Historian Samuel K. Tan (Photo from Philippine National Historical Society Facebook)
ILIGAN CITY —- Prominent historian Samuel Kong Tan, who is credited for helping bring the communities of the Sulu archipelago into the national historical narrative, died Thursday (Jan. 6).
“I am saddened to inform you that renowned scholar and former National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairman, Dr. Samuel K. Tan, passed away today,” peace advocate Amina Rasul, president of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy, posted on social media Thursday evening.
A native of Siasi, Sulu, Tan used to be chair of the Department of History at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
He authored landmark books on Filipino Muslims and the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination.
According to Rasul, Tan, who is known to family and friends as “Seng”, served as an advisor to her mother, former Senator Santanina Rasul.
“While in the Senate, Mama valued his advice not just on history but on governance and the peace process. I did, too. As a Tausug, thank you, Dr. Seng, for showing the world our heritage and the value we bring to the Philippines. You have left a void no historian can fill,” Rasul said.
Tan died on the same day as a national artist for literature F. Sionil Jose.
In a statement posted on social media, the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography mourned the passing of both icons.
“MSU Tawi-Tawi is one with the country’s culture and the arts community in mourning the passing of F. Sionil Jose and Samuel K. Tan,” it said.