Harvey James Castillo (third from left) accepts the first prize in the Kabataan-Essay category for his work entitled, ‘Avoiding the Fate of Gregor Samsa.’ He is flanked by (from left to right) Carlos Palanca Foundation Vice President Carl Anthony Palanca, Palanca Awards Deputy Director Atty. Christine Marie Pacheco, Kabataan Division judges Kara David, Lilibeth Oblena-Quiore and Edizon Fermin
In keeping with its tradition of celebrating literary excellence in the Philippines, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) honored 47 Filipino literary artists at the awards ceremony held on September 1.
Now on its 64th year, the most prestigious and longest-running literary contest accepted entries in 20 categories. 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. and 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 sponsors also bestowed another distinction, the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi award, to Gilda Cordero-Fernando. This year’s guest of honor and a true Renaissance woman, Cordero-Fernando has established herself as a formidable force in various fields of the arts. She continues to inspire her audiences through her art that remains socially and artistically relevant.
Palanca Hall of Fame awardee Peter Solis Nery (right) receives a new honor from Carl Anthony Palanca and Atty. Christine Marie Pacheco
The 64th Palanca Awards ceremony also welcomed two literary artists to the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame: Dr. Alice Tan Gonzales and Rodolfo Vera.
Tan Gonzales is lauded as one of the most passionate indigenous literary artists in the country. She is esteemed for her extensive knowledge and contribution to Hiligaynon literature and continues to celebrate the rich Hiligaynon heritage in her critically-acclaimed masterpieces.
Vera received the Hall of Fame Award for his theatrical and literary prowess. He is one of the most celebrated Filipino playwrights of his generation, and it is in his works that life and passion find true expression.
He also topped the Dulang Pampelikula category in the Filipino Division with his work, Lakambini. Andrian Legaspi for Ang Pag-ikot ng Salapi sa Panahon ni JLC took second place, while Antoinette Jadaone got third place with That thing called Tadhana.
Filipino division winners
For Dulang Ganap ang Haba category, winners were first place, Joshua Lim So (Tungkol kay Angela); second place, Erick Dasig Aguilar (Shambala); and third place, Peter Solis Nery (Agimat).
Joshua Lim So (third left) is the top winner at the Dulang Ganap ang Haba category. With him are (from left) Carl Anthony Palanca, Atty. Christine Marie Pacheco, and category judges Elmer Gatchalian, Banaue Miclat-Janssen and Perci Intalan
Winners at Dulang may Isang Yugto were: first place Peter Solis Nery (Gladiolas); second place, Salvador Biglaen (Balediksiyon); and third place Joshua Lim So(Sa Syquia, Malate, Kabanata I: Maraming Nagugutom sa Pilipinas).
Vijae Orquia Alquisola (Paglasa sa Pansamantala) won top honor at the Tula category, while Enrique Villasis (Marina) got second place, and Jose Marte Abueg (Musikerong Bulag) got third in the Tula category.
In Tula Para Sa Mga Bata, Edgardo Maranan (Tugma at Sukat sa Panahon ng Pagmulat) won first place, Vijae Orquia Alquisola (Sa Tuwing Ikaw ay Tahimik at mga Tinig ng Mga BatangTinutukso), second place, and John Enrico Torralba (Lola Manghuhula), third place.
Alvin Yapan (Ang Bugtong ng Manok at Agila) bagged top prize at the Maikling Kwento Category, followed by Peter Jairron Calabia Cruz (Grace) and Emmanuel Barrameda (Nando), at second and third places, respectively.
In the category Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, awardee was Eugene Evasco (Ang Nag-iisa at Natatanging si Onyok).
In the Sanaysay category, awardees were first place Allan Lopez (Return Flight), second place Dayang Magdalena and Nirvana Yraola (Retorika ng Luksa), and third place Jose Dennis Teodosio (Ang Daigdig sa Ilalim ng Papag ni Lola Mude).
Pamela Mendoza (Bago Pa Tuluyang Maligaw) was named grand winner for the Kabataan Sanaysay category.
English division winners
In the English language, different works from Filipino writers are also recognized in the Palanca Awards. Although no one was awarded first and thrid prize in the Full-Length Play category, second place went to Joachim Antonio for his work on The Last Filipino.
For the One-Act Play category, first place went to Patrick John Valencia for How I Got My Black Leather Boots. For second place, Karlo Antonio Galay-David was recognized for his work on Killing the Issue, while third place went to Erlinda Mae Young for Photo Finish.
In Poetry, first place went to Ana Maria Katigbak-Lacuesta for her poem We Won’t Be Tending Gardens. Meanwhile, Noli Manaig won second for Nausea and Other Poems and third went to Mikael de Lara Co for This Tender Gravity.
In the category of Poetry Writing for Children, no first place winner was awarded, but second went to Elyrah Salanga-Torralba for Punny Poems, while third was given to Peter Solis Nery for Those Colorful Parts.
For Short Story, Shasha Martinez bagged first prize for her work, The Auroras. Second place went to Maria Carmen Sarmiento for Zurbaran while third went to Sarah Lumba-Tajonera for Eye Candy.
Short Story for Children category first prize, meanwhile, was for Jose Carlo Sevilla’s work Hiro the Rooster and Basha the Hen. Second place went to Kathleen Aton-Osias for Three Good Things, while third was awarded to Catherine Rose Torres for The Ragpicker’s Son.
In the category of Essay, Ma. Nicola Loretto Sebastian won first for her work The Salt Price, while second place was given to Shakira Andrea Sison for (Insert her Silence Here)and third for When One is the Fourth by Terra Daffon.
In the Kabataan Essay, Harvey James Castillo won first prize for Avoiding the Fate of Gregor Samsa. Secon prize was given to Vica Adrienne Villanueva for Adrift on a Promise, while third prize was given to John Jason Berangel Santillan in The Unwritten Rule.
Regional division winners
With over 87 dialects in the country, the Regional Division recognized some of the most admirable works coming from different provinces. In the Short Story-Cebuano category, first place was awarded to Noel Tuazon for his work, Gutom, while second was given to Marcelo Baterna for Utlanan and third was given to Dr. Jondy Medalle Arpilleda for Kasina.
In the Short Story-Hiligaynon category, first prize winner is Dr. Alice Tan Gonzales for Balay sang Monyeka, Norman Tagudinay Darap won second for Olayra. No one was awarded third place in this category.
In Short Story-Iluko, no work was recognized as first prize, although second prize was won by Ronelyn Ramones for Gapu Ken ni Angelica, while third was awarded to Roy Aragon for MennamennaTi Maysa A Mannurat, Iti Ipupusayna, Iti Maysa a Nadagaang A Malem.
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