Renowned Filipino Writer Gregorio Brillantes Passes Away at 92

Award-winning Filipino author, essayist, and editor Gregorio Concepción Brillantes passed away at the age of 92 on the morning of September 26. His nephew, Joey Brillantes, announced the news on Facebook, stating that "My Tito Greg, Gregorio Concepción Brillantes, passed away at 7:24 in the morning today."

Born on December 18, 1932, in Camiling, Tarlac, Brillantes was a distinguished literature graduate from Ateneo de Manila University. Throughout his prolific writing career, he published several acclaimed short story collections, including Help, On a Clear Day in November, Shortly Before the Millennium, and Stories for a Quarter Century.

Some of Brillantes’ most well-known works are "The Distance to Andromeda," "The Apollo Centennial," and "Faith, Love, Time, and Dr. Lazaro." His nephew described his writing as "a bridge between post-war literary modernism and the evolving concerns of late 20th century Philippine society," emphasizing Brillantes’ mastery of the short story to explore complex characters, moods, and moral dilemmas rather than pursuing longer or overtly political narratives.

Brillantes’ literary excellence earned him multiple Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, securing his place in the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame. His lifetime achievements also received recognition through awards such as the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from the Writers’ Union of the Philippines (UMPIL).

His works often delve into themes of alienation from family, society, and the self, frequently employing surreal and speculative motifs to probe moral, existential, and spiritual questions. Beyond his writing, Brillantes served as an influential editor and mentor for several publications including Sunburst, The Manila Review, Focus, Asia-Philippines Leader, and Philippines Free Press.

Despite suffering a fall in 2015 and a hip injury two years later, Brillantes remained active in literature. His final major work, The Collected Stories of Gregorio C. Brillantes (2023), published by Ateneo de Manila University Press, gathers his most significant stories from the 1950s through the 2000s. This collection was honored as the Best Book of Short Fiction in English at the 42nd National Book Awards.

In a tribute, Ateneo de Manila University Press hailed him as "one of the greatest Filipino writers, the master of the Filipino short story, and the godfather of Philippine speculative fiction," adding, "His legacy lives on." The Philippines Graphic also expressed condolences to the Brillantes family, recognizing him as "a dear editor, fictionist, poet, and essayist."

The literary community mourned his loss, with noted author Jose "Butch" Dalisay reflecting, "Another great Filipino writer passed away today, one who was special to me — as hero, mentor, and friend." He concluded by referencing Brillantes’ iconic story, "Here’s to faith, love, time, and Greg Brillantes."