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Winners of the 67th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
The 51 winners of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature were honored on Friday at The Manila Peninsula in Makati City.
Among the awardees were 23 first-time winners, including Dustin Edward D. Celestino, who won first prize in two separate categories (Full Length Play and Dulang Ganap Ang Haba).
Dr. Jose "Butch" Y. Dalisay the event's speaker and guest of honor — a homecoming for the 16-time Palanca awardee. Dalisay was conferred the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi "for his contributions to the literary scene, including books of his stories, plays, and essays screenplays, and biographies."
"I was a journalist beholden to facts before I was liberated by fiction," Dalisay shared in his speech, before proceeding to congratulate this year's winners.
He went on to speak as he wrote, with great wit and charm. He recalled receiving his first Palanca in 1975. He had marveled at the size of the certificate, which he had framed and which he continues to treasure.
His overview hinted the answer to the question: What did the award mean?
"The quick answer would be is that the Palanca will bring you honor, some fame, and some bragging rights to your momma and poppa," Dalisay explained.
After the first high of the win, some writers will keep chasing the "Cinderella moment" and keep joining year after year — just like him. There will be more losses than victories, but triumph comes in many forms.
"If you keep at it, you will reach a point where the winning will matter less than the writing," Dalisay declared.
With luck, a writer's work will no longer just reach a panel of three, but by readers in thousands.
"Too often, we lend our words to others. With these prize-winning pieces, we reclaim our words for ourselves," Dalisay continued.
Briefly touching on the grave issues the world faced, Dalisay quipped that "the best antidote to fake news is great fiction."
Before Dalisay's speech, Professor Victor Emmanuel D. Nadera Jr. read excerpts from the three winning poems in the Filipino Division.
An excerpt of "exesanonymous.com" was also staged, directed by Dr. Alexander Cortez, teasing the curious plot of the full-length play by Joachim Emilio B.
The following are the full list of winners:
FILIPINO DIVISION
MAIKILING KUWENTO
1st Prize: Adrian M. Legaspi, "Sa Pagitan ng Sabaw ng Chaolong at Hilab ng Tiyan"
2nd Prize: Valentine Dula, "Patintero"
3rd Prize: Nicko M. de Guzman, "Troll"
MAIKILING KUWENTONG PAMBATA
1st Prize: Maryrose Jairene Cruz-Eusebio, "Ang Patay-gutom"
2nd Prize: Josel Luigi F. Creencia, "Lato't Ginto"
3rd Prize: Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno, "Si Tiya Salome"
SANAYSAY
1st Prize: Eugene Y. Evasco, "Ang Mapa ng Taglagas sa Aking Maleta"
2nd Prize: Will P. Ortiz, "Sisid"
3rd Prize: Mubarak M. Tahir, "Aden Bon Besen Uyag-Uyag" (May Buhay Pa Pala)
TULA
1st Prize: Christian R. Vallez, "Sa Pagitan ng Banal at Karnal"
2nd Prize: Jason G. Tabinas, "Na Inyong Ikinalulunod"
3rd Prize: Rogelio Dela Rosa Jr, "Tanghod at iba pang Paghihintay"
TULA PARA SA MGA BATA
1st Prize: John Vincent J. Bucal, "Muwang ng Musmos"
2nd Prize: Errol A. Merquita, "Tagulilong: Ang mga Nawawala"
