SAN FRANCISCO — A tribute to the late Philippine National Artist in Literature Nick Joaquin will be held on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California.
Writers and artists will read and comment on his life and writings. An exclusive teaser of Dahling Nick, a documentary of Nick Joaquin by Sari Lluch Dalena will also be shown. As well, Gémino Abad and Bien Lumbera from the Philippines participate and share their thoughts on Nick Joaquin through correspondence and video.
The tribute is the first of events leading to the Third Filipino American International Book Festival—Bukás na Bukas: An Open tomorrow presented by PAWA and the San Francisco Public Library in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and community organizations. It will take place October 2-4, 2015 at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library.
Nick (Nicomedes) Joaquin was born on May 4, 1917, son of Leocadio Joaquin, a lawyer who fought under General Aguinaldo in the revolution, and Salome Marquez, a teacher. Nick Joaquin, writer of short stories, novelist, poet, playwright, biographer, and essayist, is regarded as one of the greatest Filipino writers and was awarded the title of National Artist for Literature in 1976 by the Philippine government.
Nick Joaquin has been admired by many, including celebrated writers, artists and other intellectuals. Alejandro Roces: “On April 29, 2004, the greatest writer the Philippines has ever produced passed from the living to immortality. His name was Nick Joaquin.” Jose Garcia Villa writes about Nick Joaquin: “…imagination of power and depth and great metaphysical seeing—and which knows how to express itself in great language…” Vim Nadera Jr.: “Nick Joaquin by any other name is the writer’s writer. His range and richness can explain why he is called the greatest Filipino writer of his generation, or the best post-war author in the Philippines.” These quotes are featured in the biography Nick: A Portrait of the Artist Nick Joaquin (Anvil Publishing) by Tony Joaquin and Gloria C. Kismadi and will be available at the tribute.
For being such an important figure in Philippine literature, few know of him or have read his work in the United States. Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc. (PAWA) and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco to begin to remedy this has organized a celebration of this talented man of letters to introduce his work and life to the San Francisco Bay Area community.