By Prince Golez
The country’s longest-running and most prestigious literary contest, the 70th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (CPMA) for Literature, honored 59 writers in 22 categories on Wednesday at the Marquis Events Place in Taguig.
A total of 1,455 literary entries were submitted to the CPMA this year, according to the sponsor Criselda Cecilio-Palanca.
Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, former dean of the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication, stood as the guest of honor and speaker at this year’s awarding ceremony.
The Palanca Awards, named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., seeks to “cultivate Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers and serving as a treasury of these literary gems.”
HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
Kabataan Division for Sanaysay
1st Prize: “Pamimintana” by Glorious Zavannah Exylin Alesna
2nd Prize: “Ang Larong Naipanalo Ko” by Hansly Kendrich Saw
3rd Prize: “Mga Bantas ang Nagsilbi kong Guro” by John Clarence Espedido
Kabataan Division for Essay
1st Prize: “Home is a Bowl of Warm Soup” by Glorious Zavannah Exylin Alesna
2nd Prize: “Covid-19 is My Alter Ego” by Jenine Santos
3rd Prize: “The Social Pandemic” by Gavin Micah Herrera
Maikling Kuwentong Pambata
1st Prize: “Si VeRaptor1 Laban Kay Trolakuz” by Mark Norman Boquiren
2nd Prize: “Balong Batsit, ang Bidang Bulilit at Bayaning Bulinggit” by Wilfredo Farrales Sarangaya
3rd Prize: “Mirasol para kay Lola Sol” by Benedick Damaso
Sanaysay
1st Prize: “Kung Magkapalad Ka’t Mangmang” by Venice Kayla Dacanay Delica
2nd Prize: “Tatlong Pancit Canton” by Jhon Lester Sandigan
3rd Prize: “Isang Dekadang Kontrata sa Piling ng mga Mikrobyo” by Nathaniel Alcantara
Tula
1st Prize: “Uyayi ng mga Patay na Buwan” by Ralph Lorenz Fonte, M.D.
2nd Prize: “Pintula” by Enrique Villasis
3rd Prize: “Mga Anino sa Guho at iba pang mga tula” by Sonny Sendon
Tula Para Sa Mga Bata
1st Prize: “Tula, Tula, Paano ka Ginawa?” by Christian Vallez
2nd Prize: “Ale Bangbang” by Rebecca Anonuevo
3rd Prize: “Mga Pahina sa Alaala ng Nanay” by Ninia dela Cruz
Dulang May Isang Yugto
1st Prize: “Punks Not Dead” by Andrew Bonifacio Clete
2nd Prize: “Dance of the Foolies” by Layeta Bucoy
3rd Prize: “Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria” by Ryan Machado
Dulang Ganap ang Haba
1st Prize: “Mga Silid ng Unos: Tomo Uno” by Joshua Lim So
2nd Prize: “Anak Datu” by Rodolfo Vera
3rd Prize: “Badung” by Steven Prince Fernandez
Dulang Pampelikula
1st Prize: “Amoy Pulbos” by Avelino Mark Balmes Jr.
2nd Prize: “DOS” by Noreen Besmar Capili
3rd Prize: “Ang Pananalangin sa Getsemani” by Ehdisom Dimen
Regional Languages – Short Story (Cebuano)
1st Prize: “Barang” by Noel Tuazon
2nd Prize: “Ikigai” by Manu Avenido
3rd Prize: “John Wayne ug ang Goldfish kong Inahan” by Januar Yap
Regional Languages – Short Story (Hiligaynon)
1st Prize: “Ang Macatol Kag Ang ‘Queen of Relief’” by Peter Solis Nery
2nd Prize: “Malipayong ang Katapusan” by Early Sol Gadong
3rd Prize: “Esperanza” by Ritchie D. Pagunsan
Regional Languages – Short Story (Ilokano)
1st Prize: “Ti Kimat Ken Ti Silag” by Oswald Ancheta Valente
2nd Prize: “ Ti Ubing” by Remedios Tebelisma-Aguilon
3rd Prize: “Karton” by Rodolfo Agatep Jr.
Short Story
1st Prize: “Ceferina in Apartment 2G” by Ian Rosales Casocot
2nd Prize: “Ardor” by Exie Abola
3rd Prize: “The Money Changer” by Hammed Bolotaolo
Short Story for Children
2nd Prize: “Cloud Keeper” by Elyrah Salanga-Torralba
3rd Prize: “My Grandma who lives in Half a House” by Heather Ann Ferrer Pulido
Essay
1st Prize: “Letter from Tawi-Tawi” by Alfonso Tomas Araullo
2nd Prize: “Filipino Millennial Monomyth” by Michaela Sarah De Leon
3rd Prize: “The Helmsman’s Daughter” by Alexandra Francesca Bichara
Poetry
1st Prize: “Bol-anon Prodigal” by Ramil Digal Gulle
2nd Prize: “A Few Dawns from now, A Sunfish” by Soleil David
3rd Prize: “The Blueline” by Lawrence Anthony Bernabe
Poetry Written for Children
1st Prize: “An Empty Chair in the Corner” by Elyrah Salanga-Torralba
2nd Prize: “Picnic, Symphony and other concepts a 4th Grader needs to know” by Peter Solis Nery
One-act Play
1st Prize: “The Cave Dwellers” by Ronald Covar
2nd Prize: “Salvaged Eman” by Bonifacio Ilagan
3rd Prize: “Agencia Feliz” by Maria Kristine Roxas-Miller
Full-length Play
1st Prize: “Orgullo Compound” by Layeta Bucoy
2nd Prize: “Black Bordello” by Jay Mariano Crisostomo IV
3rd Prize: “The Lost Filipino Patriots of America” by Dustin Edward Celestino
The Grand Prize for Novel was given to Raymundo Pandan Jr. for “Bittersweetland,” and Alvin Dela Serna Lopez received the Special Prize for Novel for “1762.”
The Nobela Grand Prize went to Khavn de la Cruz for “ANTIMARCOS,” while the Special Prize was given to Edgar Calabia Samar for “Teorya ng Unang Panahon.”
