Resil Mojares, National Artist for Literature, passes away at 83
Filipino historian Resil Mojares, who was recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, has passed away at the age of 83.
The tragic news was announced by his family, detailing that Mojares had died in the earling morning of Sept. 5, just a day after his birthday.
"Papa Resil was a pillar of our family, and although we will miss him dearly every day, we find comfort in knowing that he is now reunited with our dear mother, Sally, who left us in 2022. Together once again, resting peacefully in eternity," they said.
The cause of his death was not made known.
Mojarest is survived by his children Kim Carmel, Mark Soren, Ressa Gail, and Anna Leigh; daughter-in-law Therry; son-in-law James; and five grandchildren, Margaret Alexi, Maxine Therese, Micah Kathryn, Jamie Madeline, and Chloe Jeremy.
For decades, Mojares devoted much of his life to understanding the Philippines through its people, stories, and history.
His work was particularly rooted in Cebu, where his efforts to preserve and study the region's history and culture helped pave the way for the establishment of the Cebuano Studies Center at the University of San Carlos.
But Mojares' work was never confined to one place. In their tribute, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts highlighted that he was also a cultural commentator who explored what the country's past could reveal about the way Filipinos live, think, and understand themselves. As part of the NCCA, he served as vice-head of the Committee on Literature and as a member of the Committee on Historical Research.
His contributions to Philippine scholarship earned him numerous honors, including several National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle and the Centennial Award for Cultural Research from the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
He also brought his work beyond the pages of his books, having taught at universities in the Philippines and abroad, including the University of Wisconsin, University of Hawaii, University of Michigan, Kyoto University, University of California, Los Angeles, and the National University of Singapore.
His remains will be on view on Sept. 10 at the Cebu City Hall from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by a viewing at the Cebu Provincial Capitol from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The viewing will then continue from 6 p.m. onwards at the Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels, Emmanuel 1.
His state funeral will be held at the Cebu Memorial Parks and Gardens on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m.