Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Through the Years

Bahay Nakpil-Bautista has remained essentially unchanged for 95 years after it was rebuilt by Dr. Ariston Bautista in 1914. Prior to that, the Nakpils were already living in two houses on the same property along Barbosa St. (now called A. Bautista St.).

  • Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Today (ca. Apr. 2009)
    With its architectural elements well preserved, the Nakpil ancestral home shines, in stark contrast to the rest of Quiapo, like a beacon toward urban renewal for this historic district.
    Photography by Boldy Tapales.
  • The Nakpil Ancestral Home on Barbosa St., Quiapo Before 1914
    The site on which Bahay Nakpil-Bautista now stands was originally occupied by two houses – starting at the left side of the photo and ending at the doorway in which the man in white is seen standing. Next door is the Boix house with its distinctively ornate facade.
    Photo courtesy of Roberto Tañada.
  • Early Photograph of The Nakpil Home
    This view of the side and rear of the Nakpil home shows the wooden grillwork over the lower windows in the bays in the same style as those in the preceding slide. These were replaced with the iron ones in the Viennese Secession design after the home was rebuilt in 1914 by Dr. Ariston Bautista.
    Photo courtesy of Roberto Tañada.
  • The Nakpil Ancestral Home Prior to 1914
    Venetian blinds hanging from the windows on the second floor differentiate the old facade from the new one on the home built by Dr. Ariston Bautista that survives essentially unchanged to this day. You can just make out the figure of Dr. Bautista, magnified by a factor of 4 in the inset, looking out from behind the blinds.
    Photo courtesy of Roberto Tañada.
  • Bahay Nakpil-Bautista as Rebuilt in 1914 (ca. Yuletide, 1950s)
    Faroles (lanterns) hanging from the eaves of the house indicate that this photograph was taken during Christmas when it is customary in the Philippines to hang these traditional symbols.
    Reproduced from the book “Julio Nakpil and the Philippine Revolution” by Encarnacion Alzona.
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20 Responses

  1. this is the first time i saw this picture. I knew that there were 2 Nakpil houses before the big one, but i never saw it not until now. Galing!

  2. Hello Pepper,
    I have just explored this site. It is quite impressive. Is this your handiwork?
    Overall, it is heartwarming. I guess the only thing that seems to have been overlooked is the Nakpils themselves. There is nary a mention of Julio Nakpil nor of his brother Francisco (who was the basis of Rizal’s Simoun). Tito Juanito is barely remembered either. Then again, would this be another case of Nakpil modesty?

    1. Simoun. That’s one I haven’t heard. I’ll see if we can get some background info from our cousins.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  3. Yup. Francisco Nakpil was the brother in charge of Joyeria Nakpil.
    His profession, wide social contacts and even his physical description were supposed to have been the basis for the main character in the Fili. He got into trouble with the Spanish authorities. I think they executed him (was it just because of being uncannily similar to Rizal’s character?).
    There was at least one other brother who also met an untimely end.
    I was also told that all the Nakpil boys were christened with the same names as the dead brothers.

  5. It was in the 50’s and 60’s that we used to visit our Lola ChongChong every Christmas Day! This house brings back lots of love and fond memories!! Thanks for all your efforts!

    Greetings from Corona, California

    1. You must be referring to Lola Onchong, Doña Encarnacion Nakpil Orense. She was married to Lolo Sebi, Sen. Eusebio Orense who was a legislator during the Commonwealth era under the Americans. Thank you for stopping by.

  6. This made me proud of what we are or where we came from- will forever treasure this golden heritage.
    Thank you for posting these documentaries in site.

  7. Dr. Ariston Bautista Lim was my great great grandfather and as kids, we were brought to that house in Barbosa Quiapo, where Lola Onchong lived every X’mas by my grandfather Mariano. In that house, there also lived a woman who we called Lola Teta ( Cristeta).

  9. i am very proud of my great great grandfather Dr. Ariston L. Bautista, i remember all what my mother had told me about him, because she grew up there, but how i wish that if only he has a son or daughter the Bautista clan will continue and all of his riches and hardships will not be taken by other people.

  10. I am very proud of my Lola Enriqueta Najera Sancho,even we never got to see and be with her. We only knew her through the stories of my father, Nanding, Auntie Miding, Auntie Roy, Auntie Cecile, children of Augusto Najera Sancho, aka. Lolo Nene. They all remembered about the house of their Tia Queta and Tio Momong at Barbosa, the first Magnolia Kiosk, and the jewelry shop. Their cousins Angel, Antonia.
    Thank you for this website. We are planning to visit this Bahay Nakpil soon. Regards to all! – Chiquita F. Sancho

  12. i just want to ask if you know ALFREDO BAUTISTA CASTRO?
    lolo ko sya… every year kc nagpuputa kami sa north cemetery sa libingan ng mga NAKPIL-BAUTISTA sabi ay mga ninuno nya daw ung nkalibing dun.at dun din nkalibing ung ung brother. hindi sya mahilig magkwento about sa family kc 14 yrs plang cia ng ngpunta cia dito sa manila galing sa plaridel,bulacan.
    i just want to know kung related ba siya or even kami kay juan nakpil

    1. We were unaware of the relatives of Dr. Ariston Bautista. It’s possible that your grandfather Alfredo was a nephew or grand-nephew of Dr. Ariston Bautista y Lin. He and his wife, Petrona Nakpil, died childless; so there would be no possibility of Alfredo’s direct relation to Juan Nakpil.

  13. Hi, sorry I forgot your father Pinggoy, yes my father Nanding also mentioned him.

  14. jo! how are you na will we ever visit the house again together. all the best!

    1. Hi Dr. Gilera,

      Yes, indeed Sen. Orense was from Batangas. In an interesting turn of events, his great granddaughter, my sister-in-law, actually married into the Nakpil family again.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  16. Hello! I’m a great grand daughter of Manuel Bautista, only sibling of Dr. Ariston Bautista. My grandfather is the first grandchild of Manuel Bautista. If anybody needs additional information regarding Dr. Ariston Bautista’s side of the family, please let me know.

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