Spotlight
50th Anniversary Edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Join us as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary Edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines! Hosted by[READ]
Friend of the Foundation
A friend of the foundation, historian Michael Charleston “Xiao” Briones Chua, proudly holds his copy of the limited 50th Anniversary Edition of The Philippines:[READ]
50th anniversary edition of ‘The Philippines: A Past Revisited’ book launched
Bernard Testa | September 1, 2025 | BusinessMirror Dr. Francis Navarro, commissioner of National Historical Institute and one of the events co-organizer told the[READ]
Spotlight
Merch alert!
A historian tote bag? Why yes. See more in our tent this Dec. 13 in support of QC’s Maginhawa Arts and Food Festival!
Pasts Revisited
Julio Nakpil
We remember today Julio Nakpil, born on 22 May 1897. He was a composer and, as a general in the Philippine Revolution, belongs to the pantheon of giants of the Filipino nation. Nakpil adopted the clandestine name J. Giliw. He led a full and meaningful life serving his people. His letter, dated 28 September 1897, is most interesting. Nakpil wrote the letter as the head of the revolutionary movement’s High Council to raise funds for the Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan four months after assassins carried out the order of Emilio Aguinaldo to execute Andres Bonifacio. According to the historian Jim Richardson, “Nothing in Nakpil’s letter alludes to the ‘Republica Filipina’ of which Aguinaldo had been elected president at the Tejeros convention in March.” Just as interesting, Nakpil was writing from Sta. Ana, which, said RIchardson, was “even closer to the seat of Spanish power” compared to late 1896 when the Sanggunian was based in Pasig. Even more interesting, one might expect the recipient of Nakpil’s fundraising letter to be “a wealthy resident of Sta. Ana, or of another suburb or town nearby.” But the letter’s addressee was Cipriano Ortiz, “the parish priest of Paete, Laguna, a Franciscan friar and, presumably, a Spaniard.” *
Julio Nakpil would eventually marry the Katipunan’s Lakambini, Gregoria de Jesus, the wife of Andres Bonifacio. They had eight children. (Two died in their infancy.) Nakpil would write in his memoirs about Aguinaldo’s orders to assassinate not just Bonifacio but also Gen. Antonio Luna.
Readers are encouraged to listen to Nakpil’s compositions, which are available on Spotify and Apple Music. Just type “Julio Nakpil” and look for his albums. According to BahayNakpil.org, “Several of Nakpil’s compositions were inspired by the revolutionaries’ struggle to regain freedom for the country. An admirer of Jose Rizal . . .” Nakpil wrote Pahimakas (1897), “a funeral march commemorating Rizal’s execution” while the piece Pasig Pantayanin (1898), he dedicated to the revolutionary forces.” Nakpil also wrote Pamitinan (1897), a song for revolutionaries “who went into hiding because of persecution.” Nakpil enlarged his Himno Nacional later into a grand march “to be played at the Rizal Monument, and changed its name to Salve Patria (1896).” Nakpil died on November 2 1960.
(Main image of the hero is from BahayNakpil.org and the poster art and layout is by Rica Dominguez)
Events
Videos
Stories
Keepers of Memory
by Red Constantino “[H]ow do we exist, save on the lips of our friends?” wrote Virginia Woolf to Molly MacCarthy on 11 June 1939. The day before, Woolf said, “you were absolutely incandescent.” After three days of a pewter sky came sunshine. Zachary See, an intellectual who hides the fact that[READ]
“Letizia Roxas Constantino, historian” by Ambeth Ocampo
Historian Ambeth R. Ocampo appreciated the exhibit when he dropped by the other week: "A recording of her playing the piano accompanied me as I walked through the exhibition. I felt like a child in a candy store, not knowing where to start or where to look." If you fill up[READ]
Letizia: A Life in Letters – Extended Viewing Opportunity
Thank you for your interest in the exhibit Letizia: A Life in Letters! Unfortunately, the period of free public access ended last 30 May. In response to persistent requests, however, visitors to the exhibit can still be accommodated, without charge, depending on the availability of foundation officers. If you're interested in visiting,[READ]
MARAMING SALAMAT PO!
As announced in our poster, free public access to the exhibit ended today, May 30. By popular request, however, we will not dismantle the exhibit yet, but henceforth, visits will only be by appointment, based on the availability of a resource person. Thanks again to everyone who dropped by. You were[READ]
