Virginia R. Moreno (April 24, 1923 – August 14, 2021) was a Filipina writer, poet, and playwright.

Early life and education

Moreno was born in the Tondo neighbourhood of

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

on April 24, 1923. She studied at the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 20 ...

, where she was editor of the campus newspaper, and at the Kansas

Institute of International Education The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a 501(c) organization which focuses on international student exchange and aid, foreign affairs, and international peace and security. IIE creates programs of study and training for students, educa ...

Career

Her first collection of poems ''Batik Maker and Other Poems'' was published in 1972; it received the Palanca Memorial Award for Literature. Her play ''Straw Patriot'' (1956) was translated into

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

by Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez in 1967 as ''Bayaning huwad''. In 1969, she won the National Historical Playwriting Contest for her play ''The Onyx Wolf'', also known as ''La Loba Negra'' and ''Itim Asu''. Also in 1969, she studied at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

in London under a British Council grant. In 1973, she was co-director of the documentary ''The Imaginative Community: 7 Poets in Iowa''. Moreno also took part in the

International Writing Program The International Writing Program (IWP) is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since 2014, the program offers online courses to many writers and poets around the world. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted o ...

at the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 col ...

. In 1976, she became director of the University of the Philippines Film Center. In 1984, Moreno received a S.E.A. Write Award. In 1991, she was named Chevalier in the

Ordre des Palmes Académiques A suite, in Western classical music and jazz, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/ concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes and grew in scope to comprise up to five dances, sometimes with ...

by France. She has also served as chair of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Culture Committee of the Philippines.

Personal life and death

Moreno died on August 14, 2021, at the age of 98.

References

1923 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Filipino poets Filipino women dramatists and playwrights Filipino film directors Filipino women film directors People from Tondo, Manila Writers from Manila S.E.A. Write Award winners Chevaliers of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques Palanca Award recipients International Writing Program alumni Filipino women poets 21st-century Filipino poets 20th-century Filipino women writers 21st-century Filipino women educators 21st-century Filipino women writers 21st-century Filipino educators {{Philippines-writer-stub