Writer and publisher Antonio Hidalgo died last Friday evening from cardiac arrest after having fallen into a coma. He would have turned 68 in April.
Hidalgo was founder of the independent Milflores Publishing and a known cockfighting aficionado. He was trustee of the Book Development Association of the Philippines for three terms, and columnist of the now defunct Manila Chronicle. He was also staff writer of the pre-martial law Graphic magazine.
Hidalgo served as secretary-general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council during the Ramos administration.
While he had many books on cockfighting, Hidalgo also won prizes for his fiction, including “The Man Who Sold Dreams.” He worked for many years with the United Nations Children’s Fund.
He is survived by his wife Cristina, writer and publisher of UST Press, and daughters Larisa, Anna and Carmen.
His remains lie in state at Mount Carmel Church in New Manila, and interment is on Wednesday after a morning Mass.