|
Friday, April 30, 2004
Nick Joaquin misses 87th summer solstice, dies in sleep at home
NATIONAL artist Nick Joaquin died in his sleep early yesterday morning in his home in San Juan, just five days shy of his 87th birthday.
Joaquin, who was found inside his room, apparently died of a heart attack. His remains will lie in state at the Santuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Makati City starting noon today.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said Joaquin, who was named national artist for literature in 1976, is entitled to full presidential honors, burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and burial assistance.
A necrological service is scheduled on May 2 but the venue has not yet been finalized.
Grand Old Man
President Arroyo said in a statement that Joaquin made significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the country as a novelist, playwright, poet, journalist, historian and biographer.
“Indeed, we have been made poorer by the passing of the Grand Old Man of Philippine Literature, who touched our lives with the depth of his thoughts, perked by his profound eloquence and wit,” said Arroyo.
“I mourn the loss of a family friend and personal biographer. In behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Nick Joaquin for sharing his life and talent with us,” she said.
Presidential aspirant Raul Roco also paid tribute to the national artist, who kept writing in his last few days.
“Whether as a novelist, short story writer, playwright, or journalist, Nick Joaquin always wrote with the highest skill and quality, as well as deep sentiment,” said Roco.
Joaquin was widely considered the best post-war author in the Philippines and is best known for his short story “Summer Solstice.”
He was born in Paco, Manila on Calle Herran and started his writing career as a proofreader for the Philippines Free Press, but soon rose as contributing editor and essayist under the pen name “Quijano de Manila.”
He worked as a reporter for the Free Press after World War 2. He became editor of the Philippine Graphic Magazine and publisher of the Women’s Weekly during the Martial Law era.
In 1934, Joaquin started dabbling in poetry, short stories and essays. His first work appeared in the Tribune. He won numerous awards, including a Rockefeller Grant and the 1996 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts. His “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” is considered the most important Filipino play in English.
His niece Cecille Joaquin-Yasay said Joaquin, who never married, was “like a father” to his nephews and nieces.
Before his death, Joaquin was corporate editor-in-chief of the Philippine Graphic Magazine, whose discontinued section on fiction and poetry he revived early last year. (With Sunnex)
(April 30, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
