Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Museum: A Homey Legacy of Heroism, Culture, and Artistry

April 18, 2024

The front entrance of Bahay-Nakpil Bautista Museum located at A. Bautista St. In Quiapo, Manila. (Photo by Hazel Historia/The Manila Warden) 

In the search for a cultural haven in the form of an ancestral home, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, located in Manila’s Quiapo district, is the perfect place to spend the weekend. 

Guests are permitted to visit and discover the bahay na bato of the married couple Julio Nakpil and Gregoria Bautista only on Saturdays, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

Aside from the standard entrance fee of P80, which includes a printed ticket, handouts, writing materials, and light refreshments such as fans, hands-on tour guides will stand by and help visitors maximize their visit.  

Despite being unmodified to accommodate persons with disabilities (PWDs) and with no airconditioned rooms, the 110-year-old house remains an attraction for its easy access by public transportation, room rentals for occasions, and merchandise booths. 

An Exhibition of Traditional Filipino Architecture 

Museum visitors on Saturday, April 6, listen attentively to Jaodel, a tour guide at Bahay Napkil-Bautista, as he explains the wall paintings. (Photo by Jauzen Juan/The Manila Warden) 

Inspired by the bahay kubo, the house is a perfect mix of stone and wooden houses. Originally, it had two ancestral house lots, but later, it was renovated and now has a total area of 500 square meters. 

The two-storey house has two gates, one for the street door and the other, a large iron gate, for horse carriages and workstation. Near the first gate is a mirror on the ceiling used for security purposes, equivalent to the modern surveillance camera. 

Influenced by European architecture, the house’s flooring was made of stones, while walls and foundations were designed as big pillars. 

China became the main exporter of pure graveyard stones, which are good balancers for ships and used for the floorings of old churches and the Bahay Nakpil since the Philippines only produces marble stones. 

Welcome mats are non-existent on the entrance floors of the house. Instead, Machuca tiles, a thin kind of tile whose colors permeate, were used to add color and design to the first steps of the abode. 

Art Noveau, an ornamental and geometrical art form, and Viennese Secession pointed flowers were also used as house decorations. 

The ground floor consists of the zaguan or a parking area, the descanso or receiving area for guests, which is now used as a reading and play area for children in the neighborhood, and the couple's bedroom.  

Arcadio Arellano, the architect of the house, was cognizant enough to ensure that the house was well-ventilated in accordance with the Philippines’ climate. 

The house's large living room is found on the upper level, where it formerly displayed the original Parisian Life painting by Juan Luna since it was a gift.  A grand piano is also found in the area since it also serves as an entertainment room. 

Nearby rooms were the plateria or the family’s jewelry-making business office, the patio, the comedor or dining area, the cocina or kitchen, a bedroom for single women that is now used as storage for Filipiniana books, and rooms that displayed Gregoria Bautista’s and the Katipunan’s life and possessions.   

Muwebles or the furniture seen in the house are either original pieces, reproductions, or donations from other houses, such as demolished mansions.  

Jaodel, a Bahay Napkil-Bautista tour guide since 2018, said that his favorite parts of the house were the broad grand stairs, the grillwork, and the woodwork.

History of the Nakpil-Bautista Family 

Portraits of the Napkil family hang on the walls of the mezzanine area of their house, which displays the growth of children and their passion for wearing costumes. (Photo by Hazel Historia/The Manila Warden) 

The ancestral house was once home to two families who have made prominent contributions to various aspects in Philippine history.  

Among the family members is Ariston Bautista Lin, a physician, philanthropist, and propagandist, an unsung hero whose contributions in the country has often been overlooked. He is recognized for his discovery a paregoric-like medication, which helped combat the cholera outbreak in the country.  

Ariston was not just a doctor but also a patriot and a propagandist. While completing his education in Europe, he crossed paths with notable Filipino propagandists including the country’s national hero Jose Rizal, along with Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Pedro Paterno, and Graciano Lopez Jaena, the same group of Ilustrados who spearheaded the first Filipino Mason Lodge in Barcelona in 1889. 

He also played a pivotal role as one of the co-founders of the Masonic Club or triungolo in Paris, under the patronage of the La Solidaridad No. 53, the exclusive Filipino lodge, along with Antonio Luna and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera.  

Upon Ariston’s return to Manila in 1896, he was arrested by the Spaniards for his involvement of the Propaganda movement and his financial support to the group.  

However, his patriotism does not end there. Following his release, Ariston became a delegate of the National Assembly of the Malolos Congress and was a signatory to the Malolos Constitution of 1899, which marked the beginning of first Philippine Republic. 

Despite the challenges he faced during his early years, he went on to dedicate his life to helping anyone he could, especially people from marginalized communities. With the importance of education in Ariston’s mind, he established several schools and scholarships to provide for the underprivileged children. In concern for people’s health and wellbeing, he also extended his support to hospitals by making donations.  

Meanwhile, in 1903, Ariston married Petrona Nakpil, one of the first female artists in Quiapo and a skilled jewelry designer. They eventually started a jewelry business known for its unique and intricate designs. The couple’s designs were inspired by the “flavors” of each passing month and year. However, the jewelries are not commercially available to the public since it is personalized, embodying the family’s legacy of artisanry. 

Among the residents of the house were the family of Petrona’s brother, Julio Nakpil. 

Back in his days, Julio was a self-taught musician and a composer. His exceptional skills caught the attention of people in power, and he was regularly asked to play the piano in Malacañang.  

Similar to Ariston, Julio was a revolutionist himself. At the onset of the revolution in the country, he was a member of the La Liga Filipina, an organization founded by Jose Rizal. In 1896, Julio was appointed as one of the commanders in the revolution in the north of Manila, along with Isidoro Francisco, under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio before he was later assassinated in 1897 by Emilio Aguinaldo’s men in Cavite.  

Through that, most of Julio’s compositions were greatly influenced by the revolution. Among his notable works is “Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan,” a piece that is said to be requested by Andres Bonifacio to serve as the Philippine National Anthem. He also wrote “Pasig Pataynin” in 1897, a tribute to the revolutionists and a patriotic march, “Biak na Bato,” in honor of his friend, General Teodoro Sandiko. 

A year after Andres Bonifacio’s execution, Julio met Gregoria de Jesus, widow of Bonifacio. Moved by a sense of loyalty, he took care of Gregoria. After some time, their relationship blossomed, and they married each other in 1898. The couple was blessed with eight children, however, they tragically lost two of their children. 

The area dedicated to Gregoria de Jesus' at Bahay Nakpil-Bautista also known as "Dambana ni Oriang." (Photo by Hazel Historia/The Manila Warden) 

Gregoria, who also goes by the name Oriang, was more than just a housewife, as seen by valiant journey as the Katipunan’s Lakambini. 

She became an active member of the Katipunan when she got married to Andres Bonifacio. She served as the safekeeper of the Katipunan’s documents and the vice president of the Katipunan’s Women Chapter. Whenever the authorities raided their place, Oriang would discreetly snatch away documents and arms of the Katipunan, concealing them in her clothes before going out for a ride.  

According to Jaodel, Oriang is also known for her expertise in the kitchen. She would often prepare traditional meals during special occasions, with her specialties including Pinatisang Alimango and Alimasag, Kangkong, and Kalabasa Salad. She is also a skilled in carving and would hand-carve her own cooking utensils.