On July 7, Rolando Tinio passed away. But who was Rolando Tinio?

Rolando Tinio is known for his accomplishments in the world of theater. He made his mark as a poet, director, dramatist and an actor in Philippine Theater. He adorned the stage and literature in the 1970s and his legacy still live today among playwrights, thespians, scholars, students, and every Filipino.

Tinio was celebrated mainly because he headed the flourishing of Filipino language in literature in the 70s. His love for the arts has goad him to do which other artists failed to do-- bringing Filipino language to its fullest form. The beauty of the Filipino language was explored in his works giving his culture pride in its own.

How sad the Philippine Theater community of hearing his death at the age of 60. He could have done more, but perhaps his time is but a beginning for the new generation to embrace his work, and to give rise to another canon that's genuinely Filipino headed by this time.

Rolando marked his career in artistic productions bringing forth his insights of scripts into visual masterpieces. Nobody would contend his brilliance in making an impact through his directions. After his involvement with the Ateneo Experimental Theater, he ventured and took in his wings Teatro Pilipino. With his theater production engagements with Teatro Pilipino, he began to revive traditional Filipino drama, never doubting to restage old theater. Sarswela became a common genre to the theater company as well as the venture in opening a “treasure-house of contemporary Western Drama.”

Born in Tondo, Manila , he was remembered by kins to have been fond of organizing his playmates for costume celebrations. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas at with a philosophy degree at the age of 18. Even at that age, he knew his place was on stage and his role in the emancipation of Philippine Theater that is cultivated in its culture.

By the 1960s, Philippine Theater emerged to be appreciated. He focused on his craft even translating world literature specifically those of Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov among the few in Filipino. His contemporaries would hail him for his prolific writing and translation, noted for its poetic character. He published books of poem in 1972 and 1993 encompassing social satire, poems of love and everyday life, and poignant confessional verse.

Though acclaimed for his achievements, he never once asked for any material recompense for his artistic excellence. Like the romanticists of the early 19th century, he claims, "Artists are anointed by God."

His translations spoke of his vision to advance the Filipino language. Tinio's love for his culture spoke through his work, for in his works, he communicated his duty as an artist.

His other works include: film scripts for Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri and Milagros; sarswelas Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana Maria; the komedya Orosman at Zafira; and Larawan, the musical.