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Collected Verse: Birth Centenary Edition
- GenresPoetry
162 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Nick Joaquín
92 books448 followersNicomedes Márquez Joaquín (1917–2004) 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. In 1976, 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 a native Spanish speaker.
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 of 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.
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 of 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.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 24, 2024
Was a great experience indeed!
A collective verse full of beautiful, simple, rhetorical words that express a lot of tense , deep feelings, most of them familiar to the reader; the diversity of the topics and the theme of each chapter made it unique and so remarkable.
For me the last chapter "CANTICLE OF THE CAT KING" was my favourite couldn't hold back my tears while I was reading the last word of it that reminded me of my white beautiful cat Milka; praying that she had the same beautiful adventure and now she is enjoying her time watching me missing her out there from the moon.
A collective verse full of beautiful, simple, rhetorical words that express a lot of tense , deep feelings, most of them familiar to the reader; the diversity of the topics and the theme of each chapter made it unique and so remarkable.
For me the last chapter "CANTICLE OF THE CAT KING" was my favourite couldn't hold back my tears while I was reading the last word of it that reminded me of my white beautiful cat Milka; praying that she had the same beautiful adventure and now she is enjoying her time watching me missing her out there from the moon.
Displaying 1 of 1 review