Literary icon Aida Rivera-Ford dies at 99

Aida Rivera-Ford, a highly respected writer, playwright, educator, and arts advocate, passed away on 18 January 2026, just days before what would have been her 100th birthday on 22 January. She was 99 years old at the time of her death.

Born in Jolo, Sulu, on 22 January 1926, Rivera-Ford earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, cum laude, from Silliman University in 1949, where she co-founded the literary journal Sands and Coral while still a student.

She later pursued a master’s degree in English at the University of Michigan, where she won the Hopwood Award for her writing.

Rivera-Ford’s short stories, including “The Chieftest Mourner” and “Love in the Cornhusks,” became staples in Philippine literature courses, affirming her influence on the nation’s literary canon.

She also chaired the Humanities Division at Ateneo de Davao University, guiding and mentoring young writers during the Martial Law era.

In 1980, she co-founded the Ford Academy of the Arts, the first fine arts institution in Mindanao, nurturing generations of artists in theater, music, and visual arts.

Her contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the Datu Bago Award and recognition from the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Wake services are scheduled for 22 January 2026, at the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel, Ateneo de Davao University, followed by a Mass and memorial tribute. Rivera-Ford is remembered for her lifelong dedication to Philippine literature and arts education.