Sept. 3 declared national day of mourning for late ‘Manlilikha’ awardee

Federico Caballero —Photo from his website

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has declared Tuesday, Sept. 3, as a national day of mourning for the death of National Living Treasures awardee Federico Caballero.

Marcos made the declaration through Proclamation No. 678 signed by Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin on Sept. 2.

“The death of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero is a great loss to our nation, and it is appropriate to honor his outstanding commitment to the preservation of the Panay Bukidnon cultural and artistic heritage,” Marcos said through the proclamation.

With the proclamation, the national flag shall be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset, on all government buildings and installations nationwide and overseas on Sept. 3, 2024.

Caballero of the Panay Bukidnon community in Calinog, Iloilo, was honored as  Manlilikha ng Bayan in 2000 for safeguarding the propagation of the Sugidanon tradition of his community.

He was conferred the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award for his expertise in the Sugidanon, the epics of Central Panay.