ILOILO City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mourned the passing of Ilonggo folk national artist Federico Caballero who was accorded a state funeral yesterday in Calinog, Iloilo.
Caballero, 88, belonged to the Panay-Bukidnon indigenous people (IP) who dedicated his life to preserving their oral traditions, culture and artistic heritage in collaboration with scholars and artists such as those from the University of the Philippines, among others.
In tribute to Caballero, Marcos declared September 3, 2024 a national day of mourning.
On Monday, he issued Proclamation No. 678 announcing that the national flag would be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset at all government buildings and installations across the Philippines and abroad.
“The death of Manlilikha ng Bayan Federico Caballero is a great loss to our nation, and it is appropriate to honor his outstanding commitment,” the proclamation stated.
The proclamation was read by Commissioner Reden Ulo of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Sub-commission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts, during yesterday’s state funeral and necrological service at the municipal plaza of Calinog.
Caballero, celebrated as a guardian of the sugidanon tradition, was declared Manlilikha ng Bayan in 2000 by the NCAA, honoring his role in nurturing and protecting the narrative epics of the Panay-Bukidnon. He was buried at the family gravesite in Barangay Garangan, Calinog.
The sugidanon is a traditional epic narrative form in the ancient Ligbok language practiced by the Panay-Bukidnon. This form of oral literature is rich in mythological characters (often gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, and human heroes) and legendary themes (such as honor, loyalty, bravery, and justice) often involving heroic quests, battles, and adventures. The narratives are traditionally chanted or sung during communal gatherings and special occasions.
According to the NCAA, the sugidanon epics are integral to the cultural identity of the Panay-Bukidnon community, serving not only as entertainment but also as a means of transmitting important cultural values, historical knowledge, philosophy, ethics, and community wisdom from one generation to the next.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., represented by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, also delivered a message during the service.
“Through his preservation of (Panay’s) epics that are seldom heard today, he has passed on stories that keep the spirit of our ancestors alive. In our modern world, his voice remained a call not to forget our roots,” according to Defensor.
Sen. Loren Legarda, an exponent of IP culture preservation, sent her condolences, emphasizing Caballero’s role in enriching and strengthening inherited cultures through his dedication to the traditions.
“His actions and words greatly expanded our understanding of the importance of recognizing our own culture. Now that he is no longer with us, his words and stories remain a light in our world. We who are left have a great responsibility to continue what he started, ensuring that the culture and wisdom he passed on continue to grow, flourish, and spread,” read Legarda’s message read by NCCA Chairman Victorino Manalo./PN
