The Public Relations Facilities Department of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
and the Department of Art Studies, College of Arts and Letters of the University of the Philippines-Diliman presented a commemorative lecture in the afternoon of Friday, October 19, 2012, in the Luna Room of the GSIS Museum.

Trio Parisian life - Dr. Jose Rizal, Dr. Ariston Bautista, and the painter Juan Luna.
Trio Parisian life – Dr. Jose Rizal, Dr. Ariston Bautista, and the painter Juan Luna.

It was on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the acquisition of Juan Luna’s “Parisian Life” by GSIS; the 120th year of “Parisian Life”;  the 155th birth anniversary of Juan Luna and a prelude to the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin.

The topics and their presenters were as follows—

“Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin: An Introduction”
Ms. Maria Paz Nakpil Santos-Viola
President, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Foundation, Inc.

“On Ariston, Rizal and Luna’s Parisian Life”
Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta
Vice-Chairperson, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission
Chairperson, Heritage Conservation Society

“Researching on Juan Luna”
Prof. Santiago Albano Pilar
Author of the book on Juan Luna
UP College of Fine Arts

Opening remarks by GSIS Museum Director, Ryan Palad
Opening remarks by GSIS Museum Director, Ryan Palad

Following the well-attended lecture, the annual Luna Walk took place on Saturday, October 20, 2012. Organized by GSIS Museum Director Ryan Palad and his department staff, by Juan Luna enthusiasts and followers, and expertly annotated by Xiao Chua, the trail started early in the morning at the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista at Quiapo where the “Parisian Life” masterpiece originally was displayed. Dr. Ariston Bautista, one of the figures huddled in the corner of the painting with Juan Luna and Jose Rizal, was the owner of the painting and hung it in the Bahay living room. Today in its place a reproduction hangs in the same spot.

The Luna Walkers of 2012
The annual Luna Walk of 2012, organized by GSIS Museum Director Ryan Palad and his department staff, by Juan Luna enthusiasts and followers, and expertly annotated by Xiao Chua started at the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista at Quiapo the previous home of “Parisian Life”.

In connection with the celebration, a reprint from Christie’s auction catalogue of the Lot Notes which offers a history of Juan Luna and the painting was given by Associate Professor Mary Ann Bulanadi of the UST College of Architecture and was signed by its writer, Professor Santiago Albano Pilar.

A Replica of A Parisian Life
A reproduction now hangs in place of the original.

The Walk’s next stop was at Juan Luna’s monument at Padre Burgos Street at the entrance to Intramuros; next, was an homage at his crypt at the San Agustin Church. Another highlight of this Walk was at the powerful ‘Spolarium’ at the National Gallery; and finally a last look at the masterpiece before its imminent transfer from the Luna Room to the National Museum.