Ophelia Dimalanta 

Born: June 16, 1934 Died: November 04, 2010

Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta was an editor, poet, author, and teacher. She was born in San Juan City in the Philippines.

Dimalanta has several works anthologized in local and foreign journals; has published three books : Anthology of Philippine Contemporary Literature, Readings from Contemporary English and American Literature, and The Philippine Poetic; and a collection of poems, Montage, which won the Iowa State University best poetry award(1969), and first prize in the Palanca Memorial awards for literature(1974).

She was a founding member of the Manila Critics Circle and an honorary fellow of the Philippine Literary Arts Council. In 1999, she founded the UST Center for Creative Writing and Studies and presently serves as its dynamic director.

Cirilo F. Bautista hailed her as "not only our foremost woman poet but also one of the best poets writing now, regardless of gender."

Her poems show the evident influence of T.S. Eliot and Wallace Stevens. Her later poetry draws from a wider range of influences, among them Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Denise Levertov.

Dimalanta believes that "The older you become and the more mature your art becomes, the more you realize that you have your own identity."

Mrs. Dimalanta also wrote books and critical reviews, handled literature and creative writing classes at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School, Faculty of Arts and Letters, and De La Salle College . She also aquired a Ph.D. in Literature from the University of Santo Tomas.

In 2002, UST published Dimalanta's verse drama, "Lorenzo Ruiz, Escribano: A Play in Two Acts", with a Filipino translation by Florentino H. Hornedo and Michael M. Coroza. It was premiered on 22-24 February 1994 at UST in a production directed by Isagani R. Cruz.

Dimalanta lived with her family in Navotas City.

Works

Poetry

•           Finder Loser

•           Montage (1974)

•           Time Factor (1983)

•           Flowing On (1988)

•           Lady Polyester (1993)

•           Love Woman (1998)

•           Passional (2002)

•           The Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta Reader, Volume 1, Poetry (2005)

Criticism

•           The Philippine Poetic

Anthology

•           Anthology of Philippine Contemporary Literature

•           Readings from Contemporary English

Prose

•           The Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta Reader, Volume 2, Prose (2006)

Drama

•           Lorenzo Ruiz, Escribano: A Play in Two Acts (2002)

Honors

•           Poet and Critic Best Poem Award from Iowa State University (1968)

•           Palanca Awards for Poetry (1974, 1983)

•           Fernando Maria Guerrero Award (1976)

•           Focus Literary Award for Fiction (1977, 1981)

•           Cultural Center of the Philippines Literature Grant for Criticism (1983)

•           Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from the Writers' Union of the  Philippines (1990)

•           Southeast Asia (SEA) Write Award from King Bhumibol of Thailand (1999)

•           Parangal Hagbong, University of Santo Tomas (2008)

 

Finder Loser by Ophelia Dimalanta

More than half of my life

I spend searching for lost

objects ( papers, receipts,

old letters, pills and whatever

else) and causes and the rest,

losing and finding, and losing

them again, found or otherwise;

losing what I have in good

measure, finding what

I can’t almost have-

One perpetual lifetime probe,

Forever rummaging through

Bureaus and drawers and pages

Of my life’s past disarray…

And so when I finally go

keep vault unlidded for I

shall surely sit up and look

around to pursue this search,

holding on to dear life,

or to dear death, does it matter-

they are one in the proper

time but not till then,

I shall go on seeking out

lost faces and faiths in the

cold, collecting, calculating

crowd, sadly aware that later

but an unbreath away

I shall lose them all again;

as I was won’t, losing all

in this final irretrievable

lose of my death time

or perhaps, possibly, yes,

death will be kinder and oh, yes

allow me at last this

flowing final find.

Sources:  

http://opheliaalcantaradimalanta.inmemoriam.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia_Alcantara_Dimalanta

https://zyneensky.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/finder-loser-by-ophelia-a-dimalanta-8/

-Krystelle 

Volunteerism is an act of doing something initiatively without any legal concern or interest.

The principles of Volunteering: Why have them?

Principle 1: Volunteering benefits community and the volunteer.

In volunteering, a person must engage with happy thoughts to achieve a positive result for both the community and themselves.

