Abè: Nick Joaquin’s last opus

The biography of Emilio Aguilar Cruz—a writer, author, painter, nationalist and expressionist who was known to his friends as simply Abè—may well be the definitive one, having as its author Nick Joaquin, a poet, playwright, a dear friend and an authority on Philippine art history.

Such careful analyses of Abè’s life, his rare abilities, numerous talents and his works are established with penetrating review of his personality. A happy worldly man, Abè the artist expressed both the tranquility and extravagance of a noble mind.

The pictures, illustrations and sketches and simple narrative of this book pay homage to the achievements of a great human being. A multitude of accomplishments and legendary claims introduces a great artist to a new generation that seeks to comprehend art and its many facets.

If Abè had done nothing else but his sketches, his nudes, landscapes and seascapes, he would still be a major Filipino artist. But he also painted in oil and watercolor and that makes him not just a Filipino artist but also a world painter. A painting does not belong to the painter but to anyone who can see the beauty behind the colors and be able to visualize a painting at will, and truly encompass it.

Comprehensive and of great value to art lovers is the full color and the black and white reproductions of the works of Abè. The basic, nationalist style remains classical, because classic dignity was what he desired for the Filipino.

Abè’s story is inspirational, engaging, anecdotal and unfolds in a book that is appealing to everyone. National Artist Nick Joaquin did more than give justice to a man whom Gatbonton said was "more than life".  

Abè is the final completed work of Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature and the greatest Filipino writer of the 20th century. It chronicles the life and times of one of the country’s most beloved journalists and artists Emilio Aguilar Cruz, father and inspiration to the founder of Café Adriatico and the LJC Group of Restaurants.

Larry Cruz, our sincere thanks for hosting and sharing your recollections of a great artist, a gentleman, Ambassador Extraordinary—your father, Emilio Aguilar Cruz — Abè.