Culture and History

by Nick Joaquín

Nick Joaquin, said Jose Garcia Villa, is “the only Filipino writer with a real imagination—the imagination of power and depth and great metaphysical seeing—and which knows how to express itself in great language, who writes poetry, and who reveals behind his writings a genuine first rate mind.” Reprinted in 2004 by Anvil, with illustrations by Beaulah P. Taguiwalo.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Cultural, Politics, Historical, Asia, Essays

253 pages

First published January 1, 1988

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

[RE de Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let it be known. This is the best book on Philippine History I have ever read. It ought to be a basic text taken up by any serious student of history. (Although not forced upon a student not interested in history at all - for such readers, I recommend Ambeth Ocampo.) Your experience of Philippine History (and Philippine Contemporary News, actually) is not truly complete unless you've digested a number of key points about the study of history, raised here by Nick Joaquin. Not every chapter is as important as the rest, but "Culture and History", "A Heritage of Smallness" and its companion piece at the very end of the book are absolute must-reads.

[More details later - the book is currently in storage, as I'm moving to a new city.]

RE de Leon
11:44 PM 6 January 2011
Agoo, La Union, Philippines

[Chili · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this as my pre-election read to freshen my POV and learn something about the Filipino psyche. If you're looking for something that uplifts and inspires -- this ain't it. But it's definitely interesting!

Challenging and provocative, Nick Joaquin has a loooooot of controversial thoughts. Like the infamous Filipino "heritage of smallness". He says we never evolve to deal with bigger problems. In the face of adversity, we go with what is manageable and comfortable. We are content to stick to small solutions, like our jeepneys and tricycles instead of a more complex transport system, or our tingi-tingi sari-sari store set-up. Maybe hearing a hard truth made the patriot in me jump out but his assertions came across as condescending and matapobre. Someone living day-to-day would have less mettle to risk his income only to "challenge himself". Hello, anong kakainin niya?? Grit? 😤 Not everyone has a safety net or an appetite for risk. But then I wondered if it applied on a personal level and used it as a springboard for self-reflection. Now I am spiraling in doubt -- do I not take on challenges?? Am I content with staying small???

I really enjoyed his essays on religion! Especially the ones on beatas (I've been wondering why there weren't more Filipino saints) and the Sto. Niño and its pagan origin.

Dami kong nasabi. Tagal ko kasing binasa eh. At least I took on the challenge of finishing it despite the intimidation. Or is that not a big enough challenge, Nick Joaquin 🤔

[Rise]

Not every essay Nick Joaquín wrote is agreeable, but his arguments are thoughtful if not thought provoking, and the ways he phrased them are a display of skill and intelligence. He argued that the pre-Hispanic civilization in the Philippine islands are not too far advanced compared to China and India. He called it a "heritage of smallness": the Filipino works best on a small scale and by implication is unable to commit to big projects, hence, our ancestors built small boats (balangay). They also choose to work in soft, easy materials like clay, molten metal, and tree bark. According to him, our artifacts show that they did not develop to the next level, our pottery not as advanced as the Chinese porcelain. In contrast, the arrival of the Spanish brought advancements in technology that led to cultural progress. Joaquín is often accused of being a Hispanophile. He is a Hispanophile. His writings offer a reckoning of the Filipino in terms of colonial influences and the way diverse identities blended to produce the imprints of a culture and history.

[Rose Ann Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my output for school so just an amateur attempt of summarization(as always). I was not forced to publish this as a form of compliance to the course subject but I just wanted to post it here so that it will not go to waste after submission. I apologize for the incorrect grammar and uses, English is not really my first language nor did I have fluency in my first.

