Philippines Declares Day of National Mourning for Literary Icon Resil Mojares

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared September 12, 2026, as a Day of National Mourning over the passing of National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares. He passed away early morning of Sept. 5, a day after his 83rd birthday. READ: Cebu mourns death of National Artist Resil Mojares Under Proclamation No. 1434, signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the President, the nation will honor Mojares for his contributions as a “teacher, scholar, essayist, fictionist and historian, which contributed in the promotion of regional literature and history, as well as the formation of Cebuano and national identity.” It also said Mojares’ passing is a great loss to the Filipino people and the country’s cultural and artistic community. Moreover, the proclamation recognized his significant contribution to Philippine literature and cultural studies. As part of the national mourning, the Philippine flag shall be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Sept. 12 at all government buildings and installations throughout the country. Mojares was named a National Artist for Literature in 2018, cementing a career spanning literature, history, research, and education. His work documented Cebu’s history and culture while contributing significantly to the study of Philippine literature.