Bahay Nakpil-Bautista: The Home that healed the Lakambini
These days, Quiapo would be the last place anyone would go to, unless one has an errand to buy in the market or in the stalls that are scattered along the boulevard beside the old Quiapo church. The unkept streets, the stench of the esteros full of litter, the danger of theft for passersby—these often cloud the historical significance of the place that was once a center of commerce, the political public square before Martial Law (Plaza Miranda), and the center of activity as an arrabal (suburb) of the Provincia de Manila during the Spanish Colonial Period.
Quiapo was a place for the affluent and the wealthy. Here, as with all the small towns across the islands, one can determine the influence and wealth of a family with the proximity of their house to the plaza, where the political control and power emanated (put in place by the reduccion system). Families like the Genatos, Aranetas, Legardas, Ocampos, Paternos, Zamoras, among others used to live in Quiapo. The Bautista-Nakpils were no exception, as the lot where their house was built, was situated a stones throw away from the plaza. They were a family of jewelers living in the district, with their very own jewelry shop Plateria Nakpil opened to the wealthy.
The Nakpil-Bautista House, where the Plateria Nakpil shop was also located, indeed boasts of history within its walls. During the American Colonial Period, Architect Arcadio Arellano built the house in 1914 for the couple Ariston Bautista Lin (1863-1928), the known physician, philanthropist and propagandist, and artist Petrona Nakpil. While the house was built years after the Philippine Revolution against Spain (which broke out in 1896), many of the people that lived here or visited the house were movers and leaders of the said revolution, the first nationalist revolution in Asia. Petrona Nakpil’s brother, Julio Nakpil, was one of the generals of the secret nationalist organization, the Katipunan. Julio was also a close friend of Katipunan president and founder Andres Bonifacio. Julio Nakpil was also the composer of The Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan, the anthem of the Katipunan, which could have been our national anthem, if not for the debacle at the Tejeros Convention and the subsequent execution of the Bonifacio brothers in 1897.
With Bonifacio’s demise at the hands of the military tribunal under Aguinaldo in Cavite on May 10, 1897, His wife, Gregoria de Jesus, became a widow. And despite the sorrow she felt, documented in numerous poems she wrote (one of which is published without a title), she found rest in the arms of Julio Nakpil. In her own words, Gregoria de Jesus tells us the story:
Ang ikalawa kong naging kaisang puso ay si Julio Nakpil. Kami ay ikinasal ng ika 10 ng Disiembre ng 1898. Siya ay naging kalihim ni Andres Bonifacio at siya ang iniwang tagapatnugot ng lahat ng tropa sa dako ng hilagaan at sila ang nagtapos ng pakikilaban sa Montalban at San Mateo, kaya ng siya ay humantong sa Pasig ay dito kami nagkatagpong muli at nagkasintahan at ang aming pagiisang puso ay ginanap sa matandang simbahan sa Quiapo ng mga katoliko at ng magkaroon ng Paz o Kapayapaan ang Revolucion Filipina ay pumisan kami sa tahanan ni Dr. Ariston Bautista, kilalang pilantropo, sa piling ng kanyang asawang Petrona Nakpil, kasama-sama rin ang aking bienan, mga hipag, bayaw at kami ay nagsamasamang parang tunay na magkakapatid na isang tiyan lamang ang pinagbuhatan. Ako'y may anak na walo sa nasabing pangalawang asawa: dalawa ang patay, Juana at Lucia, ang anim ay buhay, Juan F. Nakpil, Julia Nakpil, Francisca Nakpil, Josefina Nakpil, Mercedes Nakpil, Caridad Nakpil. Ang lahat ng iya'y halos si Dr. Ariston Bautista ang nagpaaral at nagpatapos sa anak kung lalaki. Ako'y inaring parang tunay na anak at kapatid hanggang siya'y tawagin sa sinapupunan ni Bathala.
[Translated Leandro H. Fernandez, Professor of History at the University of the Philippines, Philippine Magazine 27.1 (June 1930):
My second husband is Julio Nacpil. He was secretary to Andres Bonifacio and the one given command of all the troops in the north, which put an end to the fighting in Montalban and San Mateo. We met again as he retired to Pasig, fell in love with each other, and were later married in the Catholic Church of Quiapo, December 10, 1898. The Philippine revolution at an end and peace restored, we made our home with the well known philanthropist Dr. Ariston Bautista and his wife, Petrona Nacpil. With us also lived my mother-in-law, and brothers and sisters-in-law. Together we lived like true brothers and sisters, born of the same mother. By my second husband I have eight children, two of whom, Juana and Lucia, are now dead, and six, Juan F., Julia, Francisca, Josefina, Mercedes, and Caridad, are living. They were all sent to school by Dr. Ariston Bautista, who also made it possible for my son (Juan F.) to complete his studies, and who treated me like a daughter and sister while he lived.
Nobody knows what actually happened with Oriang (Gregoria de Jesus) during the unfair trial of Andres Bonifacio at Maragondon, Cavite. We are limited to the sources which are biased. Historians still debate if she was really raped. There was one moment however, when Teodoro Agoncillo was able to interview Gregoria de Jesus perhaps at this same house. Upon being asked on what happened during that time gap before Bonifacio’s execution when she was held up by the Magdalo faction, she just burst into tears.
According to the transcript of Bonifacio’s trial, signed by Pantaleon Garcia, Lazaro Makapagal and Gregoria de Jesus (but I must warn the reader that not all primary sources are impartial), this may have been the case, if one reads between the lines.
Asked if she knew of any order given by Andres to attack the government forces when they came back and to fire at them if they did not stop after three shouts of “stop,” she answered that she knew nothing about it.
The investigation ended at this point and she signed the document with the Secretary attesting to its correctness; the declarant further stated that after the bloody encounter, the people looked for her and when they found her, they asked her where the money was and when she was unable to say anything” about the money, Colonel Yntong ordered her to be tied to a tree and beaten. When his companions did not allow this, he forced her to enter a vacant house and asked for her engagement ring,”‘- twelve pesos and revolver bullets. When she had come out, they went to another house. Col. Yntong ordered all the people to come down and then asked her to go up. When she was in Indang she was again about to be tied [33a] but the order was not carried out because of the intervention of his own men. She signed her statement attested by the Secretary.
Source: Transcript of the Trial of Andres Bonifacio
It was safe to say that this house was where Oriang finally found solace from the horrors of war and revolution. When she married Julio Nakpil, Ariston Bautista and Petrona Nakpil eventually invited them in and opened their house to the couple.
There were scars that Oriang held till the end of her life, but it was in this house where she found her courage to start over. Oriang eventually raised her eight children, many of who became pioneers in their own field. Juan F. Nakpil, one of the eight children of Oriang and Julio, was named National Artist for Architecture in 1973. This house is now a museum of the achievements of Ariston Bautista, and the Nakpils, managed by the Bahay-Nakpil Bautista Foundation and the Nakpil family. There are many mementos displayed here and events that happened in this house. But if anything, this house should remind all of us of the strength of the Filipina, able to fight a revolution for her country, and courageous enough to start over and heal.
In celebration of the birth of Andres Bonifacio today, it is fitting to look back by visiting such places of history where significant milestones happened, or in this case, where hearts shattered found their courage to be mended.
Photos above: Photos I took during our visit at the house on March 2015.
Know more about the Philippine Revolution, and Philippine heritage sites.
Visit the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista!