The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the most prestigious literary contest in the country, held the awarding ceremony of its 72nd edition on Friday night at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
This year, a total of 54 individuals won awards across 22 writing categories under four divisions: Kabataan, English, Filipino, and Regional Languages. Of the 54 awardees, 31 were new names.
The winners include Brian James S. Camaya, associate creative director of GMA Network’s Program Support Department.
The Kapuso won Second Prize in Maikling Kuwentong Pambata for his entry, “Si Bambalito, ang Batang Bayani ng Bangkusay.”
Brian was among those who have worked on the network’s Station IDs and Christmas Station IDs since 2013. Prior to this, he was a promo writer for GMA’s entertainment shows like “Majika,” “Asian Treasures,” and “Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.”
The Palanca Hall of Fame also welcomed four esteemed writers in its roster, bringing its total number of honorees to 30. They are Eros Sanchez Atalia, Mikael de Lara Co, Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, and Joshua Lim So.
The event’s Guest of Honor and Speaker was director Jun Robles Lana, a Palanca Hall of Famer and a 12-time Palanca awardee.
Here is the full list of winners.
KABATAAN DIVISION
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
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
— CDC, GMA Integrated News
