Rosalinda Orosa, 100, writes 30

MANILA, Philippines — Former STAR columnist Rosalinda Orosa passed away on Wednesday, 13 days after turning 100 on Nov. 30. 

Her niece, Evelyn del Rosario-Garcia, announced Orosa’s passing on her Facebook account, but did not disclose the cause of death.

“Rosalinda L. Orosa has been called by our Heavenly Father. She now joins her parents Drs. Sixto Y. Orosa and Severina Luna-Orosa; her sisters Leonor Orosa-Goquingco and mother Helen Orosa-del Rosario; and her brothers Sixto L. Orosa, Jr. and Jose L. Orosa,” she wrote.

Her remains have been cremated and there will be no wake, following the wishes outlined in her living will and in line with family tradition, Garcia said.

A private inurnment ceremony was held with immediate family members. 

“The celebration of her life is scheduled for the 40th day after her passing, on Dec. 13, 2023,” she said.

Orosa made significant contributions to Philippine journalism, particularly through her columns “Table TALK” in The STAR from 2001 to 2002, and her work as a columnist for The Manila Times. 

She was affectionately known as “Tita Baby” among her colleagues.

Orosa, a distinguished journalist, writer and art critic, hailed from a family deeply intertwined with science and art.

Graduating from the University of the Philippines, she furthered her studies in Spanish literature and grammar at the University of Mexico.

Orosa, a staunch defender of the Spanish language, received the Zobel Prize in 1989 for her significant contributions to its preservation. 

Passionate about art, she actively promoted emerging Filipino artists, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. 

Notably, she played a role in recognizing artists such as Cecile Licad, Aurelio Estanislao, Santiago Yangco and Manuel Baldemor.

Among her notable publications, Above the Throng in 1980 stands out as a pivotal work, recognized as essential reading for culture and art enthusiasts. 

Orosa’s 1965 collection of speeches and conferences, Philippines and Mexico, co-authored with Octavio Malotes and José Rodríguez, celebrated Mexican-Philippine friendship.

Orosa received several prestigious awards, including the Quijano de Manila Journalism Award in 2007, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and the Order of Merit of the Government of France in 2001.