The Manila Times has long believed that award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and painter Mauro Santos, simply known as “Malang,” is deserving of the National Artist Award. Unfortunately, the recognition eluded, and the acclaimed artist died on Saturday at age 89 following a lingering illness.

His son Soler Santos, also a noted visual artist, confirmed the news on social media and posted a photo of his father on Instagram captioned, “Tatay, 1996.” Condolences and tributes to the prolific artist have since poured in.