Rizal in Saga: A Life for Student Fans

by Nick Joaquín, Ambeth R. Ocampo (Introduction and Annotator)

"Small is great if the smallness is taken as a challenge."

In 1996, on the occasion of the centenary of Rizal's death, the esteemed Filipino writer, Nick Joaquin, wrote the biography of the country's premier hero, Jose Rizal. Relying foremost on Rizal's own journals and his works, Joaquin's Rizal brings forth Rizal's humanity--his fears, his insecurities, his influences, and the fortitude that ultimately leads him to become, as Joaquin calls him, "the grandest of Filipinos."

In language distinctly Joaquin, Rizal's life and works are contextualized, coaxing the reader to understand Rizal - the man in conflict in the context of a country in turmoil. "Rizal's career illustrates the theory of challenge and response as the secret of progress. He started out timid and insecure; he ended up bold and confident. Rizal soared because his every response overshot the challenge. With each achievement, whether in science or letters or scholarship, he added one more cubit to his stature, until he could no longer decry himself as little."

This new edition of Joaquin's Rizal in Saga: A Life for Student Fans, introduced and annotated by Ambeth R. Ocampo, the country's foremost public historian and authority on Jose Rizal, contains new photographs from various sources as well as photographs from Ocampo's collection to bring Rizal the person and the saga that was his life even closer to new student fans.

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Nicomedes 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.

Reviews

[Michael David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slowly collecting Nick Joaquin books because I think he's the greatest writer in Filipino literature (yes, even better than Rizal), but have had a few false starts with this one. This book is Joaquin's creative biography of Rizal's life and death. Most impressive is his avoidance of hagiography: for all of Rizal's achievements, Rizal was painted as all-too-human. In fact, in the biography's closing chapters, Joaquin even posits Rizal's complicity in his own death: his lack of decisiveness appearing intermittently over the course of his life has also damned him.

In contrast to the more traditional historians, Joaquin also proffers alternative portraits of Governor-General Despujol: rather than merely being out for Rizal's blood, he had offered Rizal opportunities to save his own skin. Joaquin even shifts responsibility towards Rizal, his indecision, and intractability when it came to his death. Had he been more decisive to stay in Singapore, or had he chosen to be whisked off by the Katipunan, Philippine history might have been significantly different. It was his dilatory and reflective nature, however, that not only sealed his fate, but also painted him as one of the great Philippine heroes.

Insecurity had haunted Rizal in Joaquin's portrait of his life, which was why Jose Alejandrino, also one of the heroes of the Philippine Revolution, had to read his draft of Noli me Tangere on the sly. For all of Rizal's capability, he was rather sensitive to criticism and burnt his bridges definitively. Joaquin also wonderfully painted the influence of Paciano on Rizal's destiny, as they had a pact between them that would thrust Rizal into one of the sparks toward Philippine sovereignty.

Although his novels did not effect the change that his brother had imagined, Rizal had nevertheless produced two of the greatest works of literature coming from the Philippines. His variegated life of both creativity and imperfection were beautifully captured by Nick Joaquin. For aspiring students of Rizal's life, this is definitely a must-read.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not really focus on the more politically crucial bits of Rizal’s life like you would expect from AP classes or PI 100. This gave perhaps the most human and personal treatment of Rizal I have seen.

Most of this book is devoted to his childhood and teens. You start to see the shape of the man. I find that curricula usually just treat those years as proof he was a wunderkind, but Joaquin’s treatments of Rizal always focus on his smallness and insecurities. Loved to see how the young Rizal was torpe, and making excuses for his torpeness with grandiose reasoning. It was great to see how he was seemingly led to become an almost unwilling subversive because of Paciano’s own failed dreams.

The book really shows the power of accidents and small decisions here and there that made the man. This was a Rizal constantly questioning himself, continuously tempted by better lives elsewhere. I don’t think I fully appreciated what this book did until it juxtaposed Rizal’s leaving of Dapitan with Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon. One burned the bridges so that the 13th could not cross back, the other burned the little kiosk of his solace.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIZAL IN SAGA: A LIFE FOR STUDENT FANS

In terms of writing style, Nick Joaquin's 'Rizal in Saga' is superior to Leon Ma. Guerrero's 'The First Filipino.' The text is very engaging. More attention was given to the young Rizal's formative years—but to the neglect of his life's sunset.

A bit disappointing is the sparing commentary. There is an instance where a footnote is unnecessary and a lot when there should be one but the reader is left with none (e.g., the finality of whether Rizal is the real author behind 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata').

I'm glad that Milflores Publishing took the opportunity to reprint it into a new edition with a beautiful typeface worthy of Dahling Nick's prose. The first version was made available to a few. Now, this excellent biography of an excellent man written by an excellent writer is available for a wider audience to enjoy. If you want to start reading about Rizal, I recommend that you begin with this.

[Andrea Pasion-Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who've read the first edition would benefit from the second edition, which replaces the art with photos gathered from the popular historian AmbethR. Ocampo. His introduction and notes also contextualizes the writing of Nick.

[kembot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact remains that even in Spanish-speaking lands, Rizal is no on the bookshelf. Unread at home, unread abroad, that is the fate of our greatest writer - Nick Joaquin.

[Matthew Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

People often forget that the nation commemorated the centennial of José Rizal’s martyrdom in 1996. National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin was commissioned to write about the writer-nationalist as a special publication for the National Centennial Commission that was not widely circulated.

After twenty-five years and in time for the 125th death anniversary of Rizal, a new edition of “Rizal in Saga: A Life for Student Fans” has been published by Milflores Publishing. This new edition is introduced and annotated by historian and friend Ambeth R. Ocampo featuring photographs from his collection and various sources that were not published in the first edition. Get your copy today!

I wish to thank Ambeth for autographing and dedicating my copy with the help of the kind staff of Milflores Publishing.

[Camille Roleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marked it as to read

[Danielle Joy]

LIke

[Markchris · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Lala]

Cool