AT LEAST 51 writers, including Inquirer contributors Joemar L. Furigay and Patricia Celina A. Ngo, emerged as winners in the 66th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) held recently at the Peninsula Manila.
Furigay, a Grade 10 English teacher who wrote articles on education and the plight of teachers for Inquirer.net, won his first Palanca Award for his piece “Saranggola.” He ranked third in the Short Story for Children category.
Ngo, a Youngblood contributor, won another Palanca Award in the Poetry Written for Children category for her composition “Miniature Masterpieces” which placed third.
The Carlos Palanca Foundation, received entries in 20 categories.
Multiawarded actor, director and theater artist Antonio “Tony” Mabesa was the speaker and guest of honor at the awarding ceremony. Mabesa, a professor emeritus at UP, founded Dulaang UP.
Mabesa was conferred the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi for his stellar career spanning six decades.
The Palanca Awards, named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., is the longest-running literary competition in the Philippines and is considered the gold standard in writing excellence.
The following are some of the winners of the 66th Palanca Awards (English Division):
Short story: 1st, Richard C. Cornelio for “Zoetrope,” 2nd, Larissa Mae R. Suarez for “Sundays at the Cardozas” and 3rd, Michelle Abigail Tiu Tan for “Things that Matter.”
Short story for children: 1st, 2nd (no winners) and 3rd, Joemar L. Furigay for “Saranggola.”
Essay: 1st, Joel Vega for “A View From Masada”; 2nd, Hammed Q. Bolotaolo for “Circle” and 3rd, Maria Roselle G. Umlas for “Lip Reading.”
Poetry: 1st, Ana Maria K. Lacuesta for “Hush Harbor”; 2nd, Dr. Merlinda Bobis for “Accidents of Composition” and 3rd, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan for “Homecoming Collection.”
Poetry Written For Children: 1st (no winner); 2nd, Jaime An Lim for “The Small Bright Things” and 3rd, Patricia Celina A. Ngo for “Miniature Masterpieces.”
One-act Play: 1st; Peter Solis Nery for “Tic-Tac-Toe”; 2nd, Robert Arlo de Guzman for “1990” and 3rd, Patrick James Manongdo Valera for “Gawani’s First Dance.”
Full-length Play: 1st, Joachim Emilio B. Antonio for “The Floret Road”; 2nd (no winner) and 3rd, Michael Aaron C. Gomez for “Tirador ng Tinago.” Read this article for the complete list of winners.