Veteran journalist, poet and culture writer Pablo Tariman has died after battling several illnesses. He was 76 years old.
Tariman passed away yesterday, October 9, at around 1 p.m. according to ABS-CBN, which received the news from his wife Merlita Lorena-Tariman through family friend and fellow writer Elizabeth Lolarga.
More colleagues confirmed Tariman’s passing on social media, including photojournalist Arnold Jumpay, as well as Tariman’s grandson Emmanuel Acosta.
A benefit concert was just held last month for the writer, who was suffering from tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension and liver complications, among other illnesses.
Leading the tributes for Tariman was another good friend Cecile Licad, whom Tariman covered many times over the years.
“He is one of the Philippines’ truly great writers, poets… [he] dedicated his life passionately to writing for the arts, music, films, and culture,” Licad said. “A very intuitive and sensitive person. He will sorely be missed by many, many people he had inspired.”
Licad added that her upcoming concert in Catanduanes, where Tariman was born, will be dedicated to him.
Tariman was a staple of the arts and culture scene in the Philippines, writing for notable publications like the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Vera Files.
Some of the many artists he wrote about were Lea Salonga, Peque Gallaga, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Nonoy Froilan, John Lloyd Cruz, and National Artists Nora Aunor, Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka and Ricky Lee.
More recent releases were 2020’s “Ode to Frontliners,” “Love, Life and Loss – Poems During the Pandemic” from 2022, “Encounters in the Arts” earlier this year, and a number pieces done in honor of his deceased daughter Kerima.