilayan, ay isang maliit na natatabuigan, ang boo
niyang paliguid liguid, ng itim na damit, at nagbitin dito, ang ilang cuadro:
Ang sa
isa’y, makikitang [?] napipinta ang isang punong malpabong na mangga na
humihitik ng bunga, at sa may puno ay ang karamihang taong mukang tagalog na
lahat, at sa baba [?] nila mababasa ang ganito: Ang sa
ikalaua ay ang punong manga ring nakilala [?] sa unang cuadro, ngunit ang mga
na sa silong niya, ay mga mukang Kastilang lahat at sila’y, nagsisikainan ng
bunga at ang mga inu-upoan at yinayapakan, ay mga taong tagalog: makabasa sa
cuadrong ito ang sumusunod: Ang
ikatlo ay isang mag-asauang tagalog; na ang babae ay nasa sinapupunan ng
isang Frayle nakayapos na totoong mahigpit at pinipilit, ay dito mababasa ang
sumusunod: Ang
ikapat ay isang bunong may namamarko ang tama ng bala sa noo, at dito
mababasa ang sumusunod: At ang na
sa harapan ng isang dulang na munti, ay isang taong taganas na buto na uala
nang balat ni man man [?] pati ulo, at namamasdan sa kaniya, ang mga butas na
dinaanan ng bala, ang nangabaling buto sa hampas na tinangap ng siya
nabubuhay pa, at dito mababasa ang mga sumusunod: Sa ibabaw
ng dulang na munti o mesita na siya ang pinakaaltar bukod sa may tintero’t,
pluma [?] papel na doon ay nakalagay na gayon ang mga nasasabi: Ano ang
kalagayan nitong ating lupa noong uala pa ang mga Kastila? ------------------------------- ------------------------------- ¿Paano ang mga pasunuran ng
mga tao baga mat di pa sila binyagan noon? ------------------------------- ------------------------------- Ano ang
lagay nitong Sangkapuluang Filipinas ngayo’t, nasa kapangyarihan ng mga
Kastila ? ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ¿Paano ngayon ang
pagpapasunuran ng mga tagalog sa kapua tagalog? ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Paano
naman ang pagsunod ng tagalog sa mga Kastila? ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Kung
sakalit maalis sa mga Kastila itong Filipinas at mapa sa pamamahala ng
tagalog na siyang tunay na may are, ¿ano kaya
ang maguiguing kalagayan? ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ¿Mag-iringan po kaya ang mga
tagalog kung sila ang may boong kapangyarihan sa tunay at sarili niyang
pagaare? --------------------------- --------------------------- Kung
inaakala ni Mabalasik na tapos na sa pagnilaynilay, ay kukunin [?] buksan ang
pinto ng Silid ng Panilayan, ay magsasalita ng gayon: Mabalasik = Kababayan ikao po baga ay natapos na ng
pagdinilaynilay at nakapiring na baga ang inyong mga mata? Nakikisanib = Mabalasik = Kung gayon, kayo sumama. Pagkalabas
sa pinto, ang Tagausig ay ituturok niya ang dulo ng kaniyang bararaw sa may
sikmura ng nakikisanib at tatanungin ng sumusunod: Tagausig = Kayo ba’y, lalake o babae? Nakikisanib = Tagausig = Kung gayon ang inyong mga salita at
gaua, ¿gawang
baga ng lalake? Nakikisanib = Tagausig = Kung gayon, ¿nahihia
baga kayong [?] di ninyo matupad o magawa ang inyong masabi o maypangako? Nakikisanib = Tagausig = Ituloy ninyo, Kapatid na Mabalasik sa
dapat pangiharapan [?] pa. Ang
Tagausig ay papasok sa Silid ng Panilayan at titingnan ang guinawa ng
nakikisanib at kung nasagot ang mga tanong na nasa ibabaw ng alta, ay
kaniyang kukunin at ihaharap sa Pangulo, at si Mabalasik ay ihaharap din sa
Pangulo ang taong nakikisanib. Mabalasik = Natapus na po Kd. na Pangulo ang
pagganap ko ng tungkol dito sa kababayang nakikisanib. Pangulo = Sa mga pahirap na inyong guinawa sa
kanila, uala baga kayong namasdang ano mang ikinaudlot ng kanilang loob? Mabalasik = Pangulo = Kung gayon sila’y, kinakaila magdaan pa
sa isang [?] bagay nadapat pagkakilanlan sa kanila; kaya kababayan, inyong
uliniguing mabuti itong aking ipagsasaysay: Sa
Katipunang ito ay baual na baual na ang kaniyang mga kalihiman ay ibabandual
ng sino mang nasasanib, sa kanino pamang
di kaalam at huag namang akalain na di malalaman ng Katipunang ang
magtataksil, sapagkat may mga palagay ding naguusig na lubhang mahihigpit na
kasamahan: ngayon may isang nasasanib, na nabibilango, dahil sa dalas ng
kaniyang dila at paharosharos ng gawa, ¿may
pangangako baga ninyong mapatay? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Mapipilmahan baga ninyo ang kasulatang
ibabangon sa pagpatay, at ng may lubos na panghauakan itong Katipunan, hindi lamang
sa inyo kundi sa pagkapagbigay ng tapat na parusa sa kaniyang kataksilan? Nakikisanib = Pangulo = Ilabas nga ninyo, Kd. na Taliba, ang
taksil na Kd. na nasa bilangoan at inyong ipahipo ang kaniyang katauan, dito
sa kababayang nakikisanib. Gagagawin
ng Taliba at tuloy magsasalita ng gayon: Taliba = Ito ang nasasanib na nababandual ng mga
kalihiman nitong Katipunan at ibig ipahamak ang iba pang mga kasamahan, iyo
pong hipoin [?] at nakagapos at may pakagat [?] pa sa bibig ng huag na siyang
makasigaw. Pangulo = Kapatid na Mabalasik, inyong ihatid ang
kababayang nakikisanib pati itong nabibilango sa lugal na pinagpapatayan at
doong ganapin ang parusang nararapat. ----- › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › › English translation Opening of the Lodge ------ of the ----- K. K. K. N. M. A. N. B ------------------------------- At the door of the Lodge, everyone
will make themselves known to the Sentinel by giving the secret signs. Anybody who is not recognised, aside from
not being admitted, will be imprisoned.
