NATIONAL Artist for Literature Cirilo Bautista has died at the age of 76, according to the De La Salle University’s Department of Literature, where Bautista used to teach.
The department confirmed his death in a Facebook post.
“It is with deep sadness [that] we announce the passing of our beloved professor/mentor and perhaps the greatest poet in the annals of Philippine literature-Dr. Cirilo F. Bautista,” the department said without providing details.
A celebrated writer and poet, Bautista was in the hall of fame at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, where he won nine awards for his poetry, fiction and essays.
He also served as a judge for the prestigious award since 1980 and won five National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle and the Gawad Balagtas in 1997 from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas.
Bautista graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas with a bachelor’s degree in literature. He also graduated magna cum laude when he finished his master’s degree in literature at Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
He finished his doctor of arts degree in literature at the De La Salle University.
Bautista served as literary editor of the Philippine Panorama, a member of the board of advisers and an associate of the Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of the De La Salle University, and senior associate director of the University of Santo Tomas Center for Creative Writing and Studies.
In 2014, Malacañang conferred the National Artist for Literature award to Bautista for his contributions to Philippine literature.