Nicomedes Joaquin, known popularly as Nick Joaquin, was a Filipino novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and journalist. Although his first language was Spanish, Joaquin wrote in the English language.
Born in Manila, Joaquin's father was a colonel who fought for General Emilio Aguinaldo in the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898). Joaquin's parents encouraged his avid reading habit and raised him as a devout Christian. He kept his faith throughout his life, studying at a Roman Catholic seminary in Hong Kong before becoming recognized as a literary talent. Joaquin's religious beliefs are an important influence on his works.
In a writing career that spanned seventy years, Joaquin was...