Bonifacio’s first Katipunan flag, Rizal’s letter sold for millions at auction

MANILA, Philippines — The personal flag of revolutionary leader and Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio, sewn by his wife Gregoria de Jesus at the Supremo’s request, fetched P9.3 million in a Leon Gallery auction last Saturday, nine times its starting bid price at P1 million. 

Made in 1896, the red flag has a huge white “KKK” emblazoned on the cotton cloth. It used to hang in Bonifacio’s study, but is now encased in a red box with silver-colored fabric flowers.

A Katipunan medallion (left) and Bonifacio's first Katipunan flag were sold at an auction. Leon Gallery/Released

Gregoria, who then later married Julio Nakpil, gave the flag as a gift to Don Antonio Santos Bautista of Malolos, for the 33rd anniversary of the Malolos Congress in 1931, after she has been honored by Don Antonio as the “Lakambini of the Katipunan.”

Don Antonio was an early joiner of the Katipunan who secretly met with Bonifacio in Intramuros to plot freedom for the country from Spanish conquerors. He was then imprisoned in Fort Santiago, but was bailed out by wealthy parents.

Beside’s Bonifacio’s flag, his handwritten 10 Commandments of the Katipunan and only known photo taken on his wedding day were sold in the auction for P2.7 million, from a floor price of P1.2 million.

Also sold at the auction was a Katipunan brass ceremonial medal of the supreme council, which included Bonifacio as president. The medal was owned by councilor Jose Trinidad. The medal was initially offered at P100,000, but was sold at P876,000.

Meanwhile, five-page membership documents of the Katipunan, including a handwritten oath form, were sold at P818,000 from a starting bid of P100,000. The medallion and the membership forms were from the personal collection of scholar and historian Epifanio de los Santos, to whom the main thoroughfare EDSA was named.

Rizal, Josephine Bracken’s letters

Rizal (left) and his letter to Don Alejandro Macleod (right). Leon Gallery/Released

National hero Jose Rizal’s rare and important letter to Scottish millionaire Don Alejandro Macleod, who lived in Manila in the 1880s, accompanied by a rare photo of the national hero, from the private collection of Don Alfonso Ongpin, fetched P1.4 million from an original bid price of P1.2 million.

Written when Rizal was in Hong Kong, the letter contains his gratitude to Macleod for taking custody Rizal’s sisters Lucia and Trinidad. 

The letter also bears an important message from Rizal: “Nobody knows what the future will bring us: do good now so that in the future others will do good to us as well.”

Josephine Bracken-Rizal’s rare and important letter to then President Emilio Aguinaldo also sold for P1.05 million, from a starting price of P200,000. 

Written from Hong Kong in 1897, where Josephine stayed at the house of Jose Ma. Basa, Rizal’s friend, after Rizal’s death, the letter introduces Aguinaldo to an American sympathizer that may help buy arms for the Revolution.

In the letter, she signed as Josephine Rizal, in a signature similar to that of the national hero. Reports said she married him in secret in Fort Santiago hours before he was executed by firing squad. She herself was accused of being an English or Spanish spy and a Mata Hari, so she had to flee to Hong Kong after Rizal’s death, where she continued to speak against the Spanish government.

Josephine Bracken (left) and her letter to Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo (right). Leon Gallery/Released

Luna brothers’ artifacts

National artist Juan Luna's military insignia designs (left) and Gen. Antonio Luna's proposal signed into a decree by President Emilio Aguinaldo (right). Leon Gallery/Released

In another lot, rare and important Philippine Revolutionary Military Heraldy from the Luna brothers and other heroes fetched P5.1 million from a starting bid of P500,000.

Included in the lot were National Artist Juan Luna’s designs for military epaulets and shoulder insignias; and an official decree signed by Aguinaldo approving the military insignias and uniforms, a brainchild of Gen. Antonio Luna to professionalize the military. These pieces came from the Grace Luna de San Pedro Estate in New York and from a private collector in Cubao, Quezon City.

Also included in the lot are epaulets from an American soldier who faced Gen. Gregorio del Pilar’s forces in Tirad Pass in 1899.

Epaulets from an American soldier who faced Gen. Gregorio del Pilar’s forces in Tirad Pass in 1899. Leon Gallery/Released

Biggest winner

The highest bid at the auction was made for National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco’s “Nose Flute,” reportedly his last epic painting inspired by the “nose flute” or “kalaleng,” a musical instrument used by northern Philippine tribes for courtship. 

The 48-inch-by-72-inch painting was initially offered at P28 million, but its final price got more than doubled to P63 million.  

In response to reports about the National Historical Commission trying to stop the auction of important historical letters, Jaime Ponce de Leon, director of Leon Gallery, told Philstar.com in a phone interview that while they understand the point of different government agencies from wanting to stop the sale, they have an obligation to their consignors as these pieces were privately owned and the owners have the right to sell them.

De Leon promised to publish all images and documents about the historical artifacts. In a previous interview, he told Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Arts and Books Editor Lito Zulueta that auctioning historical documents and artifacts are better for the preservation of these items and since private owners show their collections free-of-charge. 

Auctions, according to De Leon, also encourage better historical awareness and open public discussions and debates about history. 

He revealed that the gallery is set to auction another set of historical documents and artifacts come December.