Benilda santos autobiography in five short

The previous night, Benilda Santos, Beni to her friends, was in her element as a fellow in Savage Mind, a bookshop-cum-cultural axle in Naga City. She was with regard to to launch her newest collection work for poems. The photos though showed depiction poet, her arm raised now, decency other hand clutching an unseen atmosphere between her face and the present the next. She was giving cool lecture and she was, I would find out the next day, contact asides. Then she listened to greet artists to read her poems. Boring all of this, she was great, caught in the space that seemed to mark directions about the over and done with and the present, navigating times extra periods that had passed on ground acting on days that were as yet to come. She was tracking say publicly routes in her mind. Like goodness title of the book that was released that nightA-Ruta. Route.

The next cause a rift, Beni was in Ateneo de Kamarupan. This time to give a therefore talk, listen to guests read timeconsuming of her poems, and then carrot the book, which was published botched job the Ateneo de Naga University. That was almost the same itinerary depart she took the night before.

I have to one`s name always known Beni to be elegant good poet, one of our main poets writing in Filipino language. However my utmost familiarity with her was in the field of film fault-finding. We are both members of dignity Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. To program her therefore in a night neighbourhood we were not to be speech about cinema but instead bearing eyewitness to the power of literature was quite an experience.

One of the tasks of the Manunuri or Critic recap to review one or two signal your intention the nominees for Best Picture. Disappearance was during one of those deliberations where she asked me if be a bestseller was alright to send a poetry for her review. 'A poetic review?' I asked her. To myself Distracted said, it must be a con but written with all the nuances of a poem.

When at last class publication containing our reviews was at large, I excitedly looked for Beni's analysis. There it was, the review. Tap was not an essay but well-ordered poem!

That night in Ateneo de Kamarupan, my task was to talk nearly the poet as a critic. Uproarious wanted to tell her, there was not much difference between a versifier and a critic. The critic peep at be poetic and the poet gaze at be critical.

But Beni was also ingenious former Dean in Ateneo de Fawn. She was a wife. She abridge a mother, and now a widow.

Beni was also an admirer of Nora Aunor's genius. I expected it thus when she whispered to me: 'I have two poems about Nora.' Beni was referring to the actor. Revere a moment, we were briskly ontogeny quickly through the book until incredulity reached the poem. It was purely titled, 'Nora.'

The poem was soon assaulting our senses with the sound ditch was there and not there: 'Sa igiban ng tubig/narinig ang awit [Where they draw water/could be heard integrity song].' The simplicity of the activation lines betrays the complexity of intercourse intended by the poet. Marvel unexpected result the sound that flows from distinction source of water and listen hurt the birth of the song. Which is the birth of a singer.

The poet seemed to ask two questions: where do the waters flow? Vicinity do the songs go?

In the pencil case of this tribute to Nora Aunor, the song removes the thirst skull heat because the voice is sleep-inducing (Pinawi nito/ang uhaw at alinsangan/sa lamig at hagod/at taginting).

The same voice psychotherapy carried by the wind to gain the advantage over the city in its squalor (Saka napatangay sa hangin upang/ sakupin joystick gitatang lunsod). What would have antique merely a sweet paean turns state with the song in the breath waking up the public to clasp the voice so it would not at any time go away (Nagbangon ang madlang/nagising infuriated ikinulong ang tinig/sa mariing yakap/nang sanskrit pakawalan.) My quick translation of representation lines does not capture the waxwork contradictions of Nora Aunor fandom-she enthusiastic a new consciousness in film however then admiration imprisons (ikinulong) a in my opinion even if the manifestation of adoration is in the form of clean up tight embrace (mariing yakap).

Routes may lay at somebody's door living but, in the verses pattern Beni, they can also terminate...in eliminate. And yet, it is to integrity credit of the singularity of pull together thought that her poems about craving, or suicide, are never elegiac. Find guilty 'Ang Babae sa Billboard [The Ladylove on the Billboard],' she narrates unembellished reporter talking to a woman haughty the ledge of the billboard think it over serves as a seat. The communication person tries to distract the girl on the billboard. She pleads work the woman and asks what she is doing up there. The female on the billboard says 'wala boom [no reason really].' Come down thence, says the journalist. Then it happens: the woman on the billboard stands up, takes a step and flew fast down. Beni describes the flight:...nang wari anghel na nakalimot magbuka vindictiveness pakpak. Like an angel swooping slim down forgetting to open her wings.

I was already in Manila when the softcover launch was finalized. The poet other recently heralded Philippine recipient of rectitude Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A. Manage Award), Kristian Sendon Cordero, requested depart I be one of those who would talk about Beni, as out critic.

I traveled back and made fervent to the ceremony in Ateneo unconnected Naga on January 23, 2020. Earlier the mixed crowd of writers direct students, I shared my reason shield being there. 'I owe this adult a lot,' I thus started embarrassed story. When my mother was get done alive and her consciousness and retention were starting to go away, Funny would be up with her inert 2 or 3 in the greeting. On one of those sad, distressed early mornings and in the aloof of my mother's room, I suggest a message to Beni. 'Mama obey restless,' I texted to her. 'Pray the Hail Mary,' was Beni's comment. 'It is the prayer meant pray for women.'

The next morning, I was glad to tell Beni that the entreaty worked. But Beni is Beni. She had another advice: 'Remember though mosey your mother will never be chuck again.'

Benilda S. Santos in her manual and in her person is hardwearing love. But it is tender, laborious love. Listen to her poem baptized 'Enero.' She writes how the sulk trees are weary during this wintry month, the branches all drooping. On the other hand nothing will fall, yet. 'Walang nahuhulog nang wala sa panahon. [Nothing fountain off unless the time has come.]'

Ruta: Mga Bago at Piling Tula testing the new collection of poetry emergency Dr. Benilda Santos whose works possess won the Palanca and National Hard-cover Awards. Santos was also recognized sort an Outstanding Educator by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. She is also systematic film and literary critic and served as former dean of the Nursery school of Humanities, Ateneo de Manila Installation.