Celebrates Filipino literary excellence at PICC anew
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature made a grand return to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to celebrate its illustrious 72nd year. The prestigious event honored some of the country’s finest writers across various genres and categories and proudly inducted new additions to its Hall of Fame.
The Palanca Hall of Fame is an elite circle of awardees who have achieved the remarkable feat of winning First Prize five times, in any writing category. It now has 30 honorees following the inclusion of four distinguished writers, namely, Eros Sanchez Atalia, Mikael de Lara Co, Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, and Joshua Lim So, cementing their legacy in Philippine literature.
The Awards also honored achievements across 22 writing categories, including the Novel and Nobela categories. Remarkably, 31 new names were recognized among a total of 54 awardees in four divisions: Kabataan, English, Filipino, and Regional Languages. All entries were meticulously evaluated by a respected panel of literary luminaries.
Gracing the night as Guest of Honor/Speaker and Gawad Dangal ng Lahi awardee was Director Jun Robles Lana. An internationally acclaimed Filipino filmmaker, Lana boasts an impressive portfolio of local and international accolades, including 12 Palanca Awards prizes and his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006. His award-winning films include “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan,” “Die Beautiful,” “Kalel, 15,” and “About Us But Not About Us.” Lana’s achievements underscore his immense contributions to both Philippine literature and cinema.
The Palanca Awards stands as the longest-running and most prestigious literary competition in the Philippines. It was named after the businessman and philanthropist Carlos Palanca, Sr. and sponsored by the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. This esteemed event maintains a tradition of encouraging writers to nurture and develop Philippine literature. A Palanca medal or recognition is a highly sought-after honor within the Filipino writing community, both locally and internationally.
Since 1951, the Palanca Awards has honored 2,580 Filipino authors with medals and certificates. As a champion of Philippine literature, it also serves as a repository of literary treasures, boasting an archive of 2,677 winning works from 1951 to 2024.
Following is the list of winners of the 72nd Palanca Awards:
KABATAAN DIVISION
KABATAAN SANAYSAY
1st Prize
Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna
Dito sa Kanlungan ng Hiraya't Katotohanan
2nd Prize
Raya T. Mitra
Sinulid at Buhay
3rd Prize
Lancelot MJ T. Edillor
Bura, Sulat
KABATAAN ESSAY
1st Prize
Brant Angelo S. Ambes
The Digital Snowball
2nd Prize
Ruth Mecanelle Magolhado
My Humanly Unhuman Friend
3rd Prize
Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna
Some Things Must Never Change
FILIPINO DIVISION
MAIKLING KUWENTO
1st Prize
Mark Anthony Angeles
Gagambang-bahay
2nd Prize
Hannah A. Leceña
Siya si Ril
3rd Prize
Aljane C. Baterna
Ang Lungga
MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA
1st Prize
Christopher S. Rosales
Musikong Bumbong
2nd Prize
Brian James S. Camaya
Si Bambalito, ang Batang Bayani ng Bangkusay
3rd Prize
John Patrick F. Solano
Atang Para kay Nanang Toyang
SANAYSAY
1st Prize
Tomas F. Agulto
Tulambuhay ng Isang Makatang Laway
2nd Prize
David R. Corpuz
Autoetnograpiya ng Luksa
3rd Prize
Adelle Liezl Chua
Love Child
TULA
1st Prize
Mikael de Lara Co
Panayam sa Abo
2nd Prize
John Dave B. Pacheco
Paa, Tuhod, Balikat ng Tagakaulo: Higatang sa Pangil ng Pana-panahong Pagkalugmok
3rd Prize
John Brixter M. Tino
Dugo ng Aking Dugo
TULA PARA SA MGA BATA
1st Prize
John Romeo Leongson Venturero
Anak ng Baha! Mga Tulang Pambata
2nd Prize
John Michael G. Londres
Saklolo, Trak ng Bumbero!
3rd Prize
Eros Sanchez Atalia
Add to Cart at iba pang mga Tula
DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO
1st Prize
Joshua Lim So
Pagkapit Sa Hangin
2nd Prize
Hans Pieter Luyun Arao
Vengeance of the Gods
3rd Prize
U Z. Eliserio
Ang Trahedya ni Bert
DULANG GANAP ANG HABA
1st Prize
WALANG NAGWAGI
2nd Prize
Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca
Ardor
3rd Prize
Andrew Aquino Estacio
Ka Amado
DULANG PAMPELIKULA
1st Prize
Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete
Championship
2nd Prize
Raymund T. Barcelon
Paglilitis
3rd Prize
Rian Jay G. Hernandez
Dobol
REGIONAL LANGUAGES DIVISION
SHORT STORY-CEBUANO
1st Prize
Michael Aaron Gomez
Pamalandong ni Antigo Mokayat
2nd Prize
Reynaldo A. Caturza
Anino
3rd Prize
Gracelda I. Lina
Maninibya
SHORT STORY-HILIGAYNON
1st Prize
Serafin I. Plotria, Jr.
Ang Liwat nga Paglupad ni Lolo
2nd Prize
Bryan Mari Argos
Labô
3rd Prize
Al Jeffrey L. Gonzales
Anagas, Anagas, Baylo 'Ta Ngalan
SHORT STORY-ILOKANO
1st Prize
Neyo E. Valdez
Panaggawid
2nd Prize
Ma. Lourdes Ladi Opinaldo
Uram
3rd Prize
Prodie Gar. Padios
Anniniwan
ENGLISH DIVISION
SHORT STORY
1st Prize
Jan Kevin M. Rivera
Muted City
2nd Prize
Antonio Hernandez
The Man Who Sold Dignity
3rd Prize
Kiefer Adrian Z. Occeño
Bee Happy
SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize
NO WINNER
2nd Prize
NO WINNER
3rd Prize
Edgar C. Samar
A Young Poet Dreams of a Hundred Words that Rhyme with Maynila
ESSAY
1st Prize
Lioba Asia E. Piluden
Ghost-hunting in Sagada
2nd Prize
Kara Danielle Eraña Medina
Another Hope Entirely
3rd Prize
Jade Mark B. Capiñanes
A Personal History of Sea Urchins
POETRY
1st Prize
Joel M. Toledo
Silangan
2nd Prize
Lyde Gerard Sison Villanueva
La Muerte De La Luz
3rd Prize
Ana Maria Segunda K. Lacuesta
We Are Not Yet Lost
POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN
1st Prize
Edgar C. Samar
Every Year, J Gained a Power
2nd Prize
Stacy Haynie Bolislis Ayson
Where are the Dinosaurs?
3rd Prize
Peter Solis Nery
Thirteen Ways of Looking at Books
ONE-ACT PLAY
1st Prize
Eljay Castro Deldoc
Unidentified
2nd Prize
Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca
The Impossible Dream
3rd Prize
Kenneth Theodore Cheng Keng
Line Up
FULL-LENGTH PLAY
1st Prize
Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca
Corridors
2nd Prize
Dustin Edward D. Celestino
Birdie
3rd Prize
Emilio Antonio Babao Guballa
The Echoist
NOBELA
Pangunahing Gantimpala
Eros Sanchez Atalia
Thirty Virgins
Natatanging Gantimpala
NO WINNER
NOVEL
Grand Prize
Lakan Ma. Mg. D. Umali
The Ferdinand Project
Special Prize
Michael Aaron Gomez
The People's Republic of Negros