Candido’s Apocalypse

Candido’s Apocalypse

(Nick Joaquin)

Stages in the Dark Night of the Heart Between 17 and 18

Nick Joaquin

* Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin was born in Paco, Manila on May 4, 1917 and died on April 29, 2004. He was a Filipino writer, historian and journalist, best known for his short stories and novels in the English language. He also wrote using the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaquin was conferred the rank and title of National Artist of the Philippines for Literature.

* After Jose Rizal and Claro M. Recto, both writers in Spanish language, he is considered the third important Filipino writer (but the most important writer writing in English language).

Lingering on the Title

Candido’s Apocalypse Defined:

Apocalypse is a revelation of something hidden. In religious context, it is usually a revelation of hidden meaning-hidden from mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception. In the Revelation of John, the last book of the New Testament, the revelation which John receives is that of the ultimate victory of good over evil and the end of the present age. And therefore, many people misconstrue the word apocalypse to refer to any so-called End Time scenario, or the end of the world in general.

In the Calendar of old times, Candido which was the name that Bobby should have means martir.

The story was entitled Candido’s Apocalypse because it speaks more of the revelation of Candido/Bobby Heredia. He came to his awakening from his innocence to the sense of reality.

Actually, Bobby’s hatred was not to conformity in general, but to conformity of the present society. The old days and the calendar names denoted a pagan tone. At seventeen, Bobby looked up his name in the calendar: Candido, martir. The title itself was a manifestation of Bobby’s want of rebirth wherein he was himself, untainted from the dictates of his present society. But Bobby missed out that he might not be the only Candido among the countless Candidos born on the...