AMBASSADOR Pura Santillan Castrence died in her sleep in her house in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 15. She was 101 years old.

Castrence was among the early masters of the newly introduced English language, writing essays in the 1920s 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.

Dangal Haraya is one of the highest recognitions from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

Two weeks before her death, Castrence said, "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."

Castrence was a prolific essayist, journalist, columnist, critic, linguist and translator. She was a Barbour Scholar, a pioneer diplomat, and a university professor.

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.

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.