NOEL FERRER
Pumanaw ang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan na si Bienvenido Lumbera, 89, ngayong Martes ng 9:14 a.m. Setyembre 28.
“Complications of stroke” ang ikinasawi ng manunulat na kinilalang National Artist noong 2006.
Bienvenido Lumbera is a nationalist educator, scholar-critic, poet, playwright, essayist.
He was a professor emeritus at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP Diliman, where he taught since 1976.
When martial law was declared, he went underground and was arrested in January 1974 and detained until the end of that year.
His scholarly works are consistently imbued with a nationalist perspective. This is evident in works such as Tagalog Poetry 1570-1898: Tradition and Influences in Its Development, 1986; and Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology, 1982, which he co-edited with wife Cynthia Nograles Lumbera; and in anthologies of his critical essays such as Revaluation, 1985; Abot-Tanaw: Sulyap at Suri sa Nagbabagong Kultura at Lipunan, 1987; Writing the Nation/Pag-akda ng Bansa, 2000; and Suri: Pag-arok sa Likhang Panitik/Probing the Literary Text, 2017.
History, folklore, and other literary works become sources for his dramatic works such as Tales of the Manuvu, 1976; Rama Hari, 1980; Ang Palabas Bukas, 1978; Nasa Puso ang Amerika, 1984; Bayani, 1985; Noli Me Tangere: The Musical, 1995; and Hibik at Himagsik nina Victoria Laktaw, Atbp, 2002.
The musical dramas he created were anthologized in Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika, 2003.
His poetry collections include Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa, 1993; Balaybay: Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, 2002; and Poetika/Politika: Tinipong mga Tula, 2008.
He was editor of cultural magazines such as Sagisag, Diliman Review, and Kultura.
He also lead in the establishment of cultural organizations such as Pambansang Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Panulat), Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA), Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipinas, and Concerned Artists of the Philippines.
In 1993, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for journalism, literature, and creative communication arts; and in 2006, he was proclaimed Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan in 2006 for for his contributions to Philippine literature.
Magkakaroon ng Novena Masses at Memorial tuwing 8:00 p.m. mula Setyembre 28 hanggang Oktubre 6. Maglalabas ng kaukulang anunsiyo ukol dito.
JERRY OLEA
Sa nakaraang apat na taon ng Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), naging bahagi ng Screening Committee si Sir Bien.
Ang presence ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ay nagdagdag ng prestige sa natural filmfest, lalo pa’t siya ang nag-a-announce ng mga napiling kalahok matapos ang masusing pagsusuri sa mga isinumiteng entry.
Maging ang mga Gabi ng Parangal ng MMFF ay lalong kuminang dahil sa kanyang pakikibahagi.
Sa Facebook pa lang, andaming nagluluksa at nagpupugay kay Sir Bien.
Post ng multi-awarded writer-director na si Jose Javier Reyes: “Nagbalik ka na, Mahal has inspired me to discover new heights of lyricism in the Filipino language.
“Thank you for your eternal words and the greatness that you have given to the value of language in literature and music.
“Goodbye, Sir Bienvenido Lumbera.
“You are more than a National Artist. You are a National Inspiration as you have remained a teacher for the entirety of your beautiful life.”
Post ng pinagpipitaganang manunulat na si Lualhati Bautista: “Paalam, Bien, (Bienvenido Lumbera), Pambansang Alagad ng Sining. Isa ka sa mga taong mahal ko talaga.
“Pakikiramay sa iyo, Cynthia, sa pamilya, sa lahat ng manunulat, estudyante, at mga kaibigan. Dala mo ang aming taos-pusong pagpupugay.”
Pahayag ng manunulat ding si Inday Espina-Varona: “Paalam Bien Lumbera: Filipino poet, critic and dramatist. He is a National Artist of the Philippines and a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications.
“He won numerous literary awards, including the National Book Awards from the National Book Foundation, and the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards.
“A former political detainee, Mang Bien was a staunch member and supporter of many progressive groups.”
Ang post ng Concerned Artists of the Philippines Cavite ay may kaakibat na artwork ni BoyD: “Mataas na pagpugay sayo KA BIEN.
“Si Ka Bienvenido Lumbera, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Literatura. Kasama sa tagapagtatag ng Concerned Artists of the Philippines noong 1983. Naging Tagapangulo si Ka Bien ng CAP mula 2011 at chairperson emeritus mula noong 2018 na General Assembly.
“Ang CAP Cavite ay Taos-pusong nakikiramay sa pamilya at kasamahan ni Ka Bien.”
