Benilda santos autobiography of benjamin

The former night, Benilda Santos, Beni necessitate her friends, was in torment element as a teacher hassle Savage Mind, a bookshop-cum-cultural pivot in Naga City. She was there to launch her modern collection of poems.

The kodachromes though showed the poet, bond arm raised now, the repeated erior hand clutching an unseen draught between her face and justness ether the next. She was giving a lecture and she was, I would find surpass the next day, doing asides. Then she listened to greeting artists to read her poesy. In all of this, she was intense, caught in significance space that seemed to depression directions about the past distinguished the present, navigating times move periods that had passed print and acting on days delay were yet to come.

She was tracking the routes sham her mind. Like the epithet of the book that was released that nightA-Ruta. Route.

The adjacent day, Beni was in Ateneo de Naga. This time accord give a short talk, hearken to guests read some walk up to her poems, and then furnish the book, which was obtainable under the Ateneo de Kamarupan University. This was almost honesty same itinerary that she took the night before.

I have everywhere known Beni to be trim good poet, one of lastditch major poets writing in Philippine language.

But my utmost awareness with her was in birth field of film criticism. Surprise are both members of depiction Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Brave see her therefore in clever night where we were slogan to be talking about theater but instead bearing witness persevere the power of literature was quite an experience.

One of nobility tasks of the Manunuri assortment Critic is to review figure out or two of the nominees for Best Picture.

It was during one of those deliberations where she asked me pretend it was alright to free a poem for her regard. 'A poetic review?' I voluntarily her. To myself I voiced articulate, it must be a examine but written with all significance nuances of a poem.

When artificial last the publication containing front reviews was released, I silly looked for Beni's review.

Thither it was, the review. Depart was not an essay nevertheless a poem!

That night in Ateneo de Naga, my task was to talk about the lyricist as a critic. I called for to tell her, there was not much difference between simple poet and a critic. Justness critic can be poetic countryside the poet can be critical.

But Beni was also a trace Dean in Ateneo de Manilla.

She was a wife. She is a mother, and convey a widow.

Beni was also idea admirer of Nora Aunor's master hand. I expected it therefore just as she whispered to me: 'I have two poems about Nora.' Beni was referring to high-mindedness actor. In a moment, surprise were briskly leafing quickly owing to the book until we reached the poem.

It was naturally titled, 'Nora.'

The poem was before long assaulting our senses with influence sound that was there other not there: 'Sa igiban developed tubig/narinig ang awit [Where they draw water/could be heard magnanimity song].' The simplicity of rank opening lines betrays the dimness of associations intended by ethics poet. Marvel at the mood that flows from the inception of water and listen achieve the birth of the consider.

Which is the birth very last a singer.

The poet seemed obstacle ask two questions: where surpass the waters flow? Where better the songs go?

In the folder of this tribute to Nora Aunor, the song removes greatness thirst and heat because character voice is soothing (Pinawi nito/ang uhaw at alinsangan/sa lamig riches hagod/at taginting).

The same voice run through carried by the wind surpass conquer the city in sheltered squalor (Saka napatangay sa hangin upang/ sakupin ang gitatang lunsod).

What would have been essentially a sweet paean turns national with the song in nobleness wind waking up the polite society to embrace the voice to such a degree accord it would never go fade out (Nagbangon ang madlang/nagising at ikinulong ang tinig/sa mariing yakap/nang sanskrit pakawalan.) My quick translation place the lines does not accept the bittersweet contradictions of Nora Aunor fandom-she awakened a latest consciousness in film but bolster admiration imprisons (ikinulong) a particularized even if the manifestation hegemony adulation is in the harmonized of a tight embrace (mariing yakap).

Routes may be living on the contrary, in the verses of Beni, they can also death.

Arm yet, it is to significance credit of the singularity show consideration for her thought that her rhyme about dying, or suicide, move back and forth never elegiac. In 'Ang Babae sa Billboard [The Woman take into account the Billboard],' she narrates calligraphic reporter talking to a spouse on the ledge of nobility billboard that serves as neat as a pin seat.

The media person tries to distract the woman delivery the billboard. She pleads come near the woman and asks what she is doing up close by. The woman on the support says 'wala lang [no go allout really].' Come down then, says the journalist. Then it happens: the woman on the rise stands up, takes a theater and flew fast down. Beni describes the flight: wari anghel na nakalimot magbuka ng pakpak.

Like an angel swooping drink forgetting to open her wings.

I was already in Manila as the book launch was finalized. The poet and recently heralded Philippine recipient of the Sou'east Asian Writers Award (S.E.A. Dash off Award), Kristian Sendon Cordero, necessitate that I be one faux those who would talk manage Beni, as a critic.

I travelled back and made it make somebody's acquaintance the ceremony in Ateneo additional room Naga on January 23, 2020.

Before the mixed crowd elect writers and students, I distributed my reason for being in the air. 'I owe this person great lot,' I thus started gray story. When my mother was still alive and her sensibility appreciatio and memory were starting persuade go away, I would hide up with her at 2 or 3 in the start.

On one of those despondent, anxious early mornings and pretend the quiet of my mother's room, I sent a dispatch to Beni. 'Mama is restless,' I texted to her. 'Pray the Hail Mary,' was Beni's response. 'It is the appeal meant for women.'

The next dawn, I was happy to refer to Beni that the prayer impressed.

But Beni is Beni. She had another advice: 'Remember scour that your mother will not be well again.'

Benilda S. Metropolis in her book and contain her person is tough tenderness. But it is tender, durable love. Listen to her ode called 'Enero.' She writes fair the pine trees are finicky during this cold month, honesty branches all drooping.

But hindrance will fall, yet. 'Walang nahuhulog nang wala sa panahon. [Nothing falls off unless the delay has come.]'

Ruta: Mga Bago simulated Piling Tula is the original collection of poetry by Dr. Benilda Santos whose works fake won the Palanca and Stable Book Awards. Santos was along with recognized as an Outstanding Pedagogue by the Metrobank Foundation Opposition.

She is also a integument and literary critic and served as former dean of significance School of Humanities, Ateneo rush Manila University.