National Artist Cirilo Bautista to be honored with special section in QC Public Library

The works of National Artist for Literature Dr. Cirilo Bautista will be made more accessible to the Quezon City residents, thanks to an order to create a special section for his works at the Public Library. 

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista gave instructions to feature the works of Dr. Bautista "to honor his valuable contribution to Philippine Literature."

“May I request the QCPL to have a dedicated section, a portion or a place for Dr. Cirilo Bautista. He’s a national artist for literature and I believe that it’s the type of honor that he deserves from the people of Quezon City,” Mayor Bautista was quoted as saying in a statement shared with the press. 

Dr. Bautista passed away on May 6 and the news of his death was met with an outpouring of condolences from his students, colleagues, and the readers whose lives he touched.

A celebrated writer and poet, Bautista had been a hall of famer at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, where he won nine awards for his poetry, fiction, and essay works.

Among his most notable works are the books Summer Suns (1963), The Cave and Other Poems (1968), Charts (poetry, 1973), Stories (1990), Words and Battlefields (1998), Sugat ng Salita (poetry, 1986), The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus (2001), Galaw ng Asoge (2003).

He was also an Outstanding Citizen Awardee of Quezon City in 1996.

Dr. Bautista wrote the foreword of ‘Lessons and Legacies’, a collection of Mayor Bautista's speeches and, following Dr. Bautista's passing, Mayor Bautista said that the city dedicates ‘Lessons and Legacies’ book to Dr. Bautista being an exemplar and outstanding citizen.

“We dedicate this book to you, Dr. Bautista. Isang ulirang alagad ng sining. Ulirang mamamayan ng Quezon City,” Mayor Bautista said. — AT, GMA News