70th Palanca Awards holds annual ceremony to honor winners

THE CARLOS Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, which staged its 70^th edition after a two-year hiatus, recently held its annual ceremony to honor the winning writers, poets, and playwrights.

The revelry happened at the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, where a total of 59 writers, 28 of which are first-time awardees, were chosen as this year’s recipients.

The total number of writing categories awarded was 22, as the Novel and Nobela categories were open this year, with the surprise addition of a Special Prize for each. All winning entries were evaluated by an elite roster of literary luminaries handpicked for their respective expertise.

It was Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson who stood as the Guest of Honor and Speaker at this year’s awarding ceremony. A professor emeritus of the U.P. Film Institute and former Dean of the U.P. Diliman College of Mass Communication, he has shaped many young minds in the fields of film, media, literature, and theater. 

Dr. Tiongson is also a founding member and former chair of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, among other organizations he helped establish. He has published various studies on Philippine film and theater and harnessed the power of the written word to create the film books, articles, reviews, and interviews that earned him various accolades throughout his career.

Named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards continuously seeks to cultivate Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers and serving as a treasury of these literary gems. It is considered the gold standard in writing excellence, highly coveted by Filipino writers, young and old, here and abroad alike.

Following is the list of winners of the 70^th Palanca Awards:  

KABATAAN DIVISION
KABATAAN SANAYSAY
1st Prize	Glorious Zavannah Exylin C. Alesna	Pamimintana
2nd Prize	Hansly Kendrich C. Saw	Ang Larong Naipanalo Ko
3rd Prize	John Clarence D. Espedido	Mga Bantas ang Nagsilbi kong Guro
KABATAAN ESSAY
1st Prize	Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna	Home is a Bowl of Warm Soup
2nd Prize	Jenine A. Santos	Covid-19 is My Alter Ego
3rd Prize	Gavin Micah T. Herrera	The Social Pandemic
FILIPINO DIVISION
MAIKLING KUWENTO
1st Prize	Charmaine M. Lasar	Ang Value ng X Kapag Choppy si Mam
2nd Prize	Abegail E. Pariente	Barangay Alitaptap
3rd Prize	Alec Joshua B. Paradeza	Kung sa Bawat Pagtawag ay Pagtawid sa Dagat
MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA
1st Prize	Mark Norman S. Boquiren	Si VeRaptor1 Laban kay Trolakuz
2nd Prize	Wilfredo Farrales Sarangaya	Balong Batsit, ang Bidang Bulilit at Bayaning Bulinggit
3rd Prize	Benedick N. Damaso	Mirasol para kay Lola Sol
SANAYSAY
1st Prize	Venice Kayla Dacanay Delica	Kung Magkapalad Ka't Mangmang
2nd Prize	Jhon Lester P. Sandigan	Tatlong Pancit Canton
3rd Prize	Nathaniel R. Alcantara	Isang Dekadang Kontrata sa Piling ng mga Mikrobyo
TULA
1st Prize	Ralph Lorenz G. Fonte, M.D.	Uyayi ng mga Patay na Buwan
2nd Prize	Enrique S. Villasis	Pintula
3rd Prize	Sonny C. Sendon	Mga Anino sa Guho at iba pang mga tula
TULA PARA SA MGA BATA
1st Prize	Christian R. Vallez	Tula, Tula, Paano ka Ginawa?
2nd Prize	Rebecca T. Anonuevo	Ale Bangbang
3rd Prize	Ninia H. dela Cruz	Mga Pahina sa Alaala ng Nanay
DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO
1st Prize	Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete	Punks Not Dead
2nd Prize	Layeta P. Bucoy	Dance of the Foolies
3rd Prize	Ryan Machado	Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria
DULANG GANAP ANG HABA
1st Prize	Joshua Lim So	Mga Silid ng Unos:  Tomo Uno
2nd Prize	Rodolfo C. Vera	Anak Datu
3rd Prize	Steven Prince C. Fernandez	Badung
DULANG PAMPELIKULA
1st Prize	Avelino Mark C. Balmes, Jr.	Amoy Pulbos
2nd Prize	Noreen Besmar Capili	DOS
3rd Prize	Ehdison M. Dimen	Ang Pananalangin sa Getsemani
REGIONAL DIVISION
SHORT STORY-CEBUANO
1st Prize	Noel P. Tuazon	Barang
2nd Prize	Manu Avenido	Ikigai
3rd Prize	Januar E. Yap	John Wayne ug ang Goldfish kong Inahan
SHORT STORY-HILIGAYNON
1st Prize	Peter Solis Nery	Ang Macatol Kag Ang "Queen of Relief"
2nd Prize	Early Sol A. Gadong	Malipayon nga Katapusan
3rd Prize	Ritchie D. Pagunsan	Esperanza
SHORT STORY-ILOKANO
1st Prize	Oswald Ancheta Valente	Ti Kimat Ken Ti Silag
2nd Prize	Remedios S. Tabelisma-Aguillon	Ti Ubing
3rd Prize	Rodolfo D. Agatep Jr.	Karton
ENGLISH DIVISION
SHORT STORY
1st Prize	Ian Rosales Casocot	Ceferina in Apartment 2G
2nd Prize	Exie Abola	Ardor
3rd Prize	Hammed Bolotaolo	The Money Changer
SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize	NO WINNER
2nd Prize	Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba	Cloud Keeper
3rd Prize	Heather Ann Ferrer Pulido	My Grandma who lives in Half a House
ESSAY
1st Prize	Alfonso Tomas P. Araullo	Letter from Tawi-Tawi
2nd Prize	Michaela Sarah De Leon	Filipino Millennial Monomyth
3rd Prize	Alexandra Francesca A. Bichara	The Helmsman's Daughter
POETRY
1st Prize	Ramil Digal Gulle	Bol-anon Prodigal
2nd Prize	Soleil David	A Few Dawns from now, A Sunfish
3rd Prize	Lawrence Anthony R. Bernabe	The Blueline
POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize	Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba	An Empty Chair in the Corner
2nd Prize	Peter Solis Nery	Picnic, Symphony and other concepts a 4th Grader needs to know
3rd Prize	NO WINNER
ONE-ACT PLAY
1st Prize	Ronald S. Covar	The Cave Dwellers
2nd Prize	Bonifacio P. Ilagan	Salvaged Eman
3rd Prize	Maria Kristine B. Roxas-Miller	Agencia Feliz
FULL-LENGTH PLAY
1st Prize	Layeta P. Bucoy	Orgullo Compound
2nd Prize	Jay Mariano Crisostomo IV	Black Bordello
3rd Prize	Dustin Edward D. Celestino	The Lost Filipino Patriots of America
NOVEL
Grand Prize	Raymundo T. Pandan, Jr.	Bittersweetland
Special Prize	Alvin Dela Serna Lopez	1762
NOBELA
Grand Prize (Pangunahing Gantimpala)	Khavn	ANTIMARCOS
Special Prize (Natatanging Gantimpala)	Edgar Calabia Samar	Teorya ng Unang Panahon