OCTOBER 5, 2018 ─ It was a night of celebrating literary excellence as the 68th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature honored the authors of the competition’s winning entries earlier this evening at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
A total of 54 writers, 28 of which were first-time awardees, were chosen as this year’s batch of winners. Two authors each bagged prizes in two separate categories. A total of 20 regular categories were opened this year. The winning entries were evaluated and chosen by an elite roster of literary personalities from various fields.
This year’s awarding ceremony had as Speaker and Guest of honor multi-awarded writer Alfred “Krip” Yuson. He was conferred the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi for his contributions to the Philippine literary scene, including novels, poetry collections, short fiction, essays, and children’s stories. Yuson is a recipient of 13 Palanca Awards across various categories and was elevated to the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2001.
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 alike.
Following is the list of winners of the 68th Palanca Awards:
Kabataan Division
Kabataan Sanaysay
1st Prize Jack Lorenz Acebedo Rivera Paglaya Mula sa Pagtakas
2nd Prize Jacob Renz R. Ambrocio Sino ang Lumansag sa Lunday ni Lola Basyang?
3rd Prize Maria Jamaica S. Columbres Gulugod sa Pagsibol ng Binhi
Kabataan Essay
1st Prize Floriane T. Taruc Worlds Behind Words
2nd Prize Jaz Varon Villanueva Boundless
3rd Prize Jana Gillian Ang A Passage to Reading
Filipino Division
Maikling Kuwento
1st Prize Eugene C. Soyosa Gina
2nd Prize Andrew A. Estacio Ang Kanonisasyon ng mga Santa Santino
3rd Prize Luna Sicat Cleto Tatlong Proposisyon ng Puting Hangin
Maikling Kuwentong Pambata
1st Prize Jerwin Eileen G.C. Tarnate Ang Higad at ang Paru-paro
2nd Prize Eugene Y. Evasco Siyap ng Isang Sisiw
3rd Prize Early Sol A. Gadong Maraming-Maraming-Marami
Sanaysay
1st Prize Engr. Gil A. Dulon Jr. Amoral Ang Siyensya Subalit May Boses Din Ang Mga Maso
2nd Prize Adelma L. Salvador Kambak-kambak
3rd Prize Iza Maria G. Reyes Hindi Ako Dalisay
Tula
1st Prize Paul Alcoseba Castillo Luna’t Lunas
2nd Prize Mark Anthony S. Angeles Ang Babae sa Balangiga at iba pang Tula
3rd Prize Noel Galon Ang Bata sa Panahon ng Ligalig: Mga Tula sa loob at labas ng Bayan ng San Diego
Tula Para Sa Mga Bata
1st Prize Paterno B. Baloloy Jr. Paumanhin ng Kuting
2nd Prize Will P. Ortiz Himbing na Kuting at iba pang Tula sa Ilalim ng Araw
3rd Prize Noel P. Tuazon Klik Madyik
Dulang May Isang Yugto
1st Prize Michelle Josephine G. Rivera Kaharian ng Pinto
2nd Prize Maynard Gonzales Manansala Tao Po
3rd Prize Allan B. Lopez River Lethe
Dulang Ganap Ang Haba
1st Prize WALANG NAGWAGI
2nd Prize WALANG NAGWAGI
3rd Prize Rolin Cadallo Obina San Nicolas (Ang Sarsuwela)
Dulang Pampelikula
1st Prize James Ladioray 11 Septembers
2nd Prize Arden Rod B. Condez John Denver Trending
3rd Prize Andrian M. Legaspi Pandanggo sa Hukay
Regional Division
Short Story – Cebuano
1st Prize Januar E. Yap Baradero
2nd Prize Dave T. Pregoner Sunog
3rd Prize Leoncio P. Deriada Dili Baya ko Bugoy
Short Story – Hiligaynon
1st Prize Early Sol A. Gadong Sa Lum-ok Sang Imo Suso
2nd Prize Alice Tan Gonzales Haya
3rd Prize Dulce Maria V. Deriada Candelaria
Short Story – Ilokano
1st Prize Ariel Sotelo Tabag Gasanggasat
2nd Prize Paul Blanco Zafaralla Sarming
3rd Prize Jaime M. Agpalo Jr. Nakakidem-a-Simumulagat
English Division
Short Story
1st Prize Joe Bert Lazarte Describe the Rapture
2nd Prize Francis Paolo M. Quina Pigs
3rd Prize Matthew Jacob F. Ramos The Final Bullet
Short Story For Children
1st Prize NO WINNER
2nd Prize NO WINNER
3rd Prize Maryrose Jairene Cruz-Eusebio I have Two Mothers
Essay
1st Prize Jefry Canoy Buhay Pa Kami: Dispatches from Marawi
2nd Prize Ronnie E. Baticulon Some Days You Can’t Save Them All
3rd Prize Chuck D. Smith Origin Story
Poetry
1st Prize Rodrigo V. Dela Peña Jr. Self-portrait with Plastic Bag
2nd Prize Shane Carreon The Gods who Dissolved under our Tongues and other Poems
3rd Prize Jose Luis B. Pablo To Desire in Liturgy
Poetry Written For Children
1st Prize Maria Amparo Nolasco Warren Lola Elina Maria’s Savory-Sweet Cookbook of Poetry
2nd Prize Sigrid Marianne P. Gayangos Of Monsters, Math and Magic
3rd Prize Roselle Eloise B. Bunayog Brave, Undying Warriors
One-Act Play
1st Prize Katrina M. Bonillo Burying Mamang in Sugar
2nd Prize Joe Bert Lazarte Senator Pancho Aunor’s Blue Balls of Despair and Disillusionment
3rd Prize Luciano Sonny O. Valencia Leavings
Full-Length Play
1st Prize Beryl Andrea P. Delicana Mango Tree
2nd Prize Patrick James M. Valera Symphony
3rd Prize Dominique La Victoria Toward the Fires of Revolution
