ILOILO – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is preparing a state funeral for Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee Federico Caballero of Calinog town.
Deemed a “national living treasure”, Caballero was honored with the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan in 2000 for his exceptional work in preserving the Panay-Bukidnon indigenous people’s oral traditions.
This award is the highest honor the state can bestow on a Filipino folk artist, ranking equally with the Order of National Artist.
Known affectionately as “Nong Pedring”, Caballero passed away on August 17 at the age of 88.
His body currently rests at the GAMABA Cultural Center in Barangay Garangan, Calinog, where it will remain until September 2.
His notable contributions were immortalized in the book “Suguidanon” published by the University of the Philippines Press.
To celebrate his legacy, Panay-Bukidnon rituals will be performed on September 1 in Barangay Garangan.
A state funeral is scheduled for 9 a.m. on September 3 in Calinog town proper, with expected tributes from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda, fellow Manlilikha ng Bayan Teofila Garcia, NCCA chairman Vicente Manalo, and Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Following the state funeral, Caballero will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Barangay Garangan.
Throughout his life, Caballero dedicated himself to the practice, transmission, and documentation of his community’s oral literature, notably the sugidanon, which includes 10 epics articulated in the archaic and intricate poetic language of Ligbok, linked to the Kiniray-a language but no longer in spoken use.
He worked tirelessly with scholars, artists, and cultural advocates to reconstruct and promote these nearly lost elements of oral heritage.
Caballero’s death was announced by the NCCA through their Facebook page, noting his “unwavering commitment and exceptional talent to master and preserve the expansive folklore.”
His efforts saw him regularly traveling from his mountainous residence in Calinog to Iloilo City, contributing significantly to the promotion of the sugidanon tradition over many years.
Local officials, including Calinog Mayor Francisco Calvo, expressed sorrow over Caballero’s passing.
“I am profoundly saddened by the departure of our awardee. At 88, he fulfilled his life’s purpose by sharing the rich culture of the Panay-Bukidnon with our generation,” said Mayor Calvo.
Senator Legarda also mourned the loss, stating, “It is with deep sadness that I mourn the passing of Federico Caballero, a revered epic chanter of the Panay-Bukidnon sugidanon. His death is a great loss to our nation. We have lost a national treasure, but I hope his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. I commit to preserving the chants and traditions he so lovingly safeguarded.”/PN
