The twin to Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan seal is set to go on sale at León Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction on Nov. 30

The Katipunan, though short-lived, and the efforts and aspirations of each of its members should not be left to history. The resurfaced Katipunan seal, which is set to go on sale at León Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction, serves as a reminder of all who sacrificed their lives in the fight for Filipino independence.

A symbol of Philippine freedom

Within the 333 years of European domination, pockets of resistance fanned the flames of Filipino dissent and, in time, slowly fed into an unbridled rage the Spanish could not ignore.

Andres Bonifacio, “The Father of the Philippine Revolution,” was among those who fanned the flames. Although his time was cut short by an unsightly struggle for power within Katipunan’s ranks, his vision of a free and flourishing Philippines manifested itself through those he led and persists to this day.

“The Katipunan’s seals were graphic symbols of its momentous aspirations—the sun and its rays which would light the path to freedom, and under which a free country would flourish, together with the ‘Ka’ of ancient Tagalog script to signify the Katipunan itself, the instrument of liberation. The ‘Ka’ could also stand for the utopian ideals of ‘Kalayaan’ (Liberty) and ‘Kapayapaan’ (Peace),” writes Lisa Guerrero Nakpil in “The Last Seal of the Katipunan: Only Surviving Twin of Bonifacio’s Seal Discovered” of Leon Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction catalog.

In 1896, Bonifacio established the “Mataas ng Sangunian” or “High Council” that served as the Katipunan’s governing body for Morong, Manila, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija. Julio Nakpil, a piano teacher who was also part of La Liga Filipina was initially given the post “Mataas na Kalihim” (High Secretary) but later led as “Mataas na Pangulo” (High President).

However, after Emilio Aguinaldo became the Philippines’ first president and following Bonifacio’s execution, Aguinaldo ordered the creation of a Departmental Government of Central Luzon that would replace the previously standing High Council. Nakpil would be given the post of Minister of Development, but with his belief in the continuation of the Katipunan, was continuously under threat from the reigning regime.

“When they got to hear about Nakpil’s dissent, to quote Nakpil again, ‘Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo took this ill and without any further explanation ordered Generals Severino Taino and Pio del Pilar to assassinate me,’” shares Guerrero Nakpil in the Kingly Treasures Auction catalog.

Nakpil did not just fight for the continuation of Katipunan in its waning days. In his hands, he also held the last remaining seal of the Katipunan as Bonifacio’s was lost to history. Nakpil would later gift the item to Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera who continued to pass it down to its present-day owners prior to its handing over to the gallery.

Whether or not the legacy of the revolution remains relevant to this day, the resurfaced Katipunan seal is a testament to the undying will of Bonifacio and the Filipinos of the time.

“The ink stamp confirms that ‘continuing the Katipunan’ was more than a notion in Nakpil’s head. It was a vow made not just to a friend and ally but a sacred trust to a cause greater than him or even Bonifacio,” says Guerrero Nakpil in the catalog.

“The Katipunan seal” starts at P1,600,000.

Bonifacio through the eyes of Guillermo Tolentino

But documentation of Bonifacio’s existence goes beyond passed-down seals, photos, and recovered texts. Guillermo Tolentino, the father of Philippine arts—from the “Bonifacio Monument” in Caloocan to “The Oblation” inside the UP Diliman campus—was known for his striking sculptures and attention to detail. 

The bust to be auctioned is one of several plaster casts from the original “Bonifacio Monument” sculpture. Tolentino reportedly based the hero’s likeness on Espiridiona Bonifacio (his younger sister) and the only photograph of the “Father of the Philippine Revolution.”

Ambeth R. Ocampo acquired the sculpture from Tolentino’s widow, Paz Raymundo, in the 1980s.

The bust of Andres Bonifacio by Guillermo Tolentino starts at P400,000.

The Leon Gallery Kingly Treasures Auction takes place on Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. at Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. Preview week is from Nov. 23 to 29 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

For inquiries, email [email protected] or contact (02) 8856-2781. To browse the catalog, visit www.leon-gallery.com.

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