RP honors top literary awardees

By Alfred A. Yuson

The country's top literary writers were feted via the the annual Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas at UMPIL's (Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas or Writers Union of the Philippines) 33rd National Writers Congress at the Pulungang Recto in UP Dliman.

The Congress theme was “Literature and Writers' Welfare,” with Senator Francisco Pangilinan III as guest of honor. He spoke about his legislative vision for writers and Philippine literature in general. Atty. Louie Calvario of the Intellectual Property Office expounded on recent developments concerning intellectual property rights, while Debbie P. Gaite of Filscap (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Inc.) discussed the model of a collective management responsible for collecting royalties for its members.

The four Gawad Balagtas awardees who received sculpted trophies by renowned international artist Manuel Baldemor were the following:

Joaquin Sy for English Essay and Translation; Charlson Ong for Fiction in English; Prescillano Bermudez for Fiction in Ilocano; and Joey Munsayac for Fiction in Filipino (Novel).

The Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez also awarded annually to educators was given to Fr. Roque Angel J. Ferriols, SJ of Ateneo de Manila University, for pioneering in teaching Philosophy in Filipino.

Last Friday, Aug. 31, the Manila Critics Circle gave out the National Book Awards for several categories at the Manila International Bookfair at World Trade Center, with US Ambassador Kristie Kenney as a special guest, and receiving a citation for her support for Philippine publishing.

Here's the full list of awardees:

For Anthology — The Manila We Knew, edited by Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio (Anvil Publishing Inc.).

For Art, the special Alfonso T. Ongpin Award for Best Book on Art, with a cash prize of P20,000 — shared by Ani: The Life and Art of Hermogena Borja Lungay, Boholano Painter, by Marjorie Evasco (UST Publishing House), and Brushstrokes from the Heart: ArtPetron, The First Five Years, by Alice G. Guillermo (Petron Corporation).

For Biography / Autobiography — Beyond the Great Wall: A Family Journal, by Mario I. Miclat (Anvil); Kapitan: Geny Lopez and the Making of ABS-CBN, by Raul Rodrigo (ABS-CBN Publishing); and Myself, Elsewhere, by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil (Nakpil Publishing).

For Business, the special Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Award for Best Book on Business & Economics — Coconut: The Philippines' Money Tree, by Renato M. Labadan (RM Labadan and Associates and University Research and Resource Development).

For Children's Literature — Bad Kings, by Gilda Cordero Fernando (Anvil); and The Cat Painter, by Becky Bravo (Adarna House).

For Cookbooks and Food — The Governor-General's Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes, 1521-1935, by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria (Anvil); and Potluck, Hidalgo Bonding: A Family Heritage Cookbook, edited by Jaime C. Laya and Adelaida Lim (Anvil).

For Drama — Mga Premyadong Dula, by Lito Casaje (De La Salle University Press).

For Editing — Great Scott!: The New Day William Henry Scott Reader, edited by Bezalie Bautista Uc-Kung (New Day).

For Education — Daughters True: 100 Years of Scholastican Education, 1906-2006, edited by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Paulynn Paredes Sicam, Karina Africa Bolasco, and Ma. Ceres P. Doyo (St. Scholastica's College).

For Essay — Science Solitaire: Essays on Science, Nature, and Becoming Human, by Maria Isabel Garcia (Ateneo de Manila University Press).

For Fiction (Novel), or the special Juan C. Laya Award for Best Novel in a Philippine Language, with a cash prize of P20,000 — shared by (H)istoryador(a), by Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr. (UP Press); and Ang Sandali ng mga Mata, by Alvin B. Yapan (Ateneo de Manila University Press).

For Fiction (Novel), or the special Juan C. Laya Award for Best Novel in a Foreign Language, with a cash prize of P20,000 — shared by Banyaga: A Song of War, by Charlson Ong (Anvil), and The Jupiter Effect, by Katrina Tuvera (Anvil).

For Short Fiction — Maligayang Pagdating sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 1, by Tony Perez. (Anvil)/ IRC, DRR: Malagim ang Gabi sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 2, by Tony Perez (Anvil), and Pagluwas, by Zosimo Quibilan Jr. (UP Press).

For Film — Mythopoeic Poe: Understanding the Masa as Audience through the Films of Fernando Poe Jr., by Alfonso B. Deza (Great Books Publishing), and Postmodern Filming of Literature: Sources, Contexts and Adaptations, by Joyce L. Arriola. (UST Publishing House).

For Cultural Studies — Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Dulaang Pambata sa Pilipinas, by Arthur P. Casanova (UST Publishing House), and Treading Through: 45 Years of Philippine Dance, by Basilio Esteban S. Villaruz (UP Press and Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation.

For Poetry — Apokripos, by Jerry B. Gracio (UP Press), and Gagamba sa Uhay: Kalipunan ng mga Haiku, by Rogelio G. Mangahas (C&E Publishing).

For Sciences — A Guide to Families of Common Flowering Plants in the Philippines, by Irma Remo Castro (UP Press), and Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M.), by Victoriano Y. Lim (UST Publishing House).

For Social Sciences — Adios, Patria Adorada: The Filipino as Ilustrado, the Ilustrado as Filipino, by Alfredo Roces (De La Salle University Press).

For Sports — Pacific Storm: Dispatches on Pacquiao of the Philippines, by Recah Trinidad (Anvil / Inquirer).

For Theology & Religion — God Was Not in the Wind: An Evolutionary Understanding of Popular Religion in the Philippines, by Jimmy A. Belita, C.M. (Adamson University Press).

For Translation — The Colonial Odyssey of Leyte, 1521-1914, by Manuel Artigas y Cuerva, translated by Rolando O. Borrinaga and Cantius J. Kobak (New Day), and Gagamba sa Uhay: Kalipunan ng mga Haiku, by Rogelio G. Mangahas, translated by Marne L. Kilates (C&E Publishing).

The award for Best Design was given to The Governor-General's Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes, 1521-1935, by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, designed by Guillermo Ramos (Anvil).

The Publisher of the Year award was given to Anvil Publishing Inc.

Finally, the winners of the 2007 Palanca Poetry in English category, as judged by Marne Kilates, Gemino H. Abad and this poet, were: Mikael de Lara Co, first prize; Jose Edmundo Reyes, second prize; and Dinah Roma, third prize.

Next week we'll try to go in detail over their entries, which fought it out in a tough field, indeed, where any of the final shortlist of seven entries could have landed a prize.

In any case, congratulations to all the winners in our annual literary week of August/September.