National Artist for Literature Bienvenido 'Bien' Lumbera passes away at 89

National Artist for Literature Bienvenido 'Bien' Lumbera passed away early this morning due to “complications of stroke,” according to his family. He was 89 years old.

Born in Lipa on April 11, 1932, Lumbera was orphaned by the age of five and was raised by his grandmother and his godparents.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in Literature at the University of Santo Tomas and his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University.

Along with friend and fellow National Artist, Virgilio Almario, Lumbera was one of the many put into prison by Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law years. He was imprisoned in January 1974 and released in December of the same year.

After his release, Lumbera went on to teach at the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters. He has also taught at the University of Santo Tomas, the Ateneo de Manila University, and the De La Salle University.

He wrote several musical dramas over the course of his life, such as the critically-acclaimed works “Rama, Hari,” “Noli Me Tangere,” “Bayani,” and “Nasa Puso ang Amerika.” He was also a literary critic and author of textbooks that include “Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology” and “Filipinos Writing: Philippine Literature from the Regions.”

Lumbera was also a co-founder of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which gives out the Gawad Urian.

He was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communications in 1993 and named National Artist for Literature in 2006.)

On social media, fellow writers, academics, and colleagues mourned the loss. Noel Ferrer gave thanks and said goodbye to Lumbera in a Facebook post.

“Janus Silang” author Edgar Calabia Samar declared that it was a blessing to be one of Lumbera's students on his Twitter account.