Quote by Nick Joaquin: “A nation's past is its future. It is its soul.”

This quote emphasizes the fundamental role of history in shaping a nation's destiny and character. It suggests that a country's heritage is not merely bygone events, but the very essence of its collective identity, guiding its future trajectory and defining its spirit.

From his essays in 'Culture and History,' where Joaquin passionately argued for the importance of understanding and embracing the Philippines' complex history, including its Spanish colonial past, to forge a strong national identity. This was particularly relevant amidst post-colonial identity struggles.

Filipino writer widely regarded as the greatest English-language author in Philippine literary history, born in Manila in 1917. His fiction, plays, and journalism explored Filipino identity, history, and mythology, and he received the National Artist Award for Literature in 1976.