By I. Inojales | 03:04 PM January 08, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Enriqueta Borja-Butalid, former Head of the Center for Culture and Arts Development and former Bohol First Lady, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. She was 89.
The provincial government of Bohol described her passing as a profound loss, particularly for the cultural community and the Boholano people.
“A respected leader and cultural icon, she dedicated her life to the promotion, preservation, and advancement of Boholano culture and the arts. Her leadership, dedication, kindness, and unwavering passion have left a lasting legacy in the province,” the provincial government said in a statement.
Borja-Butalid, a talented pianist, played a pivotal role in reviving the love for music and dance in the province. She helped organize cultural workers through the Cultural Planners Association of the Philippines and the Bohol Cultural Society, which eventually evolved into the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council.
Her husband, Rolly Butalid, served as governor of Bohol in 1980. Throughout her life, Enriqueta Borja-Butalid remained a tireless advocate for Boholano arts, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of cultural workers and artists.