Précis: Culture and History by Nick Joaquin
In his provoking 1988 essay, Culture and History, Nick Joaquin conveyed the impression that Filipinos cannot attempt to repudiate concepts, beliefs and overall influence that was parted to them by other countries with the intention of restoring their identity to its “original” state. The reason behind his judgement is that there is a great extent by which the things that Filipino folks are practicing and utilizing today was brought about by the foreign ascendancy. Joaquin developed, rationalized, and disseminated this postulation with the use of his appended information about the inventions and spices(which was introduced by the Spaniards), as it caused a substantial contribution to the creation of culture and tradition created by the Filipinos; by wanting to altogether delete the foreign impacts, people are implying to consciously or unconsciously destroy their so-called present form of being. Like a set of building blocks, removing the foundation will obliterate the holistic structure of what depicts the entirety of the group, Filipinos, by nature and by what sets them apart from other factions. Generally, identity is a sustaining process wherein one picks up a variety of ideas to concoct and develop their selfhood; therefore, in the simplest terms, it was implied by Joaquin that it was necessary for the Filipinos to use other’s influence because Philippines is a young developing country that is still testing waters. One can use a sponge as a visual representation of the country: absorbing surrounding edification, excreting what will not be useful in its situation, and still retaining slivers of past encounters, by default was its traditions. The aspiration of the writer by publishing his essay is to supply additional facts for his target audience, which is his fellow Filipinos, to reflect about customs and in order to decrease the debaters who were driven only by ignorance.

I just based my work based on what little did I read about what is to be contained in that kind of summary.

Posted on 4th Day of October in the year 2019.

[Jean Louise | bookloure · Rating 3 out of 5]

These essays aged like milk. Ewan ko sayo Nick Joaquin.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as mind blowing as “A Question of Heroes,” but I enjoyed the hot takes on Philippine identity and history. I enjoyed some essays more than others. The whole essay on the beatas felt a bit drawn out for example.


Liked the analysis that the roads etc. paved the way for us to become a nation, similar to England in that sense. Also enjoyed him pointing out that we weren’t that important to the rest of Asia, and that travelling merchants were likely one way. Looking at how minimally other Asians affected our pre-colonial culture.

Super cool to think that it was the Spanish who introduced us more fully into Asia.

The Dutch Wars making the Principalia out of the Insulares, along with Tagalog and Kapampangan elites is such a cool way to view the conception of a national consciousness.

Interesting how Filipinas only applied to some Visayan islands under Villalobos and Mindanao was Cesárea. Then Ternate, some of the Moluccas, and even Taiwan were once Filipino. Philip II united Spain and Portugal at some point.

[Gabriela Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A nation is not its politics or economics. A nation is people. And a nation changes only when the people change."

This book is not easy reading. Not just because of the meaty subject matter (perhaps THE ultimate subject: what IS the Filipino? And how did history make him?) but because the answers Nick Joaquin posed will not sit well with a lot of idealistic patriots with romanticized notions of a glorious aboriginal culture. He challenges the idea that the pre-Hispanic Filipino and Philippines was culturally rich, and points out weaknesses in the modern-day Filipino most bluntly, to the point of giving offense. One should not read this book expecting to be comforted by visions of past greatness.

CULTURE AND HISTORY is a collection of fifteen essays written in various decades, some from the 1960's but collected and first published in 1988. To be honest, the book is so rich in material that each essay deserves its own review! But for my future ailing memory's sake, I shall stick to my usual social-media-friendly soundbyte-style.

While some of the essays were critiques of artifact exhibits in Club Filipino and anthologies of essays on Philippine culture, most were miniature historical treatises which seem intended for publication in newspaper or magazine form.

The word "miniature" is one I will forever associate with this book.

One of several controversial themes is his observation on the Filipino, throughout history, as having "the habit... of thinking poor... and petty. Is that the explanation for our continuing failure to rise -- that we aim small and try small, that we think small and do small?"

"Why are we as a people so disinclined to face up to challenges?"

"We don't grow like a seed, we split like an amoeba... We make a confession of character whenever we split up a town or province to avoid having to cope with big problems and operations... we are capable only of the small."

Not everything is dark and dreary in the book. The central theme is the use of cultural artifacts to inform us of history... "Culture is itself history."

I was particularly fascinated with his essays on the beatas of Manila in the 1600's ("cryptomovements of protest") and the apocalyptic Christian-Socialist cult known as the Guardia de Honor of Pangasinan, with their Apo Laki and their New Jerusalem in Cabaruan and Santa Ana. Here were peasant revolts and feminist revolts pre-dating the Philippine Revolution, with the latter continuing up until the movement was taken down by the Americans.

One essay, "Our Hearts in the Highlands?" tells of the time he and his friends went up to the Cordillera mountains in search of the noble natives uncorrupted by Western civilization... and were disappointed.

"The journey in search of identity had ended not in the highlands but back home... where the heart is."

This book, I think, was written with that goal: to provoke self-examination, for us to look inside and sift out the good (along with the evils) that our colonial past brought us, and learn from that good. For to deny any part of our history is to risk a fractured identity.

