Resil Mojares passes away at 82, leaving an enduring literary legacy

 

Wake of National Artist Resil B. Mojares’ at the Cebu Memorial Parks and Gardens in Cebu City

MANILA — The nation mourns the loss of National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares, who passed away on September 5, 2026, just a day after his 83rd birthday.

In honor of his legacy, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared September 12, Saturday, as Nationa l Day of Mourning through Proclamation No. 1434. The proclamation recognizes Mojares’ profound contributions as a teacher, scholar, essayist, fictionist, and historian whose work proved vital in promoting regional literature shaping Cebuano’s culture and national identity.

NCCA Chairman and Executive Director Eric B. Zerrudo attended the burial of the late National Artist

During the necrological service, the National Artist received a 21-gun salute by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in honor of his contribution as an esteemed scholar of literature and culture.

The University of San Carlos (USC) and University of the Philippines (UP) also paid tribute to the Mojares, both institutions were his alma mater.

Morajes was a renowned journalist who fought for press freedom during the Martial Law Period. He covered student demonstrations and protests, and wrote for Sun Star Cebu where his columns for the Freeman became vital points for politics at a grassroot level while contributing to the plethora of cultural research and history.

Some of his literary works displayed during the necrological service last September 12, 2026

His career was centered on writing for Philippine history and addressing cultural studies. He was also the  founding director of the Cebuano Studies Center, a research library and cultural hub that advanced the study of the region's identity within the Philippines.

As an alumnus of University of San Carlos (USC) with a bachelor’s degree in English, he was deeply tied to the writing field, which led to his pursuit in writing. He then completed his Ph.D. in Literature at UP Diliman in 1979. Recognized for his talent, Mojares’ works received accolades for National Book Awards such as his collection of essays entitled “House of Memory.” He was recognized for writing books for the Philippine literary and intellectual history inspired citizens to understand how Filipinos during the late 19th century until the Commonwealth period were controlled by various social, economic, and political forces that drove them into the pits of oppression.

The legacy of Resil Mojares remains at the heart of Cebuanos where his works mark the essence of how literature can shape society.