In his lifetime, Edgar "Ed" Maranan earned a total of 35 awards in various categories of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

Until his remaining years, all he could think of, day and night, was writing.

Maranan kept a notebook where he wrote down his thoughts that struck him like thunder. He is described by his close friends as "one of the most prolific Filipino writers."

Aside from his countless short stories, essays, and poems, he also wrote over 50 books in his lifetime, which earned him nods from the National Book Awards, the NCCA Writer's Prize, and the highly coveted Nick Joaquin Literary Awards.

On Tuesday morning, Maranan succumbed to liver complications after being hospitalized for several months, leaving many unfinished scribbles in his notebook. He was 71.

Maranan was born in Batangas in 1946. He was the eldest of eight children. In the early '50s, the family moved to Baguio, and found a new life in the city of pines, arts, and crafts.

The Maranans had a woodcarving business, but Ed's hands were made hold a pen. He discovered his love for writing during his grade school years, and never stopped since then.

While taking a degree in foreign service in the University of the Philippines Diliman, Maranan wrote for the Philippine Collegian. He joined the political science department of UP Diliman in 1969.

Three years after, when martial law was declared, he and his wife became activists, got caught by the military, and were imprisoned for two years. He turned this dark experience into a play titled "Ang Panahon ni Cristy."

In 1993, Maranan joined the Philippine Embassy in London. After 13 years of living in Europe, he returned to the Philippines and got back to writing. He devoted his time writing personal and commissioned projects.

In his LinkedIn account, Maranan, whose name is emblazoned on the Palanca Hall of Fame, described himself as "Independent Writing and Editing Professional." But to his colleagues in the Baguio Writers Group, friends, and relatives, he will always be way more than that.

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The wake of Edgar Maranan will be held at the UP Catholic Church, Diliman from May 8 to 10. A necrological service will be held on May 9 at 7:00 p.m.