Updated November 8, 4:30 p. m. — THE UNIVERSITY will hold a funeral Mass for its late writer-in-residence, Dr. Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta, on November 9, Tuesday, 9:30 a. m. at the UST chapel, ahead of a necrological service.
Rector Magnificus Very Rev. Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P., Arts and Letters Regent Rev. Fr. Joseto Bernadas, O.P., and Graduate School Regent Rev. Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, O.P. will offer the Holy Mass.
Eulogies will be delivered by Professors Isagani Cruz of the Manila Critics Circle, Ramon Osorio of ABS-CBN Corp., Joselito Zulueta of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine P.E.N., and Bong Lopez of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.
Dimalanta succumbed to stroke last November 4. She was 78. Dimalanta is survived by sons Al and Wystan.
The “love poet,” as she preferred to be called, is regarded as the country’s most important woman poet and one of the best Filipino writers in English.
Her celebrated poetry collection, “Montage,” won an award from the Iowa State University and the Palanca in 1974.
She continued to influence the Philippine literary landscape with succeeding poetry collections such as “The Time Factor and other Poems” (1983), “Lady Polyester: Poems Past and Present” (1993), and “Love Woman” (1998). In 2004, UST published the “The Ophelia A. Dimalanta Reader,” featuring a selection of her best works.
The literary matriarch realized her dream of bringing together UST’s literati under one roof with the establishment of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies in 1999, serving as its director. She was named UST’s writer-in-residence last year.
Dimalanta, born June 16, 1932 in San Juan, finished her bachelor of literature major in journalism and post-graduate studies in literature in the University. She became assistant editor of the literary section of the Varsitarian in her freshman year at UST.
Dimalanta started teaching right after college in the early 1950s and became dean of the Faculty Arts and Letters for three terms in the 1990s up to 2000.
She received numerous honors for her work, including the prestigious South East Asian or SEAWrite Award from the Thai royal family in 1999, the Catholic Authors Award in 1995, and The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award in 2002.
Dimalanta was a founding member of Manila Critics Circle.
Her remains will be cremated at 3 p. m. on November 9 at La Funeraria Paz in La Loma, Quezon City. Kalaine Nikka Kay C. Grafil
Many will miss you, Ma’am. Not only Thomasians.
My sincerest condolonces…
Thank You Mam Dimalanta for the gift of poetry…for the wonderful verses that will be forever engraved in our hearts. Thank you for inspiring us and for opening our hearts and minds to the beauty and magic of poetry.
“Dimalanta started teaching right after college in the early 1950s and became dean of the Faculty Arts and Letters for three terms from 1992 to 2000.” <<< that couldn't be right because she was our dean during our batch's major years, sy 1988-89, 1989-1990.
“Dimalanta started teaching right after college in the early 1950s and became dean of the Faculty Arts and Letters for three terms from 1992 to 2000.” <<< that couldn't be right because she was our dean during our major years there, journ class, batch 1990.
“Dimalanta started teaching right after college in the early 1950s and became dean of the Faculty Arts and Letters for three terms from 1992 to 2000.” <<< that couldn't be right because she was our dean during our major years there, journ class, batch 1990.
It is an honor for us to have been your students! Such an experience will never be equalled! Moreover, thank you for being part of our personal lives! You will forever be in our hearts!
Ophie gone… but her selflessness lives on to continue to inspire the several generations of students like us in the 70s. Her poems touch our hearts and awaken the very core of our being. The selfless poet rests now in quiescence with greater glory.
We have understood and experienced poetry best beneath her wings! Thank you for being our teacher, our dean and the country’s most illustrious woman poet! Most of all thank you for touching our lives!
Great loss! My sincerest condolences to all who loved her and her works.
too bad, thomasian community has lost another gem
She was the sister of my Lola, though it really hurts to say goodbye, it is just the end of the journey on earth and the beginning of a new life…. Our life is just temporary and what matters most is the journey that we had on this earth…
My sincerest condolences and prayers.
Mom Ophie was my professor in college.
Our deepest condolences. Though she’s gone, her memory and teachings will forever be remembered. Thanks Ma’am for being a good teacher, our guide, our mother…We love you!
MABUHAY KA “LADY POLYESTER”!
As i sat there in my own space contented , i felt nostalgia infuse herself to the familiar scent of incense. I then allowed my prayers to be lifted up by the ethereal smoke…as tears fell down one after another.Still i remained seated in my own space, contented, heart heavy with grief…yet proud and jubilant. Addio a domani to you “Love Poet”…your verses will be forever immortalized.
I will miss you Ma’m Ophie…You must now be feasting at our Lord’s great banquet. I can never forget your sweetness, your kindness, your generosity, your simplicity despite your stature…the times you’ve allowed me into your world. Please say hello to Papa and Joey for me…