By Mercedes B. Suleik I have written about a number of important personages, and while the person I am about to consider is important in her own right, I would rather think of her as the quintessential Theresian, the true blue Theresian who has espoused and continues to espouse the Theresian core values of service, tenacity, commitment, simplicity and truthful competence.  This is about Marilinda Claravall Yee, Malen to friends, who studied in STC since Grade School up to College, whence she graduated with a degree in B.S. Commerce, major in Accounting, and thence passed the CPA examinations. She had been nominated in 2017 for the STC Accomplishment Award, which was buttressed by scores of recommendations recognizing her talent, accomplishments which spanned the arts, business and industry, education, parish and community service, public service and family life.  Her entire life was a shining manifestation of  her faith and visionary spirit, as she moved from student, to corporate life, and to her current passion – dance...ballet, which she converted into a message of hope.  Unfortunately, by some fluke, or “technical discrepancy” the one who submitted the nomination form erred, thus disqualifying her.  But even by so doing, that person has not really robbed Malen of her intrinsic value. To promote social justice, solidarity and peace, she gives free lessons and scholarships on ballet to needy students, has given free performances by her students in parishes that request it, as well as popular venues including malls.  Her peace advocacy may be gleaned from shows that she has presented which espouse goodness as residing in every human and that peaceful solutions to conflicts will always abound. Malen had shaped and managed her cultural work in the professional way corporates work, from her experience in the various corporations she had worked since her getting her CPA license. These experiences included her designing and implementing the budgetary system, ensuring receivable collection, and negotiating with commercial banks financial management packages and credit facilities as well as reengineering company operations for various corporations until she finally decided to attend full time her real passion – dance.  She capped her career by being recognized as the person responsible for attaining ISO 9002 Certification for servicer excellence. Malen maintains that her corporate experience, consultancies, teaching positions and membership in various professional organizations have been the background and basis for her being able to professionalize her activities in ballet – call it culture with corporate competence.  Malen was named as one of the five Filipinos in the Who’s Who International in 1997. She established Claravall School of Dance which adheres to the strict standards and discipline of the Royal Academy of Dance in London, her mission to develop art and appreciation for classical ballet in Filipino youth, and sending her best students to take the RAD examinations.  Among ballets she has choreographed are: the dance drama of the life of St. Therese of Lisieux, restaged Giselle,  Nutcracker Suite, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Copellia and Snow White, as well as a number of performances paying tribute to the Filipino artist through Filipino dance dramas. She is presently the Ballet Directress of the British School Manila, and as with her best students in her Claravall School of Dance, has sent selected candidates to take the RAD exams.  Not one to rest on her laurels, Malen continues to update herself with the latest in ballet by attending workshops yearly with the Royal Academy of Dance, has gone on observation tours in Australia, US, Hongkong, and Beijing.  As part of a Team of Tutors for RAD, she has mentored future dance teachers from Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Chila through online teaching.  Moreover, she herself has performed with the Philippine Ballet Theater, the foremost classical ballet company in the Philippines. I was one of those who recommended Marilinda Claravall Yee as a shining example of Theresian and Christian values in her accomplishments in the arts, education, business and industry, public service and community service.  While the nomination form officially submitted was technically disqualified, Malen remains a true blue Theresian. [email protected]