National Artist for Theater and University of the Philippines professor emerita Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio has passed away this morning, according to Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, the children’s and puppet she founded in 1977. She was 90 years old.

On the Facebook Page of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of National Artist Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and Founding Artistic Director of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas at 7 AM today, December 29, 2020, at the age of 90.”

Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio more popularly known as the Grande Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theatre, Lapeña-Bonifacio was an educator, playwright, and puppeteer. She was the pioneer of children’s puppet theater in the Philippines.

Lapeña-Bonifacio wrote 10 books, 16 plays, 30 plays for children, and more than 130 short stories for children, according to her profile published on the UP website. Among her notable plays is Papet Pasyon, a children’s version of the Passion of the Christ.

“Ang pagtuturo, pananaliksik, pagsusulat at pagtatanghal para sa mga bata ang naging buhay ko sa loob at labas ng UP,” Lapeña-Bonifacio said during UP Diliman’s graduation rites in 2019. “Bonus na lang itong pagiging National Artist at commencement speaker.”