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Letters addressed to Rizal's mother up for auction this June

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Paolo Vergara, ANC-X

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/05/11/rizal-1.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Letter addressed to Jose Rizal&#x27;s mother. <em>Chris Clemente, ANC-X</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Court documents containing allegations that Jose Rizal’s mother may have attempted to poison her sister-in-law, missives from Andres Bonifacio’s wife Gregoria de Jesus, and Rizal’s artworks during his exile in Dapitan. These historical artifacts will be up for auction this June at Leon Gallery. </p><p>Since last March’s auction is remembered for the P8.3-million sale of what are probably the last known letters from Andres Bonifacio before his death, hopes are high that more collectors of historical documents will join next month’s bidding wars. </p><p>Apart from the ones mentioned above, furniture from old families some of who extended support to the nation’s founding fathers are also included in the auction.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/05/11/rizal-2.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Marcelo H. Del Pilar letter and photo. <em>Chris Clemente, ANC-X</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>A portrait of Gregoria de Jesus, “Lakambini of the Katipunan” will also be on sale, and a letter from journalist and satirist Marcelo H. Del Pilar who Leon Gallery historian Lisa Nakpil likes to refer to as the accessible ilustrado and “the Katipunan’s social media manager.”</p><p>“This will be the first time the [highlights and] documents will be seen in full for the general public and scholars,” shares Nakpil, a descendant of Julio Nakpil who married Bonifacio’s wife de Jesus a year after the supremo was murdered.</p><p>Scholar and genealogist Sonny Tinio, Jr. during the press preview Thursday shared insights on highlighted lots, pointing out details such as an item’s provenance, or a particular furniture’s design. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/05/11/rizal-3.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Sonny Tinio and Lisa Nakpil reveal one of Jose Rizal&#x27;s carvings.<em> Chris Clemente, ANC-X</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>A Mariposa couch, for one, is shaped to “hug” the body, and while derived from American upholstery, retains a Filipino touch suited to our warm climate. </p><p>Tinio also regaled media with anecdotes on the lots’ former owners, as if he had personally broken bread with them. “I remember her,” referring to Sixto Lopez’s sister, who had to learn English before she could go to the White House – all at age 19 – to appeal on behalf of her exiled brothers. </p><p>As a whole, the current curation is aligned with Philippine independence month, with halcyon snippets of Philippine life prior to the wars that ravaged the nation, and darker lots tied to issues that still persist today. </p><p>“The letters are contemporary to us today about how there is justice denied, false testimonies made, and innocents put to death,” Nakpil concludes.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/05/11/rizal-4.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Furniture and painting lots. <em>Chris Clemente, ANC-X</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>While the historical pieces form a huge chunk of the auction’s highlights, art from Philippine masters will also be up for auction: a piece from Lorenzo Guerrero, mentor of Juan Luna; another by Fabian de la Rosa; and early works of Fernando Amorsolo. </p><p>The works of modern painters also grace the auction, with pieces from Jose Joya, Vincente Manansala, Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, Romeo Tabuena, Juvenal Sanso, Oscar Zalameda, Lao Lianben, Malang, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.</p><p>Contemporary painters such as Ronald Ventura, Manuel Ocampo, Jose John Santos III and more are also represented. A number of works from this group also depict interpretations of pre-war time.</p><p>The Leon Gallery mid-year auction happens on June 9, Saturday, at the Leon Gallery’s Eurovilla I showrooms along Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati.</p>

Letters addressed to Rizal's mother up for auction this June

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Letters addressed to Rizal's mother up for auction this June

Paolo Vergara,

ANC-X

Published May 11, 2018 06:50 PM PHT

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Updated May 14, 2018 11:55 AM PHT

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Leon Gallery

Jose Rizal

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