 

Principle 2: Volunteer work is unpaid.

I remember that I was one of the volunteers who helped those families in Samar, Leyte. When Typhoon Ondoy came here in the Philippines, most of the families has suffered of lack in food supplies as a result of chaotic.  The student council from our school went there and helped. As we are helping packaging a full of food supplies, I remember someone who told me this and say, –

“You don’t need money in order to make someone’s happy, all you need to give is love – the love that is priceless and it can share it to someone.” I smiled and nodded my head.

 

Principle 3: Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others.

To ensure that volunteering action does not have a negative impact on the rights and dignity of others in the community.

Volunteering is ALWAYS open to the public. Anyone can help without asking for in return.

Based on what I’ve researched, in the Philippines, children make up 37% of the population. Many of them still do not enjoy their rights to play, learn and be protected from violence. UNICEF friends and supporters will uplift those children’s rights in the Philippines.

It’s really sad to hear, right?

Many newscasters from GMA network made a lot of documentaries about the happenings here in our country. Does the government made a change for our country? Well, for some people they would say yes but, for me? My answer would be no.

Why?

Our politics here is a disaster.

How and Why?

Ask yourselves.

“We have the ability to vote for the candidates who is willing to rule and change the world but, the problem is – we are to blind to find a perfect leader even though, no one is perfect. And you know what it is? The truth is, our country is corrupt!” Perla said. (Our economics and taxation teacher)

We agree.

“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.”  Julius Caesar

-Krystelle

Smoke

The gaseous products of burning materials especially of organic origin made visible by the presence of mall particles of carbon.

Last three years ago, The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) stand not to halt its anti-smoking campaign despite a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling was lauded by a public health think tank. 

The advocacy group also condemned the tobacco industry for bullying government agencies such as the MMDA that strongly implement tobacco control policies.

I remember once my grandmother told me a story about her husband named, Jesus. My grandfather was a chain smoker before, I don't even remember when he started from smoking, probably friends' influence?

Before, grandmother told me that he was really addicted in smoking. She just told about it out of the blue. Decades have passed, tobacco was made and became popular to all men. Smoke here, smoke there... smoke everywhere! 

I'm not saying that I'm criticizing a person but, I knew that one of our former presidents here in the Philippines influenced people. Can someone guess who is that? 

The answer is, Former President Fidel V. Ramos. If I'm not mistaken he has a lot of pictures holding tobaccos but, it doesn't mean that he is a bad person. I've searched everywhere about him and I found out his daughter died because of lung cancer. 

Fidel Ramos daughter Jo dies of lung cancer

'DON'T SMOKE' Former President Fidel Ramos portrait of his daughter Jo at Funeria Paz in Sucat, Paranaque City.

The second of Ramos’ five daughters, Jo was remembered for her accomplishments in music and sports, mainly as a vocalist-musician and a bemedalled water skier.

“(Former first lady Amelita) Ramos stopped smoking cold turkey seven years ago, after 25 years of smoking. Me, I stopped 25 years ago. She (Jo) did not stop,” Ramos said.

“Paalala (remember), smoking is bad for the health because Jo was a victim of a very vicious lung cancer,” he stressed.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/18700/fidel-ramos-daughter-jo-dies-of-lung-

When my grandfather watched a documentary about smoking cigarettes -- he was shocked and decided to stop from smoking. He continued himself on activities that makes him happy and healthy. 

Here are some tips on how to become a healthy person (just like my grandfather): 

First, MOVE! 

Replace cigarettes by sweat-including physical activities that you enjoy or would like to try.

Second, HAVE FUN!

Look around for activities that you enjoy and that will allow you to laugh.

Third, POSITIVE THINKING!

If you're capable of thinking a pretext to smoke, you should also be capable of finding an excuse not to smoke. It's a matter of positive thinking. 

Fourth, RELAX! 

Sleep a lot. Stretch out, breathe deeply or yawn, decorate your environment and learn some relaxation techniques. 

Fifth, REWARD YOURSELF! 

Reward yourself regularly with the money you save by not buying cigarettes. 

"Smoking kills. If you're killed you're lost a very important part of your life." 

-Krystelle