A series of events have been jointly organized by and the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Foundation Inc., the GSIS Museum of Art (Museo ng Sining) and the Philippine Art Educators Association (PAEA) to commemorate the 150th birth of Dr. Ariston Bautista-Lin.

To launch a year-long celebration, a wreath-laying and candle ceremony took place in the morning of February 23, 2013, Saturday, at Dr. Bautista’s tomb at the Manila North Cemetery.  The event was graced by the Honorable Mayor of Manila, Alfredo S. Lim, Architect Veronica Dado of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Dr. Lakandula Elayda of the Manila Medical Association, teachers, students, friends and relatives of Dr. Bautista.  He was honored as a patriot, physician, philanthropist and patron of the arts.

Later in the early evening, a tertulia took place at the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista. A tertulia was, in the 1900’s, a social gathering that took place in a salon where music and poetry were part of the evening.  During his time Dr. Bautista held such gatherings at this same house where he lived with his wife Petrona Nakpil, her siblings and their children.

The February 23rd tertulia evening was also sponsored by Lyric Organ and Piano Corporation. The program included kundiman songs by Ms. Christine Joyce Laforteza;  arias by baritone, Mr. Zipriano de Guzman and soprano, Ms. Jamie Sampana, both from the University of Sto. Tomas, Conservatory of Music;  interpretative, nationalistic dances provided by QCTSG high school students; solo piano pieces by early Filipino composers played by Alex Umali; a reading of Gregoria de Jesus’ poem by Ms. Nemia Jagong, teacher at St. Mary’s Academy; and, a special rendition of traditional kulintang pieces by the USTEMUNDO of the UST Conservatory of Music.

On behalf of the Department of Medicine UP-PGH , Dr. Michael  San Juan, Chief  Resident ,  presented  a book, “Hands, Hearts and Minds, 100 Years of the UP PGH Department of Medicine”, to Dr. Fernando Zialcita of the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Foundation, in recognition of Dr. Ariston Bautista’s role in the foundation and formation of the UP-PGH as the first Filipino head of the UP College of Medicine and Surgery in 1916.

On Monday, February 25, 2013 an exhibit, touching on Dr. Bautista’s education, his family life and professional life, was opened. The exhibit was co-curated by Associate Professor Mary Ann Bulanadi of the University of Sto. Tomas, College of Architecture.

To continue the philanthropic spirit the doctor embodied, a medical mission is planned for April 27, 2013, Saturday, at Baranggay 393, District 3, in the community where Dr. Bautista lived.  With the support of the Manila Medical Society, general practitioners will be on hand, and medicine will be provided by UNILAB.

Please watch out for more activities scheduled for this commemoration from this website.

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