And the winners are….

THIS YEAR’S Palanca Awards — given out on Nov. 8 at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati — accepted 1,167 entries which were then evaluated by 63 authors, poets, and academics who determined which literary compositions deserved to be conferred the prestigious award. There were 22 categories with 56 winning writers — 32 of whom are first-time awardees.

Named after the businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards was founded in 1950 with the aim to “enrich Philippine Literature by giving incentives to writers and serving as a treasury of Philippine literary gems.” It is the longest-running literary competition in the Philippines.

As of September 2019, the Palanca Awards collection consists of 2,499 winning works composed of 640 short stories, 414 collections of poetry, 256 essays, 388 one-act plays, 219 full-length plays, 60 teleplays, 77 screenplays, 187 stories for children, 34 futuristic fiction stories, 122 student essays, 44 novels, and 58 collections of poetry written for children in English, Filipino, Regional Languages, and Kabataan Division.

The full list of winners follows:

KABATAAN DIVISION
• Essay — 1^st prize: Enrico Miguel Pe Aguirre Perez, “Thoughts on Eden”; 2^nd prize: Criscela Ysabelle A. Racelis, “Before You Click”; 3^rd prize: Ann Jeline R. Pablo, “The Naught of What-is, What-ifs, and Whats-not”

• Sanaysay — 1^st prize: Marielle M. Calicdan, “Echo Mula Sa Gatilyo”; 2^nd prize: Mark Andy Pedere, “Sa Pilang Salungat sa Manghuhula at Bolang Kristal”; 3^rd prize: Adrian Pete Medina, “Pregonir Noon Akto-o He’n Fa Gali Em (May Katotohanan pa pala)”

FILIPINO DIVISION
• Nobela — Jerking Guzman Pingol, Agaw-anino

• Maikling Kwento — 1^st prize: Eros S. Atalia, “Si Etot”; 2^nd prize: Benjamin Joshua L. Gutierrez, “Dahil Wala Kaming Tubig”; 3^rd prize: Allan Alberto N. Derain, “Hilaw at Luto sa Bangkete ni Kapitan Gimo”

• Maikling Kwentong Pambata — 1^st prize: Luis P. Gatmaitan, “Maselan ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman”; 2^nd prize: Victoria Estrella C. Bravo, “Ako ang Kuya”; 3^rd prize: Jacqueline V. Franquelli, “Anak ng Tinapay”

• Sanaysay — 1^st prize: Marianne Mixkaela Z. Villalon, “Form & Content: Sandata sa Panahon ng Disimpormasyon at War on Drugs”; 2^nd prize: Wilfredo O. Pascual, Jr., “Sumasaiyo”; 3^rd prize: Reson A. Gregorio, “Wala sa Langit si Hesus”

• Tula — 1^st prize: Lamberto E. Antonio, Turno Kung Nokturno at iba pang Tiyempo ng Rilyebo sa Pagberso; 2^nd prize: Ralph Lorenz G. Fonte, Ang Wika ng Dagat ay Layo; 3^rd prize: Allan John Andres, Yaong Hindi Maaaring Hawakan nang Buo

• Tula para sa mga bata — 1^st prize: no winner; 2^nd prize: John Romeo L. Venturero, Ganito sa Pabrika; 3^rd prize: German Villanueva Gervacio, Ang Totoo Raya, ang Ulan ay Luha ng Bituin

• Dulang May Isang Yugto — 1^st prize: no winner; 2^nd prize: Chona M. Fernando, Beach House; 3^rd prize: Bridgette Ann M. Rebuca, Transient Lovers

• Dulang Ganap ang Haba — 1^st prize: Dustin Edward D. Celestino, Ang Duyan ng Magiting; 2^nd prize: Mario L. Mendez, Jr., Ang Huling Mambabatok; 3^rd prize: Bonifacio P. Ilagan, Junix at Maricel

• Dulang Pampelikula — 1^st prize: Mary Honeylyn Joy E. Alipio, Teatro Pacifico; 2^nd prize: Jaymar Santos Castro, Angkas; 3^rd prize: Rodolfo C. Vera, Nana Rosa

REGIONAL DIVISION
• Short Story (Cebuano) — 1^st prize: Roehl Joseph A. Dazo, “Binignit”; 2^nd prize: Januar E. Yap, “Ang Haya ni Tasyo”; 3^rd prize: Jondy M. Arpilleda, “Armas”

• Short Story (Hiligaynon) — 1^st prize: Alice Tan Gonzales, “Si Ena sa Kasisidmon”; 2^nd prize: Ritchie D. Pagunsan, “Pakutkot”; 3^rd prize: Anthony B. Capirayan, “Ang mga Retrato sang Dalaga”

• Short Story (Ilocano) — 1^st prize: Edison B. Tobias, “El Quinto”; 2^nd prize: Daniel L. Nesperos, “Ti Kayo”; 3^rd prize: Remedios S. Tabelisma-Aguillon, “Naisangsangayan a Sangaili’

ENGLISH DIVISION
• Novel — Reine Arcache Melvin, The Betrayed

• Short Story — 1^st prize: Kathleen Osias, “James Machine”; 2^nd prize: Rayjinar Anne Marie de Guia Salcedo, “Death for Serafina”; 3^rd prize: Adrian Carl M. Pescador, “Neon Blindness”

• Short Story for Children — 1^st prize: Juanita Roxas Singer, “Pretty Peach and The Color-Matching Kaleidoscope”; 2^nd prize Victoria Estrella C. Bravo, “Hair”; 3^rd prize Daisy Ruth Oñate Sohne, “The Accidental Adventure of Bubalus Bubalis”

• Essay — 1^st prize: Jocelyn G. Nicolas, “The Age of the Missing”; 2^nd prize Josephine V. Roque, “Ashfall”; 3^rd prize: Michaela Sarah De Leon, “Call Me A Book ‘Editor,’ I Dare You”

• Poetry — 1^st prize: Regine Miren D. Cabato, Notes from the Field; 2^nd prize: Rodrigo V. Dela Peña, Jr., Pentimento; 3^rd prize: Alvin Dela Serna Lopez, Departures

• Poetry Written for Children — 1^st prize: no winner; 2^nd prize: no winner; 3^rd prize: Mia A. Buenaventura, What Magical Fur is This? And Other Poems

• One-act Play — 1^st prize: Peter Zaragoza, Mayshle Dolorosa; 2^nd prize: Adrian Carl M. Pescador, Daddy Complex; 3^rd prize: Maria Amparo Nolasco Warren, The Root of all Magic

• Full-length Play — 1^st prize: Justin Michael A. Naniong, Changelings; 2^nd prize: Rolando S. Salvaña, Mercy Country; 3^rd prize: Lito Casaje, Theoria Republica