51 writers win at 67th Palanca Awards

At least 51 writers, 23 of whom were first-time awardees, emerged as this year’s winners at the 67th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) held on Friday night at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.

Among them were Inquirer Youngblood contributors Jade Mark B. Capiñanes and Patricia Celina A. Ngo.

This year’s speaker and guest of honor at the awarding ceremony was decorated writer and professor, Dr. Jose “Butch” Y. Dalisay Jr.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Dalisay, himself a 16-time Palanca awardee and a Hall of Famer. Dalisay was conferred the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi for his contributions to the literary scene, including books of his stories, plays, essays, screenplays and biographies.

The Palanca Awards  is considered the gold standard in writing excellence, coveted by Filipino writers, young and old alike.

The following are this year’s winners:

Kabataan Division

Kabataan Sanaysay: first prize, no winner;  second, Carmel Joy F. Vergara for “Patlang”; and third, Robyn Therese V. Jocom for “Sungkitin Pabalik ang Nakalipas.”

Kabataan Essay: first prize,   Alpheus Matthew D. Llantero for “The Adventure of an Alien and the Matalino Kid”; second, Pauline Sherice Wee for “Culture Redefined”; and third, Marielle Fatima B. Tuazon for “The Pursuit of Lucidity.”

Filipino Division

Maikling Kuwento: first Prize,   Andrian M. Legaspi for “Sa Pagitan ng Sabaw ng Chaolong at Hilab ng Tiyan”; second, Valentine Dula for “Patintero”;  and third,  Nicko M. de Guzman for “Troll.”

Maikling Kuwentong Pambata: first prize,   Maryrose Jairene Cruz-Eusebio for “Ang Patay-gutom”; second,  Josel Luigi F. Creencia for “Lato’t Ginto”; and third, Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno for “Si Tiya Salome.”

Sanaysay: first prize,  Eugene Y. Evasco for “Ang Mapa ng Taglagas sa Aking Maleta”; second, Will P. Ortiz for “Sisid”; and third, Mubarak M. Tahir for “Aden Bon Besen Uyag-Uyag (May Buhay Pa Pala).”

Tula: first prize,  Christian R. Vallez  for “Sa Pagitan ng Banal at Karnal”; second,  Jason G. Tabinas for “Na Inyong Ikinalulunod”; and third,  Rogelio Dela Rosa Jr. for “Tanghod at iba pang Paghihintay.”

Tula Para Sa Mga Bata: first prize,   John Vincent J. Bucal for “Muwang ng Musmos”; second, Errol A. Merquita for “Tagulilong: Ang mga Nawawala”; and third, Paterno B. Baloloy Jr. for “Agam-Agam ng Langgam.”

Dulang May Isang Yugto: first prize, Eljay Castro Deldoc for “Pilipinas Kong Mahal With All the Overcoat”; second, Rodolfo Carlos Vera for “Indigo Child”; and third, Dominique Beatrice T. La Victoria for “Ang Bata Sa Drum.”

Dulang Ganap Ang Haba: first prize,   Dustin Edward D. Celestino for “Ang Pangahas na si Pepe Rodriguez”; second, Joshua L. Lim So for “Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi”; and third, Vincent A. De Jesus for “Changing Partners.”

Dulang Pampelikula: first prize, Rodolfo Carlos Vera for “Ang Aking Juan Luna”; second, Kristian Sendon Cordero for “Kulto ni Santiago”; and third, Avelino Mark C. Balmes Jr. for “Pablo Ocampo Extension.”

Regional Division

Short Story-Cebuano: first prize, Jondy M. Arpilleda for “Bunok”; second, Manuel M. Avenido Jr. for “Panagtigi”; and third, Errol A. Merquita for “Aninipot.”

Short Story-Hiligaynon: first prize, Jesus C. Insilada, Ed.D., for “Tinuom”;  second, Peter Solis Nery for “Ang Milagro sa Ermita”; and third, Leonard Francis M. Alcoran for “Ang Itlog nga wala Nagabalibad.”

Short Story-Ilokano:  first prize, Ronelyn Ramones for “Ti Lubong ni Anastasia”; second, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Ph.D., for “Siak Ti Interpreteryo”; and third, Ariel Sotelo for “Tabag Dado.”

English Division

Short Story: first prize,  John Bengan for “Disguise”; second, Katrina Guiang Gomez for “Misericordia”; and  third, Joe Bert Lazarte for “Don’t Blink.”

There was no winner for short story for children.

Essay: first, Michelle Josephine G. Rivera for “In My Father’s Kitchen”; second, Paul Gideon D. Lasco for “The Art of ‘Hugot’ in our Republic of ‘Sawi’”; and third, Jade Mark B. Capiñanes for “A Portrait of a Young Man as a Banak.”

Poetry: first prize, Noelle Leslie de la Cruz for “Sisyphus on the Penrose Stairs: Meta-Reveries”; second,  Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr. for  “Blood Compact”; and third, Hurjay Medilo Elegy for “A Dying World.”

Poetry Written For Children: first, Cynthia Baculi-Condez for “From Dawn to Dusk”; second, Patricia Celina A. Ngo for “Magical Mall of Mysteries”; and third, Ma. Amparo N. Warren for “Animal Songs/Just So Poems.”

One-Act Play: third prize,  Joshua L. Lim So Sa Syquia for “Malate, Kabanata II: Letting The Days Go By.”

Full-Length Play: first prize,  Dustin Edward D. Celestino for “The Story of This Father”; and second, Joachim Emilio B. Antonio for “exesanonymous.com.”

Grand Prizes-Nobela:  Eros S. Atalia  for  “Ang Ikatlong Anti-Kristo.” Novel: Glenn L. Diaz  for “The Quiet Ones.”