Julio Nakpil

Julio García Nakpil (born Julio Nakpil y García; 22 May 1867 – 2 November 1960) was a Filipino musician, composer and a General during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. He was a member of the Katipunan, a secret society turned revolutionary government which was formed to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines. His Katipunan adoptive name was J. Giliw or simply Giliw. He was commissioned by Andres Bonifacio, President of the Revolutionary Government, to compose a hymn which was intended to become the National Anthem of the Tagalog Republic. That hymn was entitled "Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan". Thus, to some, he is remembered as the composer of the first national anthem of the Philippines. He is also a known critic of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Julio Nakpil
Julio Nakpil
Born
Julio Nakpil y García

(1867-05-22)22 May 1867
Died2 November 1960(1960-11-02) (aged 93)
Spouse(s)Gregoria de Jesús
(1898–1943)
ChildrenJuan Nakpil

Early life

Julio Nakpil was born on May 22, 1867 as one of the twelve children of a well-off family in Quiapo district of Manila. His parents withdrew him from formal schooling after two years and had him look over the family stable. Julio educated himself at home and eventually learned how to play the piano as customary among the affluent families during that period.

During the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in August 1896, Julio was appointed as General by the Katipunan Government and was the commander of the revolutionary forces in the northern Philippines under Andrés Bonifacio.

Many of Julio's compositions during this time were inspired directly by the Revolution. Julio composed "Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan" which was intended by Bonifacio to become the national anthem of the Philippines but was ultimately replaced for Lupang Hinirang composed by Julián Felipe. After execution of the Bonifacio brothers, Nakpil claimed to have received threats on his own life as well as that of General Antonio Luna, the which latter ending up being assassinated.

Later life

After the Revolution, Nakpil fell in love with and eventually married Bonifacio's widow Gregoria de Jesús. They moved to Manila and raised six children. Their eldest child and the only boy was Juan Nakpil who became a prominent Filipino architect and was recognized as a National Artist for Architecture. Another child married the architect Carlos Santos-Viola. Julio continued to compose until his death in 1960. Before his death he also contributed to a book on his life that was published by his heirs in 1964.

He became a renowned critic of Emilio Aguinaldo, in his memoirs titled Apuntes Sobre la Revolución Filipina (Notes on the Philippine Revolution) I swear before God and before History that everything related in these notes is the truth and I entreat the historian not to publish this until after my death." On page 30 of his memoirs can be found Nakpil's notes on the death of Bonifacio, and on page 130 is his account of the assassination of Antonio Luna where Nakpil wrote "When General A. Luna was dastardly assassinated by Janolino and his men on the stairs of the Convent of Kabanatuan and already fallen on the ground, Trinidad Aguinaldo the mother of Emilio Aguinaldo looked out the window and asked: Ano, humihinga pa ba? (So, is he still breathing?)[1] (according to Nakpil's acoount)

On pages 157-158, Nakpil wrote of Aguinaldo,

"Emilio Aguinaldo's surrender to the Americans was a cowardly act. There was no doubt that he coveted the presidency. He surrendered for fear that others more competent than he would occupy the post of president of the Republic. Had he fought with his captors, regardless of whether he succumbed so that he might be considered a hero, at least to vindicate his crimes, by this time we would be admiring a monument to the second hero of the Philippines, unlike what he did delivering himself as prisoner and afterward taking an oath of allegiance to the American flag."''[1]

Death

He died of heart attack at his home on November 2, 1960 in Quiapo, Manila. He was buried at Manila North Cemetery in Santa Cruz, Manila the next day.[2]

Legacy

The house where Nakpil and de Jesús lived, known as "Bahay Nakpil-Bautista", still stands in Quiapo and is maintained by his heirs as a museum that also offers walking tours of Quiapo and other special events and doubles as a performance area. "Bahay Nakpil-Bautista" is the one of the two Spanish-style structures left standing in Bautista Street, Quiapo, Manila.

Compositions

The Compositions of Julio Nakpil[1][3]
Date Title Genre Notes
1888 April 27 Cefiro Polka Nakpil's first known composition.
1890 May 17 La Brisa Nocturna Habanera
1890 September 29 Noche Tempestuosca Polka de Salon
1890 Ecos de Visayas Danza
1890 Ecos de Iloco Danza
1890 Ilang-ilang Mazurka
1891 May 28 Recuerdos de Capiz Habanera Carateristica Nakpil's most famous composition. Published in 6 editions. Awarded the Diploma for Honor by the 1st Exposición Regional de Filipina in 1895 and a silver medal at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.
1891 August 1 Luz Poetica de la Aurora Gavota Awarded the Diploma for Honor in 1895 by the 1st Exposición Regional de Filipina in 1895.
1891 October 21 Danza Campestre Habanera de Concierto
1891 October 21 Teatro Luisa Polka Brillante
1891 November 25 La Brisa Aurora Habanera
1892 May 4 Cleotilde
1892 July 15 Kundiman
1893 January 29 Sueño Eterno Mazurka Funebre A tribute of the bravery of Antonio Luna
1893 August 4 Amor Patrio Romanza a setting of Maria Clara's song in Jose Rizal's novel Noli me Tangere.
1895 Exposición Regional de Filipina Pas à quatre Awarded the Diploma for Honor in 1895 by the 1st Exposición Regional de Filipina in 1895.
1896 January 27 Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan National Anthem Commissioned by Andres Bonifacio as the national anthem of the Philippines. However, Julian Felipe's Lupang Hinirang eventually became the country's official National Anthem.
1896 August 26 Balintawak
1896 August 30 Armamento
1897 March 20 Pahimakas Mazurka Funebre A funeral march commemorating Rizal’s execution.
1897 June 15 Pamitinan Polka Carateristica for the remontados “who went into hiding because of persecution.”
1897 October 12 Pag-Ibig Habanera
1898 October 12 Pasig-Pantayanin Paso-doble Militar A military march dedicated to the brave revolutionaries.
1898 November Biyak-na-Bato Paso-doble Militar composed for revolutionary general Teodoro Sandiko
1903 September Salve Patria Grand March Arrangement of Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan as a Grand March.
1904 Kabanatuan Marcha Funebre Funeral March in memory of the death of Antonio Luna
1944 September 19 Victory March March Dedicated to the armies of the United States and the Philippines and her Guerrilla
Deus Omnipotens et Miserecors Marcha Funebre
Johnny and Little Julia Boston Waltz
Melodia
Pinching Habanera

References

  1. Alzona, Encarnacion (1964). Julio Nakpil and the Philippine Revolution. Manila, Philippines: Carmelo and Bauermann, Inc.
  2. Julio Nakpil's Death Certificate
  3. Tiongson, Nicanor (Ed.). (2019). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Vol. 7: Music). Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines.
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