Literary excellence took the spotlight once again as 56 winning authors were honored during the 69th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature held on Friday night at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
Among this year’s recipients of the awards, 32 were first-time awardees. Two of the authors each bagged prizes in two separate categories, with one being a first-time winner.
Decorated writer Lamberto E. Antonio was also inducted into the prestigious Palanca Hall of Fame for winning his fifth First Prize Award this year.
With the biannual Novel and Nobela categories open this year, the total number of writing categories awarded was 22. All winning entries were evaluated and chosen by an elite roster of literary personalities from various fields.
Dr. Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo was the guest of honor and speaker at this year’s awarding ceremony.
A multi-awarded writer and recipient of three Palanca Awards, including the Grand Prize for Novel, Dr. Hidalgo is one of the nation’s most respected literary figures and a mentor and inspiration to some of the most prolific young writers today.
Named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards continuously seeks to cultivate Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers and serving as a treasury of these literary gems. It is considered the gold standard in writing excellence, highly coveted by Filipino writers, young and old alike.
Following is the list of winners of the 69th Palanca Awards:
English Division
Short story
1st Prize Kathleen Osias, “James Machine”
2nd Prize Rayjinar Anne Marie de Guia Salcedo, “Death for Serafina”
3rd Prize Adrian Carl M. Pescador, “Neon Blindness”
Short story for children
1st Prize Juanita Roxas, “Singer Pretty Peach and The Color-Matching Kaleidoscope”
2nd Prize Victoria Estrella C. Bravo, “Hair”
3rd Prize Daisy Ruth Oñate Sohne, “The Accidental Adventure of Bubalus Bubalis”
Essay
1st Prize Jocelyn G. Nicolas, “The Age of the Missing”
2nd Prize Josephine V. Roque, “Ashfall”
3rd Prize Michaela Sarah De Leon, “Call Me A Book Editor, I Dare You”
Poetry
1st Prize Regine Miren D. Cabato, “Notes from the Field”
2nd Prize Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr., “Pentimento”
3rd Prize Alvin Dela Serna Lopez, “Departures”
Poetry written for children
1st Prize, No winner
2nd Prize, No winner
3rd Prize Mia A. Buenaventura, “What Magical Fur is This? And Other Poems”
One-act play
1st Prize Peter Zaragoza Mayshle, “Dolorosa”
2nd Prize Adrian Carl M. Pescador, “Daddy Complex”
3rd Prize Maria Amparo Nolasco Warren, “The Root of all Magic”
Full-length play
1st Prize Justin Michael A. Naniong, “Changelings”
2nd Prize Rolando S. Salvaña, “Mercy Country”
3rd Prize Lito Casaje, “Theoria Republica”
Novel
Grand Prize Reine Arcache Melvin, “The Betrayed”
Nobela
Grand Prize Jerking Guzman Pingol, “Agaw-anino”
Filipino Division
Maikling kuwento
1st Prize Eros S. Atalia, “Si Etot”
2nd Prize Benjamin Joshua L. Gutierrez, “Dahil Wala Kaming Tubig”
3rd Prize Allan Alberto N. Derain, “Hilaw at Luto sa Bangkete ni Kapitan Gimo”
Maikling kuwentong pambata
1st Prize Luis P. Gatmaitan, M.D., “Maselan ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman”
2nd Prize Victoria Estrella C. Bravo, “Ako ang Kuya”
3rd Prize Jacqueline V. Franquelli, “Anak ng Tinapay”
Sanaysay
1st Prize Marianne Mixkaela Z. Villalon “Form & Content: Sandata sa Panahon ng Disimpormasyon at War on Drugs”
2nd Prize Wilfredo O. Pascual Jr., “Sumasaiyo”
3rd Prize Reson A. Gregorio, “Wala sa Langit si Hesus”
Tula
1st Prize Lamberto E. Antonio, “Turno Kung Nokturno at iba pang Tiyempo ng Rilyebo sa Pagberso”
2nd Prize Ralph Lorenz G. Fonte, M.D., “Ang Wika ng Dagat ay Layo”
3rd Prize Allan John Andres, “Yaong Hindi Maaaring Hawakan nang Buo”
Tula para sa mga bata
1st Prize, No winner
2nd Prize John Romeo L. Venturero, “Ganito sa Pabrika”
3rd Prize German Villanueva Gervacio, “Ang Totoo Raya, ang Ulan ay Luha ng Bituin”
Dulang may isang yugto
1st Prize, No winner
2nd Prize Chona M. Fernando, “Beach House”
3rd Prize Bridgette Ann M. Rebuca, “Transient Lovers”
Dulang ganap ang haba
1st Prize Dustin Edward D. Celestino, “Ang Duyan ng Magiting”
2nd Prize Mario L. Mendez Jr., “Ang Huling Mambabatok”
3rd Prize Bonifacio P. Ilagan, “Junix at Maricel”
Dulang pampelikula
1st Prize Mary Honeylyn Joy E. Alipio, “Teatro Pacifico”
2nd Prize Jaymar Santos Castro, “Angkas”
3rd Prize Rodolfo C. Vera, “Nana Rosa”
Kabataan Division
Kabataan sanaysay
1st Prize Marielle M. Calicdan, “Echo Mula Sa Gatilyo”
2nd Prize Mark Andy Pedere, “Sa Pilang Salungat sa Manghuhula at Bolang Kristal”
3rd Prize Adrian Pete Medina, “Pregonir Noon Akto-o He'n Fa Gali Em (May Katotohanan pa pala)”
Kabataan essay
1st Prize Enrico Miguel Pe Aguirre Perez, “Thoughts on Eden”
2nd Prize Criscela Ysabelle A. Racelis, “Before You Click”
3rd Prize Ann Jeline R. Pablo, “The Naught of What-is, What-ifs, and Whats-not”
Regional Division
Short story-Cebuano
1st Prize Roehl Joseph A. Dazo, “Binignit”
2nd Prize Januar E. Yap, “Ang Haya ni Tasyo”
3rd Prize Jondy M. Arpilleda, “Armas”
Short story-Hiligaynon
1st Prize Alice Tan Gonzales, “Si Ena sa Kasisidmon”
2nd Prize Ritchie D. Pagunsan, “Pakutkot”
3rd Prize Anthony B. Capirayan, “Ang mga Retrato sang Dalaga”
Short story-Ilokano
1st Prize Edison B. Tobias, “El Quinto”
2nd Prize Daniel L. Nesperos, “Ti Kayo”
3rd Prize Remedios S. Tabelisma-Aguillon, “Naisangsangayan a Sangaili”