The Fiscal is in charge of posting
look-outs around the Lodge. At the agreed hour for the opening
of the Respected Lodge, and when everybody is seated in their designated
places, the President will speak thus: President
= Brother Sentinel, Have you checked by means of the secret signs that all
those present are brothers? Sentinel
= Yes Brother President, those present are all brothers. President
= In that case, everything necessary has been done for the opening of our
Respected Lodge. Let us stand and come
to order, my dear Brothers. Once they have stood and come to
order, the President will say the following:- President
= Let us be seated, brothers, and commence our discussion of various matters
concerning the expansion and good order of our K. K. K. If the Lodge has been opened
solely for an ordinary meeting (Junta Ordinaria)
the President will say: President
= Brothers, do you approve what is said in the report of our previous
meeting? Is there anything that should
be added or deleted?
The Treasurer will then give an
accurate account of the matters for which he has responsibility. President
= Brother Secretary, you shall announce to everyone the names of those here
who wish to join the K. K. K. N. M. A. N. B. They verify that the lives and
livelihoods of each candidate are honest and genuine, and afterwards the
President will speak as follows:- President
= Now we have gained some idea of the character of those who wish to unite
with us, we shall subject them to the arduous trials that lie in the path of
all those who enter this Katipunan. Terrible = You are who? Candidate = Juan de la Cruz. Candidate
=
Candidate
= Candidate
= Terrible
= Do you not know that once you have joined this Katipunan
you will be at the threshold of the most frightful dangers, such as being
exiled to various faraway places or being separated from your most beloved
spouses, children, brothers and sisters.
So, are you not afraid?
President
= Brother Sentinel, there are strangers at the door of the Lodge. Brothers, prepare your weapons. These people who we don’t know might attack
us.
The Sentinel will go there, and
when he is at the door, he will speak thus. President
= If that is so, you shall let the Brother Terrible enter, and ask to see the
secret signs. If he is truly a brother,
he may enter here with those he is leading.
Brother Fiscal, put your arm around Brother Sentinel’s shoulder and
stand together with the others, because if those brought here are not
recognised the Brother [Terrible] and his companions will be shamed, you
shall imprison them, we shall extinguish their breath, and our tranquillity
shall be destroyed. These instructions will be
implemented. If [the candidates] are
permitted to enter they will go and stand before the President, who will say
the following: President
= Brother Secretary, strip the shirts from these people here, and record
their names, second names, and any identifying marks on their bodies. The Secretary will lead the
candidates away from the President and fulfil the above instructions. Then, standing before the President again,
he will hand over the list of names, the marks of each one, and thereafter
will say the President
= Are you, compatriot, truly...............?
Candidate
= Candidate
= Candidate
=
President
= Are you not a member of some other organisation, like Masonry? Candidate
= The Terrible will take [the
candidate] into a deep pit or tunnel, across a raging river or down a water
well. After this, he will let the
candidate enter the Chamber of Reflection, and there he will leave him,
instructing him to remove the blindfold from his eyes when he hears four
knocks on the door. And [a picture] in front of a
small table shows a person who is nothing but bones, who has no skin nor even
a head. On him may be seen holes where
bullets have penetrated, and yet there is still life in his fractured,
bludgeoned bones. And here may be read
the following: Upon the small table or desk,
which is the high altar, there is a pen, ink, and paper on which is written
the following: What was the condition of this
land of ours when the Spaniards were not yet here? --------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- Terrible = Compatriot, have you now finished your reflection,
and has the blindfold now been removed from your eyes? Candidate
= Outside the door, the Fiscal puts
the tip of his dagger to the stomach of the candidate and asks the following: Fiscal =
What are you, a man or a woman? Candidate
= Fiscal =
Proceed, Brother Terrible, with the presentations. The Fiscal will enter the Chamber
of Reflection and look at what the candidate has done. If he has answered the questions upon the
altar, [the Fiscal] will bring [the paper] and present it to the President,
and the Terrible will bring the candidate before the President. Terrible = Brother
President, I have now completed what I had to do here in relation to the
compatriots who wish to join. Terrible
= In this Katipunan it is strictly forbidden for any member to
disclose its secrets to any stranger. To
pass information to anybody outside the Katipunan
is an act of treachery which it is believed should be punished collectively
with the utmost severity. Here today
there is a member who we have detained because of the looseness of his tongue
and his despicable deeds. Will you promise to kill him? Candidate
= Candidate
= The
Sentinel will do as bid, and then speak thus: |
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