When an author (whose father fought alongside Emilio Aguinaldo) has lived through World War II and Martial Law writes thus, one would do well to listen and reflect. I take comfort in the ending phrase of the last essay (with the same title as the book): "... this nation-in-the-making called the Philippines, this identity-in-progress called the Filipino."

The revolution ... and our evolution ... are not yet finished.

[John Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a history book, but a book about history and culture.

The grand design of this collection is accentuating the noteworthy, and the mainstream air of what we considered history in our classrooms become footnotes against it. Published in 1988, this collection of essays came out with a subtitle Culture and History: Occasional Notes on the Process of Philippine Becoming (1988). From that, it is obvious what that is all about. Nick Joaquin heralded the unsung pieces of our culture that makes for history -- pieces, albeit small and ordinary, could tell a Filipino, that s/he recognizes something as part of The Filipino. Thus, the national identity that may seem so elusive to this day was brought to the front in this collection, yet with enough wit and style to get you through the entire book.

Joaquin debunked the myth that all that the Spaniards brought to the Pearl of the Orient are evil and that our pre-Hispanic forefathers were the real Filipinos and should have left alone in peace, just like the indigenous peoples in the mountains. But culture as history proved otherwise since the Spaniards gave us the wheel and the plow, the guisado, the adobo, etc. Could we, then, say that the adobo, the pan de sal are evil? And could the primeval forefathers have united the islands to a nation that we have today? Yet how come did the indigenous peoples across the country still remain as tribal communities? Is it a shying away from the big task of nation-building? A laborious task that it took conquistadores, people from the other side of the world, to do the job for the island-dwellers?

Those were some of the strings of thoughts, arguments and counterarguments that were brought to light that cast contrast to the drab sequence of events that we point to as "history". Joaquin gave analysis to the events-- which were mostly Introductions -- and came out with flare, with new perspective that all that were introduced to the people after 1521 were but ingredient to the process that makes the Filipino who s/he is today.

This is a great collection in its entirety, full of insight about the Filipino Becoming. I somehow lament that Joaquin did not placed footnotes or a bibliography about his sources of facts that he referred to in each essay. But he sure had all his claims backed by a huge amount of facts and observations of previous writers that it is difficult not to give in to his arguments. This maybe due in part of his writing style as a journalist than being a scholar. Perhaps, by the great amount of effort of having those sources, or by sheer talent and style of writing, or by the conclusions and insights he presented, I should say I like this book. For people who are bored of Philippine history yet want to have another take on it, this may be a refreshing read not to ignore. And yet it is difficult to pass up finishing this collection of a great writer.

[Iyan De Jesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are parts of this book where I agree with the author. There are parts where I appreciate being introduced to a different way of seeing how things went... But there are also times when I wanted to summon Nick Joaquin via ouija board just to give him a piece of my mind.

[Joseph Guillermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I officially love Nick Joaquin!

[ivysandesu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most important book I've read. A must-read for every Filipino anxious to know why he is how he is when he is what he is which he is where. Every page is enlightening. It's like meeting a long lost friend who's retelling a story I didnt get the first time. If only we were told about this in our history text books. I wish they create a "gradeschool" version of this book so children can read it.

"By snubbing the truly important to favor the less important, we have been developing in our people a warped view of our culture and history."

When we fully realize that, we may begin to understand why the Filipino bears the name of a king.

[Philip Esguerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Nick Joaquin has been a discovery for me. He wrote in prolific English that even surpassed in my opinion other native English authors. His book gives much insight on what the Spanish colonization has contributed to the Filipino culture and more. All I know about the Philippines is what I reluctantly learned from Gregorio Zaide's high school textbook. This a much h needed info of why we are what we are now as the Filipino. Great read!

[iceberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first and last essays were indeed provocative to the common assumptions we have on Philippine history and culture, as a compilation of essays rather than an actual single book Joaquin ends up repeating himself numerous times throughout, while also inserting more uninteresting passages. Stylistically these essays also a far cry from his best, making it a disappointing read compared to “A Question of Heroes,” save for the more critical pieces.

