President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has declared September 3 as a Day of National Mourning over the passing of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero.
Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of the President, Proclamation No. 678 states that the death of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero is a great loss to the nation, and ”it is appropriate to honor his outstanding commitment to the preservation of the Panay Bukidnon cultural and artistic heritage.”
With Marcos’ proclamation, the national flag shall be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset, on all government buildings and installations across the country and abroad on September 3, 2024.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said Caballero, also known as “Nong Pedring”, passed away last August 17 at the age of 88.
“Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the practice, transmission and documentation of the oral literature of his community, particularly the Sugidanon, which comprises ten epics,” the NCCA said in a Facebook post.
“For numerous decades, Nong Pedring consistently traveled from his residence in the mountainous region of Calinog to the area of Iloilo City, diligently contributing to the efforts of promoting the Sugidanon tradition that extended over many years,” it added.
Caballero, who was from the Panay Bukidnon community in Calinog, Iloilo, was declared as Manlilikha ng Bayan in 2000 in recognition of his commitment on the safeguarding and propagation of the Sugidanon tradition in his community.
He was conferred the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award for his expertise in the Sugidanon, the epics of Central Panay. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA Integrated News
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