Former National Historical Commission chairman Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, called by colleagues the “grand old lady of public history,” died Monday, her daughter Gemma Cruz Araneta said. She was 96.
Within hours of the announcement, Samahang Plaridel—the association of practicing elderly journalists—issued a statement saying it was saddened by the passing of Ms. Carmen Gerrero Nakpil. “As a pillar of the industry and member of our board, she will be remembered for her unflinching integrity and a lifetime’s volume of work as journalist, historian, and author,” the group said.
The Ermita, Manila-born Nakpil was the chairman of the National Historical Commission from 1967 to 1971.
According to a Facebook post by the NHCP, Mrs. Nakpil died at 1:30 am on Monday.
“Her works in Philippine history and culture and her contributions to the development of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines will live on and serve as a guide for succeeding generations of Filipinos,” read a portion of NHCP’s post.
Nakpil was born into the Guerrero clan of Manila who were painters and poets, as well as scientists and doctors.
Her paternal grandfather was Leon Maria Guerrero, who was likewise born in Manila.
He was the younger brother of Lorenzo Guerrero, the painter and mentor to Juan Luna. Dr. Jose P. Bantug referred to Leon Ma. Guerrero as the “Father of Philippine Botany,” having classified and described hundreds of Filipino medicinal plants.
Her maternal grandfather was Gabriel Beato Francisco, Tagalog writer, journalist, novelist, playwright, born in Sampalok, then a town independent of Manila.
Her parents were doctor Alfredo Guerrero and Filomena Francisco, who was celebrated as one of the Philippines’ first female pharmacists.
She studied at St. Theresa’s College, Manila and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1942. Between 1946 and 2006, she worked as either staff member, editor or editorial columnist at the Evening News, The Philippines Herald, the Manila Chronicle (where she had a daily column for 12 years), the Manila Times, Asia magazine, and Malaya, in addition to contributing lectures, essays, short stories to other publications in the Philippines and the rest of the world. She has published a total of 10 books: Woman Enough, A Question of Identity, History Today, The Philippines and the Filipinos, The Rice Conspiracy (a novel), the Centennial Reader and Whatever; as well as a wildly successful autobiographical trilogy Myself, Elsewhere; Legends & Adventures; and Exeunt.
Mrs. Nakpil was married to Lt. Ismaél A. Cruz in 1942 and to architect and city planner Ángel E. Nákpil in 1950 and was widowed twice.
She had five children, Gemma Cruz, Ismaél G. Cruz, Ramón Guerrero Nakpil, Lisa Guerrero Nákpil, and Luis Guerrero Nákpil, two stepdaughters Nina Nákpil Campos and Carmina Nákpil Dualan, numerous grandchildren and a few great-grandchildren.
The wake will be at the Heritage Memorial Park starting today 31 at 5 pm.
Daily masses will be at 7 pm. There will be a funeral Mass at 9 am on Aug. 2, followed by interment at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.