Nick Joaquin Info

Nick Joaquin

Literature

-Nicomedes Joaquín y Márquez-May 4, 1917 -Paco, Manila -Joaquin was born to a family of means. His father, Leocadio Joaquin, was an attorney at the Court of First Instance of Laguna, where he met his second wife, Salome, Joaquin’s mother.

Did you know? -Tony Joaquin discloses the following little-known facts about his uncle Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature, who is generally regarded as the greatest Filipino writer in English. -The very first edition of his Prose and Poems in 1953 containing his short stories and poems were among his best works. The soft cover issue is on its third or fourth re-edition already. -When Jose Rizal’s classic Ulitmo Adios was translated into English verse, Nick’s translation was acclaimed to be the best compared to others like that of Sen. Claro Recto who himself thought. so.

Awards-Philippines Free Press Short Story Contest (1949) -Journalist of the Year in the 11th National Press Club-Esso Journalism Awards (1966) -Seato Literary Award Contest for his collection of short stories and poems (June 1, 1973) -Nation's most prestigious awards carrying material emoluments besides honor and privileges (March 27, 1976) -National Artist for Literature by President and Mrs. Marcos cited having “opened a new vision of Filipino Life” (1976)

Nick Joaquín's foray into literary journalism involved bringing together his two careers. Joaquín argued that Philippine letters during the 1950s and 1960s were polarized into extremes: literature and journalism. Joaquín, under the name of Quijano de Manila during that time, belonged to both worlds as found in his works.

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