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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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.

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.

The above photo shows 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (CPMA) Nobela Grand prize winner Charmaine Mercader Lasar (fourth from left) accepting her gold medallion for her winning work entitled, “Toto O.” 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.

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.

Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. Vice President Carl Anthony Palanca (leftmost) and Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (CPMA) for Literature Director General Sylvia Palanca-Quirino joins Dr. Gemino H. Abad on stage, who was conferred this year's Gawad Dangal ng Lahi during the 65th CPMA Award Ceremony recently held at The Peninsula Manila, Makati City.

Victorette Joy Campilan (fourth from left) receives the Grand Prize in the recently concluded 65^thCarlos 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.

Actors perform on stage during the Award Ceremony of the 65^thCarlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature the play entitled “Looking for Ulysses,” directed by Rosauro “Uro” Dela Cruz. Looking for Ulysses is the second prize winning entry submitted by Jose Elvin Bueno under the One-Act Play category of the country's most prestigious and longest running competition.

Actors (L-R) Miguel Faustmann, Annicka Dolonius, Gwen Zamora, Bart Guingona and Banaue Miclat-Janssen smile on-stage as they take a bow for the play entitled, “Looking for Ulysses,” the second prize winning entry submitted by Jose Elvin Bueno under the One-Act Play category of the 65^thCarlos Palanca Memorial Awards for 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