Juan Felipe de Jesús Nakpil, KGCR, KSS (born Juan Felipe Nakpil y de Jesús; May 26, 1899 – May 7, 1986) known as Juan Nakpil, was a Filipino architect, teacher and a community leader. In 1973, he was named one of the National Artists for architecture.[2] He was regarded as the Dean of Filipino Architects.

Sir
Juan F. Nakpil
Juan Nakpil from the Order of National Artists (NCCA)
Personal details
Born
Juan Felipe Nakpil y de Jesús

(1899-05-26)May 26, 1899[1]
Quiapo, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
DiedMay 7, 1986(1986-05-07) (aged 86)
Manila, Philippines
SpouseAnita Agoncillo Noble
Children4
Parent(s)Julio Nakpil (father)
Gregoria de Jesús (mother)
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
University of Kansas
Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts
OccupationArchitect
Awards Order of National Artists of the Philippines
ReligionRoman Catholicism
Military service
AllegianceCommonwealth of the Philippines Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
RankMajor

Early life edit

He was the eighth child of the Philippine Revolution veterans Julio Nakpil and Gregoria de Jesús (who married the former after the death of her first husband Andrés Bonifacio).[3]

Education edit

He studied engineering at the University of California and later, at the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then studied architecture at the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts in France upon the recommendation of Jean Jacques Haffner, one of his professors at the Harvard Graduate School of Architecture.

Career edit

Nakpil worked at Andres Luna de San Pedro's architectural firm (1928) and at Don Gonzalo Puyat & Sons, opening his own architectural firm in 1930.[4] Among Nakpil's works are San Carlos Seminary, Geronimo de los Reyes Building, Iglesia ni Cristo Riverside Locale (Now F. Manalo, San Juan) and Iglesia Ni Cristo - Locale of Caloocan, Magsaysay Building, Rizal Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club, Rufino Building, Philippine Village Hotel, University of the Philippines Administration[5] and University Library, and the Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna. He also designed the International Eucharistic Congress altar and improved the Quiapo Church in 1930 by erecting a dome and a second belfry. The church burned down in 1929 prior to Nakpil's redesign of the building.[6] In the 1930s to the 1940s, Nakpil and his fellow architects Andres Luna de San Pedro, Fernando Ocampo and Pablo Antonio started the period of modern architecture in the Philippines.[7] Nakpil and others also established the Philippine College of Design in 1941 but the institution did not survive the Second World War.[8] In 1952, President Quirino appointed Nakpil to be a member of the National Rizal Day Committee. He was hailed as a National Artist for Architecture in 1973.[9] On November 23, 1936, Nakpil was on a list of Inactive Philippine Army Officers as an Infantry Major.[10]

Nakpil and his family company Juan F. Nakpil & Sons, together with the contractors United Construction Company, Inc. were part of the most prominent landmark case for fortuitous events filed by the Philippine Bar Association (PBA). The PBA through its counsel, the Jose W. Diokno Law Office, which was represented by Sen. Diokno himself, won the case against Nakpil in the trial court, which was just affirmed in the Court of Appeals and later elevated to the Supreme Court. Nakpil lost that final case in 1986, and was liable for damages to the PBA, whose building was destroyed during an earthquake way back in 1968.[11]

Projects edit

Theaters edit

 
University of the Philippines, Administration Building or "Quezon Hall"

Other buildings edit

Special projects edit

Personal life and family edit

Nakpil married Anita Agoncillo Noble, who came from Lemery, Batangas. Noble was the granddaughter of Doña Marcela Mariño Agoncillo and became the first Miss Philippines after the Manila Carnival Queen was reimagined as Miss Philippines in 1926.[14]

The two had three sons, namely Ariston, Francisco, Eulogio, and two daughters, namely Annie, and Edith. The three sons later became architects and joined Nakpil in the family firm, which was renamed Juan F. Nakpil & Sons, and later renamed Nakpil, Nakpil, Nakpil, and Nakpil in 1972.[15]