[Julius]

I feel like I have read this a little too late on my reading venture. What Nick Joaquin points out here is what our most writers today, fictionist or not, are writing about already. This is just more hispanic given that Nick Joaquin is a sort-of hispanophile (like an otaku to anything japanese, he seems crazy to anything spanish). But the point is this: ang kultura ay umaayon sa panahon; ang kasaysayan ay ginagawa ng maliliit; wala na tayong babalikang kahapon; lumalaon bumubuti, sumasama kaysa dati.

What these essays ask is the reconfiguration of how we view, or teach, history and culture. Here he uses lenses such as history as culture - that is viewing history as if its the present current events, dynamic and interweaving. Another lens is culture as history - that is viewing the present as a continuing past, or as a lead to see which of the past survived and is being used today.

He also like viewing at topics using other academic's lenses, such as German writer Gunter Grass view that the introduction of the potato was a more important event in the history of the German people than all the martial victories of King Frederick the Great - the potato made possible the industrialization of Europe and the rise of the proletariat.

Reviews of books and other cultural products during the writing of these essays could be picked up here. As well as hot topics of his times. These comments might have found its way, first, in his newspaper columns or magazine write-ups. I feel like Nick Joaquin would love facebook and twitter if he's alive today. His love to play the devil's advocate will surely add to the flame, or toxicity, of social media discourse.

What this book offers is the critical view of anything, from the founding of Katipunan to the introduction of the plow. Nothing is really that simple. Entering his train of thought through his sort-of stream of consciousness writing, we get to experience what is like to ponder in an informed manner, to question what might seem to be unquestionable, unapologetically relate and locate happenings - and form our opinions in a wiser manner.

But what I really like about this book is that no huge name is sacred in the formation of what we are now. Evident between the words is his stand that why history is how culture is when it happens is what dictates it is which the little people where.

[Cho Timbol · Rating 5 out of 5]

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN 2022 (SO FAR)

Culture and History by Nick Joaquin (1988), unlike most books, did not simply confirm what I already knew or believed, or simply add to my worldview. It belongs to that rare breed of books that actually changed my mind.

Thank you, @misskarenique for giving me this book last Christmas.

***

Culture and History is an anthology of essays that explores Filipino-ness. Nick Joaquin contends that

1) The Philippines pre-1521 only had a superficial relationship with the rest of Asia

2) The Spanish conquest is THE event in our history, but not so much because of Catholicism as the introduction of more ubiquitous agents of culture, such as the guisado, the wheel, the plow, or the clock and the calendar. These are the real contributions of Spain to Filipino-ness.

3) By simply asking ourselves what Filipino-ness is, we reveal ourselves to be more Filipino than even our "unspoiled" pre-1521 forefathers

Reading this book feels like a conversation with a friend whose thoughts irritate, offend, and challenge, but ultimately leaves you richer.

***

Aside from its remarkable insight, the book is also notable for its sublime prose. Nick Joaquin might be the best writer I've ever read.

In the course of reading this book, I felt aghast, pensive, illuminated, annoyed, chagrined. But ultimately it has left we with a clearer idea of who I am as a Filipino--primordially Pacific (not Asian), changed forever by Spain, and continuously adapting to the challenges the world throws my way.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Filipino who grew up in Canada, I’ve been on a journey to read up on well-known Filipino authors. I wanted to learn more about Filipino history and this book was recommended by friends in my TCKGlobal family.

I have to admit, it took me a long, long time to finish this book because life got in the way but also because I was finding it hard to adjust to Joaquin’s writing especially in the first few chapters and prioritizing other books but as time went on, I kept coming back to it and found myself pondering about Joaquin’s opinions of the culture and history of the Philippines.

In my experience growing up as Filipino-Canadian, I felt too western to identify as a Filipino but too Filipino to fully identify as Canadian. To my surprise through reading this book, I completely understood the thought that Joaquin states that it wasn’t until the Philippines was colonized by Spain did the rest of Asia see and open up to the Philippines as being Asian too. So in a way my experience as a Filipino-Canadian helped me see how Filipinos are seen as a part of two continents despite being in one continent because of its history.

There were some opinions Joaquin had that rang true and some opinions I wasn’t too sure of.

The chapters I found really thought provoking were towards the end of the book: A heritage of smallness, junking the heritage and culture and history.

