Poet and dramatist Virginia Moreno, 98
POET, dramatist, educator Virginia R. Moreno passed away in the morning of Aug. 14. She was 98.
Virginia Reyes Moreno was born on April 24, 1923 in Tondo, Manila. She studied Philosophy at the University of the Philippines where was the editor of the campus newspaper. She pursued further studies as a Fulbright scholar at the Kansas Institute of International Education in the United States. While there, she also received a Creative Writing fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation.
In her career as a writer, Ms. Moreno wrote many acclaimed poems, plays, and books. In 1956, she wrote the play Straw Patriot (1956) which was translated into Filipino as Bayaning Huwad by Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez in 1967. In 1969, Ms. Moreno’s full-length play The Onyx Wolf (also known as La Loba Negra and Itim Asu) won the National Historical Playwriting Contest; the following year, it was adapted into a ballet by Ballet Philippines, featuring National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes. In 1972, her first collection of poems, titled Batik Maker and Other Poems, won first prize at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards.
Ms. Moreno was the founding director of the Film Center at University of Philippines. She also served as the chairman of the UNESCO Culture Committee of the Philippines.
In 1991, she was conferred as a Chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms in France — a badge and recognition given to those with distinguished contributions in education and culture.
Tributes poured out on social media.
Award-winning fictionist Susan Severino Lara said, “Goodbye to the preternatural poetess and host to our countless literary events, poetry readings, soirees at her iconic place, Cafe Orfeo.”
Filmmaker Raymond Red wrote, “Farewell, rest in peace, the poet, our mentor, the genius behind the UPFI Film Center, Virginia Reyes Moreno.”
Filipino author and translator Beverly “Bebang” Siy recalled an encounter with the late writer on Facebook, “Early 20s ako nang una ko siyang makita. Nalimutan ko na kung saan. Una ko siyang nakita bago nabasa. Pero di ko na siya nalimutan mula noon, kasi nga the way the writers, na mga lodi ko, meet her up at the doorway… nagpupumiglas ang kanilang enerhiya (I was in my early 20s when I first saw her. I do not recall where. I first saw her before I read her works. But I never forgot her since then, because of the way the writers, who were my idols, meet her up at the doorway… they were trying to get a grip of their energy),” she wrote.
“Akala mo ay may diyosang bumaba sa lupa. At tama nga ako ng akala. Hanggang sa muli po, Mam Virginia Moreno. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong buhay at mga akda (I thought a goddess came down to earth. What I thought was right. Until then, Ma’am Virginia Moreno. Thank you very much for your life and works),” she added.
Television director Noel A. Añonuevo, who was a student of Ms. Moreno at the University of the Philippines where she taught Humanities, wrote on Facebook: “Paalam, Virginia Reyes Moreno aka Aling Barang. ‘Twas a life well lived, you feisty woman.”
Ms. Moreno was the sister of renowned couturier Jose “Pitoy” Moreno, Jr. who passed away in 2018.
Online memorial and tribute details will be posted at www.facebook.com/morenovirginiar.
