Nick Joaquin | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Joaquin | |
| Born | Nicomedes Joaquin y Marquez May 4, 1917 |
| Died | April 29, 2004 (aged 86) San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Resting place | Libingan ng mga Bayani Loyola Memorial Park |
| Occupations |
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| Awards |  Order of National Artists of the Philippines |
Nicomedes "Nick" Marquez Joaquin (Tagalog: [hwaˈkin]; May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) was a Filipino writer and journalist best known for his short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaquin was conferred the rank and title of National Artist of the Philippines for Literature. He has been considered one of the most important Filipino writers, along with José Rizal and Claro M. Recto. Unlike Rizal and Recto, whose works were written in Spanish, Joaquin's major works were written in English despite being literate in Spanish.
Before becoming one of the leading practitioners of Philippine literature in English, he was a seminarian in Hong Kong – who later realized that he could better serve God and humanity by being a writer. This is reflected in the content and style of his works, as he emphasizes the need to restore national consciousness through important elements in Catholic Spanish Heritage. In his self-confessed mission as a writer, he is a sort of "cultural apostle", whose purpose is to revive interest in Philippine national life through literature – and provide the necessary drive and inspiration for a fuller comprehension of their cultural background. His awareness of the significance of the past to the present is part of a concerted effort to preserve the spiritual tradition and the orthodox faith of the Catholic past – which he perceives as the only solution to our modern ills.[1][2]
- ^ Yaptenco, C. (September 1959). A critical study of Nick Joaquin's prose and poems (Master's thesis). Retrieved from Rizal Library's OPAC (rlo.800054)
- ^ Busuego, L. (December 1953). An analytical study of the Spanish tradition in the prose works of Nick Joaquin (Master's thesis). Retrieved from Rizal Library's OPAC (rlo.800680)