The Palanca Awards 2012 winners

MANILA, Philippines – While entertainment and fashion media covered the Star Magic Ball 2012 at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on September 1, Saturday, literature aficionados trooped to the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila for another much-awaited annual event: the Palanca Awards.

The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is the Philippines’ most prestigious and — according to Wikipedia — “most enduring literary awards.”

Also dubbed “the Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines,” the Palanca Awards was established in 1950 and began discovering Filipino literary geniuses in 1951.

Some past winners that have been made into stage plays are: Nicholas Pichay’s “Isang Araw sa Karnabal”; Layeta Bucoy’s “Doc Resureccion: Gagamutin ang Bayan”; Job Pagsibigan’s “The Palanca in My Mind”; Floy Quintos’ “Fake”; and Rody Vera’s “Kung Paano Ko Pinatay si Diana Ross.” 

Some works that have made it to the silver screen are: Gerry Gracio’s “Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70” and “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa”; Jun Lana’s “Mga Bangka sa Tag-Araw”; Eric Ramos’ “Azucena” and “Isda” (directed by Adolf Alix); and, fairly recently at the Cinemalaya Filmfest, Eros Atalia’s “Si Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino.”

Published as novels are Vince Groyon’s “Sky Over Dimas” and Miguel Syjuco’s “Illustrado.”

Here is the COMPLETE list of this year’s winners:

I. Tagalog division

1) Dulang Pampelikula

1st – Rodolfo Vera (Death March)

2nd – Richard S. Legaspi (Primera Bella)

3rd – Mia A. Buenaventura (Ang Bulag na Musikero)

2) Dulang Ganap ang Haba

1st – Vincent M. Tanada (Ang Bangkay)

2nd – Luciano Sonny O. Valencia (Ang Penitensiya ni Tiyo Renato)

3rd – Allan B.Lopez (Melodrama Negra)

3) Dulang May isang Yugto

1st – Joshua Lim So (Joe Cool: Aplikante)

2nd – Renerio R. Concepcion (Kumandong Nakaiswat)

3rd – Erick D. Aguilar (Terminal)

4) Tula

1st – Enrique S. Villasis (Crocopedia)

2nd – Kristian Sendon Cordero (Pagsalat sa Pilat)

3rd – Alvin C. Ursua (Kumpuni)

5) Tulang Pambata

1st – John Enrico C. Torralba (Gusto Ko Nang Lumaki)

2nd – Peter Solis Nery (Sa Mundo ng mga Kulisap)

3rd – Nely T. Azada (Sampung Tula Para sa mga Bata)

6) Maikling Kuwento

1st – Mark Benedict F. Lim (Banaag)

2nd – Honorio Bartolome de Dios (Ang Tawo sa Puso ni Teresa)

3rd – Mar Anthony Simon dela Cruz (Darleng)

7) Maikling Kuwentong Pambata

1st – Will P. Ortiz (Ang Tatlong Bubwit at Bangkang Marikit)

2nd – Bernadette V. Neri (Atang sa Kaluluwa Nina Apong Salawal at Apong Saya)

3rd – Luz B. Maranan (Ang Pangat, ang Lupang Ninuno, at ang Ilog)

8) Sanaysay

1st – Niles Jordan Breis (Go-See, Kraw Gen, Intro: Sa Daigdig ng Promo)

2nd – Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba (Utang Ina)

3rd – Jing Panganiban-Mendoza (Redempsiyon)

9) Kabataan Sanaysay

1st – Jan Francis B. Asis (Sa Ingit ng Pinto)

2nd – Gerome E. De Villa (Sa Aking Pagbuklat sa mga Makabagong Pahina)

3rd – Jueliand Peter A. Perez (Madyik Bisikleta)

II. English division 

1) Full-Length Play

1st – Robert Arlo B. De Guzman (Practical Aim)

2nd – Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza (The Passion of Andres)

3rd – Jose Ma. D. Manalo (Manilatown)

2) One-act Play

1st – No winner

2nd – Joachim Emilio B. Antonio (The Dust in Your Place)

3rd – Patrick John R. Valencia (In Bed with My Mother)

3) Poetry

1st – Carlomar Arcangel Daoana (The Elegant Ghost)

2nd – Charmaine L. Carreon (The Yonic Lover)

3rd – Jason Leo G. Asistores (Waiting and Other Poems)

4) Poetry for Children

1st – Peter Solis Nery (Punctuation)

2nd – Anca Bautista (Magic Is and Nine Other Magical Poems)

3rd – Raymundo T. Pandan Jr. (The Ocelot and Other Poems)

5) Short Story

1st – Rebecca E. Khan (In Transit)

2nd – Ian Rosales Casocot (It Always Breaks My Heart a Little to See You Go)

3rd – Lystra Aranal (Bright Lights)

6) Short Story for Children

1st – Grace D. Chong (The White Shoes)

2nd – Raymund M. Garlitos (Lauan, The Seed that Wanted to Fly)

3rd – Aleli Dew B. Ayroso (Mister World and His Magical Box)

7) Essay

1st – Hammed Q. Bolotaolo (Of  Legends)

2nd – Martin V. Villanueva (Dao)

3rd – Iriwin Allen B. Rivera (Patterns)

8) Kabataan Essay

1st – Katrina Bonillo (Chapter One: DOWNLOADING)

2nd – Sari Katharyn Molintas (Being Bookish)

3rd – Jhesset Thrina O. Enano (What We Are Losing)

III. Regional division 

1) Short Story – Cebuano

1st – Noel P. Tuazon (Duhiraw)

2nd – Richel G. Dorotan (Ang Tulo Ka Mayor sa Hinablayan)

3rd – Rev. Fr. Rey B. Araneta, CM (Abog sa Flyover)

2) Short Story – Hiligaynon

1st – Alice Tan Gonzales (Lanton)

2nd – Dr. Jesus C. Insilada (Panubok sa Pula Nga Pulos)

3rd – Alain Russ Dimzon (Binukot)

3) Short Story – Iluko

1st – Danilo B. Antalan (Dagiti Sala Ti Panawen)

2nd – Fernando Sanchez (Babato)

3rd – Sherma E. Benosa (Dagiti “No La Koma” ni Monika)

IV. Hall of Fame awardee for 2012: Peter Solis Nery

Nery’s first prize-winning works:

1998 – “Lirio,” Short Story – Hiligaynon

2007 – “Candido,” Short Story – Hiligaynon

2008 – “The Passion of Jovita Fuentes,” Full-length Play

2011 – “Donato Bugtot,” Short Story – Hiligaynon

2012 – “Punctuation,” Poetry for Children

Watch out for more stories on the Palanca Awards only here in RAPPLER.

– Rappler.com