Today, I am remembering Nick Joaquin. Seventeen years ago on April 29, 2004, the Philippines’ National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin died of cardiac arrest. He was 86 years old. It isn’t easy to forget a very interesting man.
My reason for remembering Nick Joaquin today is even more personal. He was a huge personality in my life on my first job as a paralegal with the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW). Nick Joaquin was commissioned to write a book for ACCRA and he was to interview the “greats” in Philippine legal history. Among several memorable work experiences, I am eternally grateful for this chance to work with him.
How I got to work with him
We had a regular Friday afternoon schedule devoted to the interviews. After several Friday afternoons of hours talking on the road and after-interview beers, one would naturally assume that Nick Joaquin would know me by name already. It never happened. He never failed to ask each time we meet, “Iha, ano nga ang pangalan mo?” (What’s your name again?) He would give out a hearty laugh after I tell him “Wendy po”. That never failed. But the great Nick Joaquin could get away with it and could still be endearing.
Stories abound about him. I don’t think a lot of people know that he had two children, both living in the US when we were doing these interviews. He was separated from his wife. Is this fact about him written somewhere on the internet?
Caloy, his nephew, who would sometimes go with us narrated that a former (Philippine) President went to his house one time and he never went out… because there was something the former President did that he didn’t like. To him, they were just neighbors:-). Another story relayed to me was: He cut short his interview with then-President Fidel V. Ramos because he was not served his favorite San Miguel beer. From personal experience, he had the shortest interview with Chief Justice Querube Makalintal because he didn’t have enough beer. The Chief Justice was already old and sick when we visited him in his house for the interview.
Interviews and San Miguel Beers
Nick Joaquin just loved ice-cold San Miguel beer. No interview would be interesting and lively without those bottles. Almost everyone seemed to succumb to this peculiarity. The late Vice President Doy Laurel (who, for me, was untarnished until that National Centennial Commission controversy) entertained Nick Joaquin with his stories… and several bottles of San Miguel beer. I still think, he was one of the great statesmen the Philippines has ever produced. I ended up going home with a book on his life with a dedication, “To Wendy, for an afternoon of fun and laughter. Doy.”
The book is one of my treasures. The interview was in the VP’s library in their house. The richness of the VP’s library started my obsession to have my own library. The room was so rich with history (not just the books, but clothes, gift items, and more). I think one could learn more about Philippine history there more than one can learn in the classrooms.
Legal Greats
Even the highly-esteemed Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma (the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court) knew about Nick Joaquin’s fascination with San Miguel beer. No other beer could compare and it should be ice-cold! Her library was a separate structure from the main house. As with other interviewees who served him beer, the interview didn’t end until after an hour. How could a soft-spoken woman become the first woman in the Supreme Court? Important lesson learned: Great legal minds do not always come with loud voices and imposing personalities.
I also went home with another book from the former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. It was a hard-bound old book of the Agrava Commision. The interview was held in his office at the Supreme Court. Nick Joaquin, knowing that the Chief Justice was known to be fond of Joseph “Erap” Estrada, asked him about “Erap”. He said something like “Erap is more intelligent than people think he is”. I can’t quote him verbatim but his response sounded to that effect. He was obviously very fond of and a good friend of Erap. I didn’t feel honored to be in his presence. A few years later he became one of the counsels of Erap.
There were many Nick Joaquin interviews worth remembering… and they make me smile whenever I look back. But it was working with the man himself which topped it all.
Read this Blog Mommy Wends, And truly Hirap nga po makalimutan ang Katulad Niya , na naging Part ng Work Life Natin, Na Isa rin sa nagbigay ngiti sa ating mga Labi super Sweet Person, and Really Humble And Kindness to… And His So really Nice Person having a Own Book Story…Must read po tlaga
Wow nakakatuwa nmn po si sir nick joaquin . Ka name niya ang baby ko sa joaquin .. ung mganito tlga lalo na napamahal na satin mhrap ng kalimutan .. ntuwa ako sa beer 😁 and kya din po pla kayo my library sa bahay ❤️ thank you for shring this .
Hindi po talaga madaling kalimutan ang memory ni mr Nick Joaquin lalo na at may personal connection kayo sa kanila. If I’m not mistaken meron akong nabasa na sinulat nya way back sa literature class namin nung college.
It’s nice to know where your obsession with library stated.
I like this lesson that you shared:
Great legal minds do not always come with loud voices and imposing personalities.
It’s really good to have an experience working with someone you look up to. It’s one the best feeling to hear stories about them. I think Nick Joaquin is really amazing person and he’s really cool. Base on how you tell a story about him gives me an idea that Nick Joaquin is an interesting person. Remembering those precious memories with that kind of person are the best.
Thankyou po sa pag bahagi nito . Ramdam po kita. Mahirap po talagang kalimutan ang Mga ganitong bagay lalo na kung napalapit napo at napamahal na tayo sa kanila. Sa kwento nyo po talaga namang kagiliw giliw pong tao si Nick Joaquin .
done reading this blog po ms wendy yes true ang hirap nga po kalimutan ng mga taong kagaya ni sir nick joaquin lalo na at nagkaroon ng malaking parte sa buhay natin and napahamal din satin. He is very kind person.
It’s so nice naman po na you treasure every memorable experiences at lalong lalo na mga tao na nakakatrabaho niyo po. Nache cherish niyo po at vivid pa din po sa memory niyo yung experiences na yun dun sa taong naging big part din po ng first job niyo lalo na naalala niyo sya in a fun and interesting man. ❤️Sigurado kung buhay pa siya at magkaroon ng pagkakataon na magkausap pa kayo at malaman po niya yung stories niyo about him, sigurado matutuwa po siya at sobrang maa appreciate niya po kung paano niyo po siya binigyan ng significant sa mga experiences niyo po❤️
Mga ganitong icon na naging parte Ng buhay naten , personally,really means a lot.He was a noble person,such a lot of achievement.He was really a man to remember.