New Batch of Winners Emerge at the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards

In keeping with its tradition of celebrating literary excellence in the Philippines, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) honored 57 Filipino literary artists at the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Awards Ceremony held at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, September 1.

This year’s batch of winners saw many first-time winners, coming from different localities within the Philippines and abroad, making literary history alongside veteran authors, some of which have already earned their place at the Hall of Fame like Edgardo Maranan and Peter Solis Nery. Also, two young women fictionists copped the Grand Prizes in the bi-annual Novel and Nobela categories.

The 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (CPMA) Nobela Grand prize winner Charmaine Mercader Lasar (fourth from left) accepts her gold medallion for her winning work entitled, “Toto O.” at the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature awards ceremony held at The Peninsula Manila on September 1. Lasar, 20, is flanked by (from left to right) Mr. Jun Cruz Reyes, Ph.D., Mrs. Sylvia Palanca-Quirino, Mrs. Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca, Mr. Carl Anthony S. Palanca, Ms. Susan S. Lara, and Ms. Ligaya Tiamson Rubin.

Now on its 65th year, the most prestigious and longest-running literary contest accepted 895 entries in 22 categories, with the Novel and Nobela categories open this year. Entries for each category were evaluated by select panels of judges especially chosen for their contributions and excellence in their respective fields of literature.

The Palanca Awards was named in honor of businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. It aims to develop Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works as well as serve as a treasury of Philippine literary gems.

Victorette Joy Campilan (fourth from left) receives the Grand Prize in the recently concluded 65thCarlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature held at The Peninsula Manila. Campilan, who won in the Novel category for her work entitled, “All My Lonely Islands,” is joined on stage by Mr. Jun Cruz Reyes, Ph.D., Mrs. Sylvia Palanca-Quirino, Mrs. Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca, Mr. Carl Anthony S. Palanca, Ms. Susan S. Lara, and Ms. Ligaya Tiamson Rubin.

The Sponsors also bestowed the distinction of the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi, on Dr. Gemino H. Abad. This year’s guest of honor and speaker, is a professor emeritus of literature at the University of the Philippines, Dr. Abad has established himself as an eminent poet, essayist, fictionist and editor of several literary anthologies, helping shape the larger corpus of contemporary Philippine literature by contributing his own body of work and mentoring to many students of literature.

The winners of the Palanca Awards are as follows:

FILIPINO DIVISION

NOBELA
Grand Prize Charmaine Mercader Lasar Toto O.

DULANG PAMPELIKULA
1st Prize Eloisa Angeli Andrada Palileo Pink o Blue
2nd Prize Brylle B. Tabora Sekyu
3rd Prize Nita Eden So Alyas FPJ

DULANG GANAP ANG HABA
1st Prize Kanakan Balintagos Mga Buhay na Apoy
2nd Prize Edgardo B. Maranan Diwata ng Bayan
3rd Prize George A. De Jesus III Maniacal

DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO
1st Prize Allan B. Lopez Sa Isang Hindi Natatanging Umaga, at ang mga Ulap ay Dahan-Dahang Pumaibabaw sa Nabubulok na Lungsod
2nd Prize Vladimeir B. Gonzales Mal
3rd Prize Marco Antonio R. Rodas Igba

TULA
1st Prize Christa I. De La Cruz Mula sa Silong
2nd Prize Abner Dormiendo Sa Antipolo pa rin ang Antipolo
3rd Prize Christian Jil R. Benitez Sapagkat Umiibig: Mga Tula

TULA PARA SA MGA BATA
1st Prize Errol A. Merquita Ang Iisang Paa ng Tsinelas
2nd Prize John Romeo Leongson Venturero Si Iking Pasaway
3rd Prize no winner

MAIKLING KUWENTO
1st Prize John Carlo I. Pacala Ang Reyna ng Espada at mga Pusa
2nd Prize Lilia Quindoza Santiago Mag-ambahan Tayo
3rd Prize Andrian M. Legaspi Johnson at Putol

MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA
1st Prize Manuelita Contreras-Cabrera Sulat sa Birhen
2nd Prize Salvador T. Biglaen Ang Alamat ng Gulugod Baka
3rd Prize Corazon L. Santos Ang Hiling sa Punso

SANAYSAY
1st Prize Adelma L. Salvador Silat
2nd Prize Dionie Cabral Tañada Tawag ng Pangangailangan
3rd Prize Jayson Bernard B. Santos Ang Tiktik sa Kalye Moriones

KABATAAN SANAYSAY
1st Prize Karl Gabrielle B. De Los Santos Hindi Ko Alam
2nd Prize Lance Lauren L. Santiago Ang Nakakikiliting Kalabit ng Bukang- Liwayway
3rd Prize Jason Renz D. Barrios Kahimanawari: Mga Kwentong Aswang ni Lola Basyang

ENGLISH DIVISION

NOVEL
Grand Prize Victorette Joy Z. Campilan All My Lonely Islands

FULL-LENGTH PLAY
1st Prize no winner
2nd Prize Jose Maria Manalo Obando
3rd Prize Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza Haiyan

ONE-ACT PLAY
1st Prize Layeta P. Bucoy The Adopted Healthy Baby
2nd Prize Jose Elvin Bueno Looking for Ulysses
3rd Prize Jonathan R. Guillermo The Hawk and the Viper

POETRY
1st Prize Charisse-Fuschia A. Paderna An Abundance of Selves
2nd Prize Arkaye Kierulf There Are No Monsters
3rd Prize Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr. Aria and Trumpet Flourish

POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize Peter Solis Nery The Rainbow Collection
2nd Prize Patricia Celina A. Ngo Ordinary Adventures
3rd Prize Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba The Cockroach’s Prayer

SHORT STORY
1st Prize Exie Abola Phallic Symbols
2nd Prize Maria Carmen G. Aquino Sarmiento The Backroom Angels Buggaloo
3rd Prize Hammed Q. Bolotaolo The Storyteller

SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize Raymond G. Falgui Monster Rescue: A Children’s Story for Adult Readers
2nd Prize Victoria Estrella C. Bravo The Bear
3rd Prize Jonathan R. Guillermo The Three Questions of Tarongoy

ESSAY
1st Prize Eli Rueda Guieb III Symphony of Dry Winds in a Time without Rain
2nd Prize Jennifer Dela Rosa Balboa Violence, A Biography
3rd Prize Miguel Antonio N. Lizada The Bangkok Masseur

KABATAAN ESSAY
1st Prize Catherine Regina Hanopol Borlaza That Man, That Hero in Our Stories
2nd Prize Richard C. Cornelio A Loaded Gun in the House Next Door
3rd Prize Annicka B. Koteh Until Transcendence

REGIONAL DIVISION

SHORT STORY – CEBUANO
1st Prize Lamberto G. Ceballos Tuba
2nd Prize Manuel M. Avenido Jr. Sa Lalaking Naligsan sa may Interseksyon
3rd Prize Januar E. Yap Liboa’g Usa Ka Hugon-Hugon Kabahin sa Tagulilong

SHORT STORY – HILIGAYNON
1st Prize Jesus C. Insilada Amburukay
2nd Prize Ritchie D. Pagunsan Kalamay Nga Pula
3rd Prize Gil S. Montinola Ang Lapsag sa Taguangkan ni Belen

SHORT STORY – ILUKO
1st Prize no winner
2nd Prize no winner
3rd Prize Rhea Domasing Berroy Ti Naimas a Luto ni Inangko ken Dagiti Babbai iti Biwong