Marcos declares Sept. 12 as Day of National Mourning over passing of National Artist Resil Mojares

September 11, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared September 12 as a Day of National Mourning over the passing of National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares.

This was contained in Proclamation 1434 signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on behalf of Marcos.

As part of the national mourning, the Philippine flag shall be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on September 12 at all government buildings and installations throughout the country.

“The passing of National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares is a great loss to the Filipino people and to the nation’s cultural and artistic community,” the directive said.

It added: “His outstanding contribution as a pivotal figure in Philippine literature and cultural studies has significantly enriched the nation’s understanding and appreciation of its literary and cultural heritage.”

Mojares was named a National Artist in 2018 in recognition of his works and achievements 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.”

He passed away on September 5, a day after turning 83 years old.

Marcos said Mojares’ demise is a great loss to the Filipino people and the country’s cultural and artistic community.