In the 1970s, Ariston Roman Nakpil, alongside fifteen other professional founded the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Associations (CREBA), a non-government, umbrella organization of firms and professionals involved in real estate and real property.[16] Annie Tañada married Renato "Nats" Tañada,[15] son of former Senator and "father of Philippine politics", Lorenzo Tañada.[17] Both Annie and Renato were posthumously honored as "patriot-members" of the Ninoy Aquino Movement on the 29th death anniversary of Benigno Aquino Jr. in 2012.[18] Edith Nakpil-Rabat was crowned Miss Philippines in 1955 and later served as a member of the Batasang Pambanasa under the Marcos regime.[15] She married Davao Oriental governor Francisco Rabat and was known as the "First Lady of Davao".[19]

Nakpil died on May 7, 1986, aged 87. He was arranged a state funeral and was buried at the Manila North Cemetery.[15]

Awards edit

  The Philippines:

  Holy See:

References edit

  1. ^ Mendoza, Guillermo. (1973). "Pioneer in Philippine Architecture." The National Artists of the Philippines. Pasig: Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Anvil Publishing. 1998.
  2. ^ Art: Perception & Appreciation. Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. p. 301. ISBN 9789711109332. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Antoja, M. (1998). My Country and My People 4. Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 232. ISBN 9789712322532. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  4. ^ Mendoza, G. (1973)
  5. ^ Klassen, Winand W. (1986). Architecture in the Philippines: Filipino Building in a Cross-cultural Context. University of San Carlos. p. 188. ISBN 9789711000493. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  6. ^ Zialcita, Fernando Nakpil (2006). Quiapo: Heart of Manila. Cultural Heritage Studies Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University. p. 156. ISBN 9789719367307. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Salvan, George Salinda (2000). Architectural & Const. Data. Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. p. 230. ISBN 9789711110420. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Contemporary Philippine Culture: Selected Papers in Arts and Education. Japan Foundation, Manila Office. 1998. p. 65. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "The National Artists of the Philippines: Juan F. Napkil". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  10. ^ Cornejo, Miguel R. (1939). Cornejo's Commonwealth Directory of the Philippines. Manila: Miguel R. Cornejo, A.B., LL.B. p. 849.
  11. ^ "G.R. No. L-47851".
  12. ^ de Jesus, Max (2008). 2008 Sapphire Anniversary Issue. 11th World Jamboree Menorial Foundation Inc. pp. 20–24.
  13. ^ Verceles, Pedro (December 1957). "The Second National Eucharistic Congress of the Philippines: a Historical Record". Philippine Studies. Ateneo de Manila University. 5 (4): 456–482. JSTOR 42719345 – via JSTOR.
  14. ^ Silvestre, Edmund (December 19, 2018). "Welcome to Miss Philippines Street". PhilStar Global.
  15. ^ a b c d "Juan F. Nakpil – Bahay Nakpil-Bautista". Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  16. ^ Dulalia, Florentino (December 6, 2003). "CREBA: Pillar builders inspiring all". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "Lorenzo M. Tañada: A Tribute To A Filipino Hero: Son of Gumaca, Quezon". Lorenzo M. Tañada. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Balana, Cynthia (August 21, 2012). "5 Ninoy Aquino allies to get awards". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  19. ^ Dolor, Danny (December 16, 2018). "Edith Nakpil: 'Woman of grace and courage'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Our Story". Knights of Rizal.
  21. ^ Ofilada, Macario (October 1959). "The Knights of Rizal" (PDF). The Cabletow. II: 73.
  22. ^ "Sa Asociación de Caballeros y Condecorados Pontificios de Filipinas" [The Association of Knights and Pontifical Honorees of the Philippines]. Semana Revista Ilustrada Hispano-Filipina (in Spanish). III (57): 6. January 19, 1950 – via Open Access Repository@UPD.

External links edit