Today, December 15, 2018, is the 143rd birth anniversary of Emilio Jacinto, the brain of the Katipunan.
Emilio Jacinto is the “Brain of the Katipunan” because of his writings for the Katipunan, which include the “Mga Aral ng Katipunan ng mga A.N.B.” and the most well-known “Kartilya of Katipunan”.
Andres Bonifacio has authored similar writing ” but decided that the writings authored by Jacinto which he admired would be the official attachment to the document of oath by anyone who will join the secret movement.
However, the most popular and adorable style of writing and illustration of “Liwanag at Dilim”, is a collection of essays that deals with democratic and anti-colonialists and presents the philosophical and moral background of a revolutionary association.
Jacinto, the brain of the Katipunan, was the editor of Kalayaan, the Katipunan newspaper, and the first issue alone attracted thousands of members.
He used the alias “Pingkian” in the movement. In Freedom, he also used the alias ” Dimasilaw.” In symbols, It manifested Jacinto’s extraordinary interest in light, to bring true light to the Filipino people and to his opposition to false “light”.
Bonifacio and other members of the Katipunan highly respected Jacinto, even though he was just 20 years old, he was elected secretary of the supreme council. He was also appointed as Bonifacio’s counselor and considered his youngest brother.
The Brain of the Katipunan, Emilio Jacinto was born on December 15, 1875, in Tondo, Manila. He is the son of Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dizon.
His father died when he was just a baby and he was adopted by his mother’s brother, Don Jose Dizon.
Emilio Jacinto studied at Colegio de San Juan de Letran and moved to University de Santo Tomas to take a law degree.
He did not finish the course because of his love for the people. When Andres Bonifacio was assassinated in Cavite, Jacinto persisted in fighting against the Spaniards but did not join General Emilio Aguinaldo’s army.
He was wounded in a Laguna battle and he was captured. He used his intellect to survive. He held in his hand the “cedula” of a Spanish spy and he impersonated the spy. When he was released, he returned to Manila to recover from his injury. But he did not refuse the Katipunan’s invitation to Laguna’s, so he went out again in the field to fight.
He contracted malaria and died in Majayjay, Laguna on April 16, 1899, at the age of 24. He is an excellent example of an intellectual warrior for national liberation.
Tinagurian si Emilio Jacinto na “Utak ng Katipunan” dahil sa mga sinulat niya para sa Katipunan, kabílang na ang “Mga Aral ng Katipunan ng mga A.N.B.” at higit na kilalang Kartilya ng Katipunan.
May ganito ring akda si Andres Bonifacio, ang “Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z.LL.B.,”
ngunit ipinasiya ng Supremo na ang hinahangaan niyang sinulat ni Jacinto ang opisyal na
ikabit sa dokumento ng panunumpa ng sinumang sasapi sa lihim na kilusan.Gayunman, higit na popular at hinahangaan ang estilo ng pagsulat at matalinghagang
nilalaman ng Liwanag at Dilim, isang koleksiyon ng mga sanaysay na tumatalakay sa mga
diwaing demokratiko’t kontra-kolonyalista at nag tatanghal sa pilosopiko’t moral na
sandigan ng isang rebolusyonaryong kapisanan.Si Jacinto ang editor ng Kalayaan, ang diyaryo ng Katipunan, at sa pamamagitan lámang ng
unang labas ay umakit ng libo-libong kasapi.Ginamit niyang alyas sa kilusan ang “Pingkian.” Sa Kalayaan, ginamit din niyang sagisag-panulat ang “Dimasilaw.” Sa mga sagisag lámang ay mahihiwatigan ang pambihirang hilig ni Jacinto sa liwanag, kung bagá, sa pagdudulot ng totoong liwanag sa kapuwa, at
sa pagsalungat sa huwad at mag-darayang “liwanag.”Napakataas ng paggálang ni Bonifacio at ng ibang miyembro ng Katipunan kay Jacinto,
kayâ kahit napakabatà, 20 anyos lámang siya nang sumapi, ay nahalal siyang kalihim ng
kataas-taasang sanggunian. Hinirang din siyang tagapayo ni Bonifacio at itinuring na
bunsong kapatid.Isinilang siya noong 15 Disyembre 1875 sa Tondo, Maynila at anak nina Mariano Jacinto at
Josefa Dizon.Namatay ang kaniyang ama noong sanggol pa siya kayâ ipinampon siya ng ina sa nakaririwasang kapatid na si Don Jose Dizon.
Nag-aral siya sa Colegio de San Juan de Letran at lumipat sa Unibersidad de Santo Tomas
upang kumuha ng abogasya.Hindi niya natapos ang kurso dahil sa tawag ng pag-ibig sa bayan. Nang pataksil na
patayin si Bonifacio sa Cavite, ipinag-patuloy ni Jacinto ang pakikibáka laban sa mga
Español ngunit hindi siya sumama sa hukbo ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo.Nasugatan siya sa isang labanan sa Laguna at nabihag. Ginamit niya ang talino upang
makaligtas. Nag-kataóng hawak niya ang sedula ng isang espiya ng mga Español at
nagpanggap na siya ang espiya. Nang makalaya, bumalik siya sa Maynila at doon
nagpagalíng. Ngunit hindi niya matanggihan ang anyaya ng mga Katipunero sa Laguna,
kayâ muli siyang lumabas sa larangan.Dinapuan siya ng malarya at namatay sa Majayjay, Laguna noong 16 Abril 1899 sa gulang
na 24—isang huwaran ng mandirigmang intelektuwal para sa pambansang kalayaan.(philippineculturaleducation)
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