3rd Prize: Paterno B. Baloloy Jr., "Agam-Agam ng Langgam"
DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO
1st Prize: Eljay Castro Deldoc, "Pilipinas Kong Mahal With All the Overcoat"
2nd Prize: Rodolfo Carlos Vera, "Indigo Child"
3rd Prize: Dominique Beatrice T. La Victoria, "Ang Bata Sa Drum"
DULANG GANAP ANG HABA
1st Prize: Dustin Edward D. Celestino, "Ang Pangahas na si Pepe Rodriguez"
2nd Prize: Joshua L. Lim So, "Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi"
3rd Prize: Vincent A. De Jesus, "Changing Partners"
DULANG PAMPELIKULA
1st Prize: Rodolfo Carlos Vera, "Ang Aking Juan Luna"
2nd Prize: Kristian Sendon Cordero, "Kulto ni Santiago"
3rd Prize: Avelino Mark C. Balmes Jr., "Pablo Ocampo Extension"
ENGLISH DIVISION
SHORT STORY
1st Prize: John Bengan, "Disguise"
2nd Prize: Katrina Gulang Gomez, "Misericordia"
3rd Prize: Joe Bert Lazarte, "Don't Blink"
SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize: NO WINNER
2nd Prize: NO WINNER
3rd Prize: NO WINNER
ESSAY
1st Prize: Michelle Josephine G. Rivera, "In My Father's Kitchen"
2nd Prize: Paul Gideon D. Lasco, "The Art of 'Hugot' in our Republic of 'Sawi'"
3rd Prize: Jade Mark B. Capinanes, "A Portrait of a Young Man as a Banak"
POETRY
1st Prize: Noelle Leslie dela Cruz, "Sisyphus on the Penrose Stairs: Meta-Reveries"
2nd Prize: Rodrigo V. Dela Pena Jr., "Blood Compact"
3rd Prize: Hurjay Medilo, "Elegy for a Dying World"
POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize: Cynthia Baculi-Condez, "From Dawn to Dusk"
2nd Prize: Patricia Celina A. Ngo, "Magical Mall of Mysteries"
3rd Prize: Ma. Amparo N. Warren, "Animal Songs / Just So Poems"
ONE-ACT PLAY
1st Prize: NO WINNER
2nd Prize: NO WINNER
3rd Prize: Joshua L. Lim So, "Sa Syquia, Malate, Kabanata II: Letting The Days Go By"
FULL-LENGTH PLAY
1st Prize: Dustin Edward D. Celestino, "The Story of This Father"
2nd Prize: Joachim Emilio B. Antonio, "exesanonymous.com"
3rd Prize: NO WINNER
REGIONAL DIVISION
SHORT STORY - CEBUANO
1st Prize: Jondy M. Arpilleda, "Bunok"
2nd Prize: Manuel M. Avenido Jr., "Panagtigi"
3rd Prize: Errol A. Merquita, "Aninipot"
SHORT STORY - HILIGAYNON
1st Prize: Jesus C. Insalada, Ed.D., "Tinuom"
2nd Prize: Peter Solis Nery, "Ang Milagro Sa Ermita"
3rd Prize: Leonard Francis M. Alcoran, "Ang Itlog nga walang Nagabalibad"
SHORT STORY - ILOKANO
1st Prize: Ronelyn Ramones, "Ti Lubong ni Anastasia"
2nd Prize: Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Ph.D., "Siak Ti Interpreteryo"
3rd Prize: Ariel Sotelo Tabag, "Dado"
KABATAAN DIVISION
KABATAAN SANAYSAY
1st Prize: NO WINNER
2nd Prize: Carmel Joy F. Vergara, "Patlang"
3rd Prize: Robyn Therese V. Jocom, "Sungkitin Pabalik ang Nakalipas"
KABATAAN ESSAY
1st Prize: Alpheus Matthew D. Llantero, "The Adventure of an Alien and the Matalino Kid"
2nd Prize: Pauline Sherice Wee, "Culture Redefined"
3rd Prize: Marielle Fatima B. Tuazon, "The Pursuit of Lucidity"
GRAND PRIZES
NOBELA
Eros S. Atalia, "Ang Ikatlong Anti-Kristo"
NOVEL
Glenn L. Diaz, "The Quiet Ones"
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature is considered the gold standard in writing excellence in the Philippines.
The Palanca Awards was established in 1950 and as of September 1, 2017 boasts a collection that consists of 2,385 works. — DVM, GMA News
