ARTS and Letters faculty member Peter Emmanuel Mara died on Aug. 18 due to colon cancer. He was 37.
The Department of Philosophy announced his death on its Facebook page, and his brother Kristian confirmed it to the Varsitarian.
Mara was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in April 2022, which he disclosed in a Facebook post in May.
The assistant professor was described by his former students as a “patient and passionate” mentor who had an infectious sense of humor and energy.
“I can’t help but remember the humor and energy that Sir Mara brought to our class every day, hoping that we would mirror his fascination,” said Beatriz de la Cruz, a philosophy senior.
“He always encouraged us to reach our full potential and provided us with a sense of security that even in our moments of failure, he offered words of comfort that motivated us to try again,” she added.
Mara had been with the Department of Philosophy since 2008, a year after he graduated from the University.
He completed his master’s degree in philosophy in 2010 and in 2015, became the only Southeast Asian to be granted the Erasmus Mundus EuroPhilosophie scholarship that year.
Before his death, the philosophy department spearheaded fundraising drives to help Mara with his treatment.
On June 15, he was admitted to UST Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19.
A funeral Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Palauig, Zambales, on Aug. 26.
Mara’s remains will be brought to the Masinloc Catholic Cemetery. With reports from Mabel Anne B. Cardinez
