Maningning Miclat Art Foundation Inc. (MMAFI) announced the winners of the 2021 Maningning Miclat Poetry Awards in a Zoom event on Sept. 12. It was also the posthumous launching of the memorial edition of the last books completed by the late writer and educator Mario Ignacio Miclat.

Alfonso Manalastas, the spoken word artist and writer from Butuan City, bagged the grand prize in the English poetry award for his collection titled “Country Underwater.”

Genesis Roy Historillo from Marinduque, a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (Lira) won the grand prize in Filipino for his poetry suite, “Ang Hugis ng Pandemya.”

The two winners each received a P28,000 cash prize, a trophy made by sculptor Julie Lluch and the commemorative set of books by Mario, Alma Cruz Miclat’s “Soul Searchers and Dreamers,” Volumes I & II, Maharadya Miclat-Janssen’s “#Rajisms” and “Fairground: A Literary Feast,” edited by Gémino H. Abad and Alma.

Other winners of the prestigious prize for poets 28 years old and younger are Eunice Andrada (second prize) and Dr. Ralph Lorenz Fonte (third prize) for the English category.

For the Filipino category, John Brixter Tino won second prize. Rowell Ulang won third prize.

The judges of the Maningning Poetry Awards were Marjorie Evasco, Dinah Roma and Marne Kilates for English; Rebecca T. Añonuevo, Ruth Elynia Mabanglo and Michael Coroza for Filipino.

The Sept. 12 program by Zoom was livestreamed on the Maningning Miclat Facebook page and can be watched on YouTube,

The next Maningning Miclat Poetry Awards will be held in 2023. Alternating annually with painting, the award aims to encourage creativity and give recognition and awards to outstanding and talented young poets and artists.

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