ILOILO CITY – Leoncio Deriada, acknowledged in literary circles as the “Father of Contemporary West Visayan Literature”, died of complications from diabetes at 4:25 p.m. of April 3.
He was 81.
His death was announced by his daughter Dulce Deriada, announced on Facebook.
His wake would be at Cosmopolitan-Somo Memorial Homes in Delgado Street with viewing to start on the afternoon of April 5.
The requiem mass and interment will be on April 10.
Iloilo-born Deriada was a multi-awarded novelist, playwright, poet and professor who was elevated to the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2001 after winning 15 prizes, five of which were first prizes in various categories
Retiring from the University of the Philippines as a full professor of Comparative Literature, Deriada spent most of his growing years in Davao where he earned his BA English degree in Ateneo de Davao and proceeded to Xavier University for his masters degree in English and further to Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental to receive his doctorate degree in English and Literature with a specialization in creative writing.
Among other achievements, Dr. Deriada was awarded by the Metrobank Foundation as Most Outstanding Teacher in 2002 and the Civil Service Commission in 2003 awarded him its Lingkod Bayan Award. / gsg