Acclaimed artist Mauro ‘Malang’ Santos passes away at 89

Notable painter, illustrator, and cartoonist Mauro "Malang" Santos has passed away early Saturday morning at the age of 89

GMA News Online confirmed with a family member that Malang's passing comes after a struggle with a lingering illness.

Several artists and organizations have already paid their respects for Malang and extended sympathies to his family. A memorial service at Arlington, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City has been arranged.

His son Soler, who shared the news online, posted a photo from 1996 without flourishes.

 

Tatay, 1996

A post shared by Soler Santos (@soler) on

Jun 9, 2017 at 9:52pm PDT

Malang was born on January 20, 1928. He took up Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, but left formal education for a job at the Manila Chronicle when he was 19.

He apprenticed under cartoonist Liborio "Gat" Gatbonton and eventually created his own strip, "Kosme the Cop."

Malang would go on to win awards from competitions organized by the Art Association of the Philippines in the '50s, gaining further recognition in the succeeding decades.

Malang has been nominated several times for inclusion in the Order of National Artists. — LA / AT, GMA News