Lualhati Bautista, who was one of the Philippines’ best-known and most-loved authors, has died. This is very sad news. Bautista was born on December 2, 1945, in Tondo, Manila. He died on February 12, 2023, at the age of 77, because of problems with his health. Lualhati Bautista went to Emilio Jacinto Elementary School and got her education there. This was in 1958. She later became a national fellow for fiction at the University of the Philippines, and her work later won the grand prize at the Palanca Awards in 1980.
Dekada ’70, her best-known book, came out in 1988. Since then, it has become a classic of Philippine literature. Throughout her career, Bautista was known for her unique way of writing about social and political issues, especially how women and families in the Philippines lived during the time of martial law. Lualhati’s 1984 novelette Sila At Ang Gabi: Isang Buong Laot at Kalahari ng Daigdig was also well received and won her the award for Best Screenplay.
Filipinos, young and old, have a special place in their hearts for Bautista because of what she has done for Philippine literature. Her works still encourage and inspire young writers, who see her as a model of courage and dedication to using one’s talent for the good of society. Even though Bautista had done a lot and helped a lot of people, she was not safe from online harassment and red-tagging.
In a comment on Facebook, Filipino Jefferson Lodia Badong red-tagged Bautista. This is a growing trend in the Philippines, where people or groups are often accused of having ties to communist groups. Bautista’s legacy, on the other hand, has not been ruined, and both Filipinos and people who are not from the Philippines still read and admire her works. Fans and other writers from all over the world have expressed their sadness and condolences over the death of Bautista.
Many people have gone on social media to talk about her life and work and to say how sad they are that such a brilliant and talented writer has died. Bautista’s death is a big loss for the world of literature, and her contributions to Philippine literature will be remembered for many years to come. Her books are still in print, but they are not available online. This shows how timeless her writing is and how much of an impact she has had on generations of readers.