Jacinto, Emilio, << hah SEEN toh or hah THEEN toh, eh MEE lyoh >> (1875-1899), was a Filipino revolutionist and adviser to Andrés Bonifacio, founder and leader of the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary army fighting for the Philippines’ independence from Spain. Jacinto died at age 24 after a battle with Spanish troops.
Jacinto joined the Katipunan in 1893. He wrote poems and essays encouraging the Filipino people to make sacrifices for the goal of an independent country. Among his most notable essays was “Liwanag at Dilim” (“Light and Darkness”), in which he warned the Filipinos against possible enemies. He founded and edited the newspaper Kalayaan, whose only issue helped swell the membership of the Katipunan from 300 in January 1896 to 30,000 in mid-March. Jacinto wrote his pieces in Tagalog, a local language on the island of Luzon. Tagalog is the language on which the modern Filipino language is based. He used pen names such as Pingkian and Dimas-Ilaw.
One of Jacinto’s most important contributions was the Kartilya, a primer for the members of Katipunan. The Kartilya consisted of 13 teachings considered necessary for the conduct of members. Among the rules emphasized were selflessness, reason, respect for women, justice, honor, and dignity.
Jacinto served as counselor to Bonifacio and as director of the printing shop and library of the Katipunan. In August 1896, immediately before the discovery of the Katipunan by the Spanish, Jacinto was elected secretary of state under Bonifacio, who was elected Supremo.
Jacinto was born on Dec. 15, 1875, in Tondo, Manila. He studied at the College of San Juan de Letran, receiving a B.A. degree in 1893. He also studied law at the University of Santo Tomas, but interrupted his studies to join the Katipunan. He was wounded while directing a campaign against the Spanish and died of malaria on April 16, 1899, in Majayjay, Laguna.
