150th birth anniversary of Dr. Ariston Bautista-Lin, patriot

To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Ariston Bautista-Lin, patriot, eminent physician, philanthropist and patron of culture and the arts, the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Foundation Inc., in cooperation with the GSIS Museum of Art, will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Nakpil-Bautista Mausoleum at 8 a.m., Feb. 23, at the North Cemetery in Manila.

At 5 p.m. the same day, a tertulia will be held at Bahay Nakpil-Bautista at 432 A. Bautista Street in Quiapo. There will also be an exhibit opening at 6 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Luna Hall of the GSIS Museum of Art, CCP Complex.

While taking advanced studies in medicine in Europe, Dr. Bautista worked with his friends Dr. Jose Rizal, Juan Luna, Pedro Paterno and other compatriots in the propaganda movement. For this reason, Dr. Bautista, one of the signatories of the Malolos Constitution, was incarcerated at Fort Santiago upon his return.

Dr. Bautista practiced medicine, gave free medical services to indigent families and became the first Filipino head of the UP-PGH College of Medicine and Surgery. He gave scholarships to brilliant students and sent them abroad to widen their training. Among them were Fabian de la Rosa, one of the greatest Filipino painters; Dr. Elias Domingo, psychiatrist; Ernesto Vallejo, violin virtuoso; Maria Lanzar, political scientist; and his nephew, National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil.

In 1914, Dr. Bautista built a house now known as Bahay Nakpil-Bautista at Calle Barbosa (now A. Bautista Steet) where he lived with his wife, Petrona Nakpil, her brothers and sisters and their families. The house was designated as a national Historical Landmark in 2011.

Dr. Bautista died in Manila on March 3, 1928.