DABAWENYA award-winning poet Tita Lacambra-Ayala dies at 88.

On her Facebook page, musician Cynthia Alexander posted on the night of January 9 that at 10:37 p.m. her mother the poet Tita Lacambra-Ayala has died.

Lacambra-Ayala, who is originally from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was suffering from complications after undergoing surgery for her fractured femur December last year.

Her son, artist Joey Ayala, also thanked everyone who prayed for, expressed condolences, and those who continue to help their family.

“Inaayos pa namin ang paraan ng parangal na gagawin natin para kay Mom – napakarami niyang na-inspire na creatives dito sa Davao at sa kung saan-saang sulok ng mundo so baka hindi rin gaanong conventional ang mangyayari (We were preparing the award we supposed to give my mom- she has inspired many creative here in Davao and in different parts of the world so maybe what will happen is not so conventional),” Ayala posted in his official Facebook page.

“We will let you know where and when you can visit and say a formal Farewell in the next couple of days,” he added.

Lacambra-Ayala was the founding member of the Davao Writers Guild. She was the editor of the Davao Harvest anthologies and the Road Map series. She has also written Sunflowers, Ordinary Poems, Pieces of Strings and Other Stories, Friends: The Adventures of a Professional Amateur, Camels and Shapes of Darkness in a Time of Olives, Rocking Chair Stories, and Tala Mundi.

One of the last appearances of Lacambra-Ayala in literary gatherings here in Davao City was on November 18, 2018 at Casa Leticia Hotel during the launching of the Davao Harvest 3 by the Davao Writers Guild.