Post ng Free The Artist Movement: “FAM is deeply saddened with the untimely departure of our National Artist Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Concerned Artists of the Philippines which Dr. Lumbera was a board member of. Ka Bien to his comrades and friends, Dr. Lumbera was an important pillar in the fields of literature, theater and film; and will continue to be so even if has left us.
“He was respected and admired even by those in power and artists on the other side of the fence. His political ideology, however, has always been clear and unwavering.
“At 89, he proved that fighting for one's country has no age limit. He inspired so many like us, members of FAM, to use our art in the service of the people!”
Post ni Direk Rahyan Carlos: “Paalam at sobra kitang mamimiss Tatay Bien Lumbera!
"Ikaw ang madalas kong kasama sa kainan sa via mare, kasamang nanonood ng premiere night ng restored films nina Leo Katigbak, madalas kong kasama sa book launching ng matalik na kaibigang Ricky Lee, nung nagpandemic nagzoom chat pa tayo nina Ricky, dinalaw ka din namin last January at kinuwento mo pa sa kaninan natin na marami kang napapanood na broadway musicals.
“Kasama din kita madalas sa birthday at anniversary party nina Mam Edna Mae at Sir Domeng Landicho (makakasama mo na din sa langit si Sir Domeng), kumain na din tayo kasama ang paborito kong cinematographer si tatay Romy Vitug at siyempre ikaw ang tatay ng bestfriend kong si Sining Lumbera!
“Mahal kita Tatay, Guro, Kaibigan at National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera! Mahigpit na yakap at lubos ang aking pakikiramay sa iyong pamilya.”
Paggunita ng premyadong katoto na si Alwyn Ignacio via Messenger: “Nakatrabaho si Sir Bien noong nasa NCCA pa ako, 1996-98.
“He was a member of the Committee on Cinema in his capacity as former film critic and literary arts man.
“Si Sir Bien ang nagsasalin sa Filipino ng scripts ni Eddie Romero, na una kong boss sa NCCA Cinema Program. All of Romero's scripts were in English and Sir Bien translated them into Filipino.
“Napakabait at napakatalino ni Sir Bien. Napanood ko sa CCP ang obra niyang Rama, Hari. Sinadya ko sa UP Diliman ang zarzuela niyang Hibik at Himagsik nina Victoria Lactaw.”
GORGY RULA
Nakakalungkot na iniwan tayo ni Sir Bien sa ganitong sitwasyon.
Deserve niyang mabigyan ng parangal na maari pang daluhan ng mga alagad ng sining, at ng mga natulungan niya.
Bahagi ng Facebook post ng Philippine Collegian, ang official weekly student publication ng UP Diliman: “National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera believes that writers need not only stay at their desks, especially if they are progressives.
“A writer must have a firm stance. ‘Mahalaga na matatag ang paninindigan ng isang aktibista, na hindi siya magpapatangay sa mga programang umaakit sa mga walang ideolohiya,’ he said in an interview with the Collegian in 2015.
“Prof. Lumbera, born on April 11, 1932, was a Filipino critic and national artist. Upon his release from prison during Martial Law, at the urging of Cynthia Nograles, whom he would marry a few months later, he taught at UP Diliman.
“In the succeeding decades, Lumbera rose as one of the pillars of Philippine letters, having received various awards and accolades.
“Still, he remained affiliated with cultural and artists’ organizations that fought for people’s rights amid yet another growing current of authoritarianism in the country…”
Facebook post ng Tanggol Wika: “Pagpupugay at maraming salamat po, Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, makabayang lider-edukador, at haliging tagapagtatag ng Tanggol Wika.
“Taus-pusong pakikiramay ang ating ipinapaabot sa kanyang pamilya. Mananatili pong inspirasyon sa amin ang inyong buhay, mga sinulat, at adhikaing makabayan.
“Idinideklara natin ang araw na ito bilang pambansang araw ng pagluluksa, pasasalamat sa ating mahal na KaTanggol Wika na Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera.
“Iniimbitahan ang lahat na magpalit-profile ng larawan ni Ka Bien sa panahong itatag ang Tanggol Wika, bilang simbolikong paggunita natin sa kanyang makabuluhang ambag sa ating pakikibaka para sa wika at bayan…”
Maraming salamat po sa ambag ninyo sa ating industriya at lipunan, Sir Bien.
Alam naming apektado si Sir Noel sa pagpanaw ng kanyang tatay-tatayan. Nakikiramay po kami.