This day in 1917, journalist and fiction writer, Nicomedes Márquez Joaquín (Nick Joaquín), was born in Paco, Manila. Proclaimed as National Artist for Literature in 1976, he is considered one of the great writers of Philippine literature in English.
Born as the fifth child to Don Leocadio Joaquín and Salomé Márquez, Nick Joaquín developed a voracious love for reading. At age 17, his first big break was his poem on the fictional character of Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, published in The Tribune, where he also worked as copy editor.
He soon began writing poems and short stories that reflected his love for the City of Manila. As a religious man, he was on his way to the priesthood, having had a scholarship in St. Albert's Convent in Hong Kong, but soon left that path to continue pursuing writing.
His stories were influenced by his devotion to La Naval de Manila, while integrated to the rich heritage of Old Manila. Soon he would include folk tradition and the supernatural in his stories. Literary critics call his works that of "Tropical Gothic."
The traumatic destruction of Manila in World War II had a tremendous impact on him and his works, reflected in his poignant play, The Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1950), and his book, Manila, My Manila (1990).
Meanwhile, his reportage printed by the Philippines Free Press magazine in post-war Philippines were impressive works in and of themselves. His columns showed his verve in writing of the complex maneuverings, and comical quirks of politicians in the halls of power.
During Martial Law, although Joaquín initially rejected the offer of proclaiming him as National Artist by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, he eventually accepted it as a bargaining chip in 1976 to exchange for the release of his friend, journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba.
Months after the end of the dictatorship, he published a book entitled, Quartet of the Tiger Moon (1986), where he wrote of the EDSA People Power Revolution in great detail, and even inserting perceptive commentary to capture the meaning of that moment.
Joaquin is widely regarded as the greatest Filipino writer of the 20th century. His works earned him great renown even after his death in 2004. In his centennial birth anniversary in 2017, he became the third Filipino author to be published by Penguin Classics.
Photos:
- A candid photograph of the author, from fringemag.net
- Nick Joaquin, dingrocespo.blogspot.com
- The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic (2017), Penguin Classics
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