05/09/2026
Farewell, prince of literature!
๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง ๐ด๐ฏ
National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares, the acclaimed Cebuano historian, writer and literary critic, has died at the age of 83, his children announced Saturday, September 5.
In a statement shared by his family, Mojaresโ children said he passed away in the early morning of September 5, just a day after celebrating his 83rd birthday.
โWe are heartbroken to share the passing of our beloved father, Resil Buagas Mojares. He joined our creator today, in the early morning of September 5th,โ the family said.
They added that they were grateful to have spent his final day celebrating his life.
โPapa Resil was a pillar of our family,โ his children wrote, saying they found comfort in knowing that he was โnow reunited with our dear mother, Sally, who left us in 2022.โ
The family said details of the wake and memorial service will be announced once finalized.
Mojares was born on September 4, 1943, in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, to public school teachers. He spent most of his life in Cebu and built a distinguished career in literature, history and cultural studies. He earned his bachelorโs and masterโs degrees at the University of San Carlos and his Ph.D. in Literature from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
He was the founding director of the University of San Carlosโ Cebuano Studies Center, which he led from 1975 to 1996. The center became an important institution for research and documentation on Cebuano culture, history and literature. He later became professor emeritus at USC.
Mojares authored and edited numerous works spanning Philippine history, literature, politics and cultural studies. Among his best-known books are The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu, 1899-1906, House of Memory, Brains of the Nation, and Isabeloโs Archive. He was also a recipient of multiple Philippine National Book Awards and other local and international honors.
In 2018, Mojares was named National Artist for Literature, one of the Philippinesโ highest recognitions for artistic achievement. The conferment was formally declared through Proclamation No. 606.
Beyond his scholarship, Mojares was remembered as a major figure in the preservation and understanding of Cebuano identity and Philippine cultural history. His work helped bring regional literature and history into wider national scholarship.
He is survived by his children Kim Carmel, Mark Soren, Ressa Gail and Anna Leigh; daughter-in-law Therry; son-in-law James; and five grandchildren, Margaret Alexi, Maxine Therese, Micah Kathryn, Jamie Madeline and Chloe Jeremy.
โTogether once again, resting peacefully in eternity,โ the family said of Mojares and his late wife, Sally.