[Man Azelbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that makes the reader smile, amusingly, at the end. In my opinion, Filipinos who classifies himself either as a nationalist, or one who has pro-American sentiments (liberals?), or those who vehemently accuse the Spanish conquistas over the current general environment of the country today; why we are poor, “they should have left us alone”, so on and forth, SHOULD read this book. Nick Joaquin reminds us the overlooked (if not forgotten) history of old, never in my life have I heard of the Hermana Sebastiana, the adventures of the Sto. Nino, or our “heritage of smallness”, until I’ve read this book. Although, I have my own disputes over some of his passages in the book, we'll, maybe that’s because new information has come to light in our generation that wasn’t available to them. Maybe.

Thus, I end with two lines I have taken to heart when reading Culture and History:
“The goodness of life is not a matter of prices: a state of mind” (or something like that); and that Filipino Culture and History can be summarized as,

“Out of many, fragments.”

[Ivan Labayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://chopsueyngarod.wordpress.com/...

"Based on the quotes to follow, Joaquin the national artist might have also replaced “Indio” with “Igorot.”

In “Our Heart’s in the Highlands,” from Culture and History: “The woodcarvings on sale at the curio shops are of the shoddiest kind. From the evidence of the products on display from Baguio to Bontoc, and from cloth to woodwork to metalware, Igorot craftmanship not only has not made any advance but is fast degenerating. Only partly can the tourists be blamed for this; the main reason seems to be an ebbing vitality of which the listlessness and the stolidity are the most obvious manifestations” (56).

The Igorot as indio as indolent, ebbing in vitality, natangay sa agos at hindi nakasabay sa tikas at bugso at sigla ng Kanluraning Pag-unlad; kawawang mga Igorot ayon sa pinagpipitaganang Nick Joaquin."

[Bookbed · Rating 3 out of 5]

We think this book is worth checking out! Consider adding it to your to-read pile. :)

Check out more of our recs here:"15 Books to Buy from the Manila International Online Book Fair"

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[Aeron Ruazol · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone asking who and what is a Filipino, this book is a must read. A brilliant analysis of Filipino culture vis-a-vis Philippine history, Nick Joaquin crushes the Filipino identity crises into ashes. Misconceptions are reduced to mere illusions and out of the smoke arises the true-blue Filipino created by the unique circumstance called the Philippines. Only by knowing his true self can the Filipino proceed towards nation building and embrace his destiny. In the culture, indeed, lies our salvation as a nation.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that the essays in this book were written in between the 60s - 80s, it may appear to be outdated (eg the heritage of smallness, or the Philippines being rejected/ignored in Asia, or our history being basically non-existing prior to the 1520s). But will devour anything History, and will devour anything written by Nick Joaquin. Not everything may be agreeable, but the arguments are interesting nonetheless.

[Eric Elegado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read. Will make you rethink the "warped" version of history that was taught in our history books. Also a bit depressing to see how the author's ideas from the 60s about our identity and revolution towards nationhood seemed to have not been realized even to the present, especially to the present! Interesting to see how the Philippines would change over the next 50 years. But then again, I'm thankful we learned guisado.

[Ricardo David Bea Dy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of essays offering an more nuanced view of Philippine history, avoiding the pitfalls of overt indigenism and Hispanism. It is a good companion to Nick Joaquin's A Question of Heroes, and due to its insights should be a key part of education in Philippine humanities.

[Ike Eslao]

Others may deplore your bad thinking process but if you say all these times you have been reading Nick Joaquin thoughtfully, rest in the thought that it's still an honor being deplored in this manner.

[Argene Clasara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offers a superb and enlightening insights on Filipino identity, history, and culture. It is a pity that this work has no citations or bibliography for further reading enjoyment. A good starter for students of history!

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite non-fiction book I have ever read. The quality is over the top. This is recommended for those people who want to picture the life of Filipinos back in the day. It's truly fascinating.

[Rainier Moreno-Lacalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Culture and History is one of the greatest books written by a Filipino. The discussions were well-researched, honest, and authentic, and every page shows the story of a common man. The book is a gift of the Filipino people to the world!

[emil · Rating 4 out of 5]

di ako sumasang-ayon sa lahat ng mga sanaysay dito. okey. peroooo mahusay pa rin at mayroon mga ilang sanaysay na nakaka-ano. ano. uhhh basta HAHAHA it made me think lang ha

[Generose Dumaboc · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Robbie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be alternating Nick Joaquin and Stephen King for the remainder of the year. And I do not give a damn. At all.