The Palace offered on Sunday its condolences to the family of National Artist for Literature Dr. Cirilo Bautista who passed away at the age of 76.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Bautista was “one of the country’s most passionate authors” who helped in paving the way for Filipino artists to develop their talents.
“The Palace extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of renowned National Artist for Literature, Dr. Cirilo Bautista, who died at the age of 76,” Roque said in a statement.
READ: National Artist Cirilo Bautista, 76
“Dr. Bautista’s contribution to the continuous growth and progress of Philippine Literature will always be inscribed in the pages of our nation’s history. His teachings and literary works will live on forever,” Roque added.
Bautista was named National Artist for Literature in 2014 by former President Benigno Aquino III. He died on Monday morning at the age of 76.
Throughout his career, Bautista received nine Carlos Palanca awards for his works namely: The Cave and Other Poems, 1968; The Archipelago, 1970; Ritual, 1971; The Man Who Made a Covenant with the Wind, 1975; Charts, 1973; Telex Moon, 1975; Crossworks, 1979; and Philippine Poetics: The Past Eight Years, 1981.
Bautista received the Makata ng Taon (Poet of the Year) award in 1993 and was included in the Palanca Hall of Fame in 1995. /ee