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Filipino poet Rogelio Mangahas passes away at 79
Mangahas, 79, passed away at 6:14 in the morning of Wednesday, July 4. This was confirmed by one of his closest friends Alma Cruz Miclat through a Facebook post. (Photo: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Facebook)
The literary world mourns for the loss of another artist and poet – Rogelio Mangahas.
Mangahas, 79, passed away at 6:14 in the morning of Wednesday, July 4. This was confirmed by one of his closest friends, Alma Cruz Miclat, through a Facebook post.
“Our dearest friend, comrade, people’s poet, prized and published writer, devoted teacher, staunch nationalist and activist, a great man – Rogelio G. Mangahas – has left us,” Miclat wrote.
She also quoted Fe Mangahas, the late poet’s partner, “Roger left us to join the Lord in eternal bliss at 6:14 a.m.”
His passing came after his confinement in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital on Monday, because of suffering from stroke.
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) took to social media its mourning of the poet.
“Si Rogelio G. Mangahas ay isa sa mga nagsulong ng matagumpay na modernism sa panulaang Filipino, kasama sina Lamberto E. Antonio at Rio Alma. Siya ay premyadong makata, manunulat kritiko, guro, aktibista, makabayan, at tagapagsulong ng panitikan at wikang Filipino (Rogelio G. Mangahas is one of those that promoted the successful modernism in Filipino poetry, along with Lamberto E. Antonio and Rio Alma. He is an award-winning poet, writer, critic, mentor, activist, nationalist, and promoter of Filipino literature and language),” it added.
The said commission also awarded him with the “Makata ng Taon” award in 2015.
He studied his degree in AB Filipino in University of the East (UE).
He worked a Filipino and Literature lecturer in his alma mater, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, St. Scholastica’s College, and De La Salle University (DLSU).
Mangahas was born in Palasinan, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija in 1939. According to his wife as announced by their friends in social media, tomorrow, July 5, will be the start of his wake until Friday. On Saturday, his remains will be brought to the Cabiao.
