Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature continued its tradition of celebrating literary excellence by honoring 57 Filipino literary artists at an awards ceremony held on Tuesday (September 1).
The winners of the 65th Palanca Awards were bagged by many first-time winners coming from different parts of the Philippines and abroad, alongside veteran authors, such as Hall of Famers Edgardo Maranan and Peter Solis Nery.
Young women fictionists, Victorette Joy Z. Campilan for “Toto O.” and Charmaine Mercader for “All My Lonely Islands”, created literary history by copping the grand prizes in the bi-annual Novel and Nobela categories.
The winners of the 65th 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 Kwenton) 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)
The prestigious and longest-running literary contest accepted 895 entries in 22 categories, with the Novel and Nobela categories opened this year.
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature aims to develop the country’s literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works, as well as serve as a treasury of Philippine literary gems.
