What is the biography of pura santillan castrence?

Answer 1

Ambassador Pura Santillan-Castrence, a Filipino literary giant and columnist of the Manila Mail for many years, died in her sleep January 15 in her home base in Sydney , Australia.

Born in Sta. Mesa, Manila on March 24, 1905, Castrence was a prolific essayist, journalist, columnist, critic, linguist and translator. She was a Barbour Scholar, a pioneer diplomat, and a university professor.

She was among the early masters of the newly introduced English language in the 1920s, writing essays that would serve as a mold for the Filipino tradition of social commentary in this literary form.

"Nanay Pura," - as she was known among friends and admirers in Australia, was set to receive the Dangal ng Haraya Lifetime Achievement Award for Cultural Promotions during the third Gawad Alab ng Haraya award ceremonies on Feb. 23, 2007. Dangal Haraya is one of the highest recognitions from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Two weeks before her death, Castrence said of her nomination: "I am very happy and honored to accept the 2006 Dangal ang Haraya Award for Cultural Promotions from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines. I wish to thank the Bayanihan News of Sydney, Australia, which nominated me for such a prestigious award recognizing my contribution to our country. I am very grateful too, to the Board of Judges for considering me a worthy recipient of this award." Despite her age and blindness, she continued to write regularly for numerous publications such as the Bayanihan News in Australia and The Manila Mail, a weekly Filipino American paper, in Washington, D.C. She started writing her column "As I See It" in the early 90s while she was still residing with her son in Maryland. She continued to do so even after she relocated to Australia to join her daughter. In one of her columns she airmailed from Australia a few years ago, Mrs. Castrence complained about her failing eyesight. She said she was just dictating her column to a volunteer who wrote it down and mailed it. When she started writing for a local Filipino Australian paper in Melbourne, she often asked the staff of that paper to forward copies of her column to the Manila Mail. Most of her columns in the Mail were very critical of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and other subsequent Filipino leaders who tried to curtail basic freedoms in the Philippines. A fervent nationalist, Mrs. Castrence was also critical of leaders who blindly followed the foreign policy of the United States and who did not pay any attention to the sufferings of the poor. Her writing career was highlighted with the recent release of the book "As I See It: Filipinos and the Philippines, "a compilation of essays on subjects ranging from history to nostalgia. Earlier publications included "Women's Sense" and "The Women Characters in Rizal's Novels." Castrence is survived by her four daughters Lina, Leti, Olivia, Sylvia, and sons Jose, Roberto and Ricardo, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She passed away in her sleep peacefully in the presence of her loving daughters, grandchildren and close friends. Santillan-Castrence's numerous essays found in required textbooks in high schools and colleges in the Philippines had made her name a household word. Students would pore over the meanings of her works and turn them into popular class discussions. Her earlier publications include Women's Sense" and "The Women Characters in Rizal's Novels," a study on the women who inhabited "Noli me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo." Along with other pioneers, Castrence is credited with helping to develop the Filipino essay in English as a potent medium for social change from the 1920s to the present. Prof. Randy David notes Pura Santillan-Castrence's "powerful memory and unerring insight. She writes about the Philippines with the nostalgia of a native who has known a gentler time, and with the wisdom of a seer who has glimpsed the future." (She) has spent a lifetime promoting the Filipino national tradition. We are a richer people because of her. I am very happy to know that the NCCA is giving her the Dangal ng Haraya Award for Cultural Promotion. No recognition can be more appropriate and timely." Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, dean of the College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines says of "As I See It": there can be no better tribute to Pura Santillan-Castrence, pioneering feminist and respected writer, than the publication of her most recent columns, many of which are valuable eyewitness accounts of events and personalities decisive in Philippine history.' Dr. Tiongson agreed that the NCCA award is a recognition of the important legacy of the deceased. Dr. Mina Roces, historian and scholar at the University of New South Wales in Sydney considers this book "rare and valuable for historians and Filipinos interested in narratives of the past. She deserves this latest recognition awarded by the NCCA."

Answer 2

Pura Santillan-Castrence (1905-2007) was a prominent Filipina writer, educator, and diplomat. She was known for her contributions to Philippine literature, particularly her essays and articles on various social issues. Santillan-Castrence also held several positions in government and international organizations, advocating for women's rights and cultural diplomacy.