September 08, 2003
The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature announced its 53rd roster of winners last Sept. 1 at Manila Peninsula’s Rigodon Ballroom.
The writers who clinched the glorious first prizes this year in the Filipino division are: Alwynn Javier (Ang Magneto sa Gitna ng Aking Daigdig) for Tula; Reynaldo Duque (Apong Simon) for Maikling Kuwento; Ricardo Fernando III (Bagong Developments Sa Pagbuo Ng Mito ng Lungsod) for Futuristic Fiction; Renato Vibiesca (Tahooieyy!) for Maikling Kuwentong Pambata; Nilies Jordan Breis (Kung Tawagin Siya’y Angela Buruka: Sa Alaala ni Angela Manalang-Gloria) for Sanaysay; Maria Kristine Chynna Roxas (Traje de Boda) for Dulang May Isang Yugto; Lazaro Torres Jr. (Kasama sa Bahay) for Dulang Pantelebisyon; and Jose Maria Manalo (Mangha) for Dulang Pampelikula.
First prize winners in the English division are Isidoro Cruz (Bodies of Water) for Poetry, Rosario C. Lucero (Doreen’s Story) for Short Story and another for Essay (The Music of Pestle-On-Mortar); Honoel Ibardolaza (The Greediest of Rajahs and The Whitest of Clouds) for Short Story for Children; and Cristina Monica Buensalido (Learning to Fly) for Kabataan Essay.
Other first prize-winners in the Short Story category are: Mario Batausa (Pagbugto sa Kataposang Higot) for Cebuano; Alice Tan Gonzales (Esperanza) for Hiligaynon, and, again, Reynaldo Duque (Leon, 15) for Iluko.
This year, too, Ilocos Sur native Reynaldo A. Duque is formally enshrined into the Hall of Fame of the Palanca Awards. He won the the 1998 Centennial Literary Awards for his epic Candon in the 1998 Centennial Literary Awards. This year’s award is the already the sixth first prize win for Duque. The Palanca Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and is presented to a Palanca awardee who already won five first prizes in the regular categories. Duque joins Cirilo F. Bautista, Gregorio C. Brillantes, Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo, B.S. Medina Jr., Jesus T. Peralta, Rolando S. Tinio, Rene O. Villanueva (1995); Ma. Luisa Aguilar-Igloria (1996); Elsa Martinez Coscolluela (1999); Roberto T. Anonuevo, Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Edgardo B. Maranan (2000); and Leoncio P. Deriada, Alfred A. Yuson (2001).
Poetry in English grand prize Isidoro M. Cruz, confessed to this writer that he has actually been entering the same collection (but with dozens of revisions and updated texts) to the Palanca contest for ten years –indeed, a welcome news for non-winners! Cruz is a teacher of literature and information, at the same time, the publications officer at the University of San Agustin. The Manila-born Cruz has been living in Iloilo for 11 years now and even made use of the Ilonggo epic Hinilaw-od in his poem Tarangban.
Poetry in Filipino grand prize Alwynn C. Javier savors his second Palanca and burns a sweet space for the romantics with his poem Ang Magneto sa Gitna ng Aking Daigdig. To quote: “Ganito marahil ang nakita ng mga nauna. Sa kinatatayuan kong dalisdis: abot-kamay ang langit, ngunit abot-tanaw ang maliit na bato ng iyong pag-ibig, nagliliwanag sa ilalim ng tubig, umaapoy sa gitna ng aking daigdig.”
No first prize winners were declared under both One-act and Full-length Play. Likewise, no first and second prize winners were declared under both Futuristic Fiction in English and Dulang Ganap ang Haba.
Completing the list of winners are: Futuristic Fiction (Filipino): Second prize — Edgar Samar (Project: Eyod); third prize — Alvin Yapan (Nostalgia).
Maikling Kuwento: Second prize — Alvin Yapan (Bomba); third prize — Abdon Balde Jr. (Supay).
Maikling Kuwentong Pambata: Second prize — Mae Astrid Tobias (Bayong ng Kuting); third prize — Alice Mallari (Hayan na si Lolo Sinto).
Sanaysay: Second prize – Mjolnir Xoce Ong (Adventures sa Kawatanan ng Rentas Internas); third prize – John Emil Teodoro (Maikling Talambuhay ng Isang Makatang Ipinaglihi sa Paa ng Manok at Sirena).
Tula: second prize — Raymund Magno Garlitos (Nostos at Iba Pang Awit ng Pagtubos); Third prize — Jing Castro Panganiban (Ilang Pagsasanay sa Pangungulila).
Dulang May Isang Yugto: Second prize — Christian Vallez (Twenty Questions); third prize — Nathaniel Joseph de Mesa (I Laugh You).
Dulang Ganap ang Haba: Third prize — Mari Jina David Andaya (Trese: Isang Panayam).
Dulang Pantelebisyon: Second prize — Rolando Salvaña (“Ang Buhay Kong Dulang”); Third prize — Nita Eden So (Ay Em Nene).
Dulang Pampelikula: Second prize — Rica Leticia Ilagan Arevalo (ICU Bed #7); Third prize — Norman Wilwayco (Kung Paano Ko Inayos ang Buhok Ko Matapos ang Mahaba-haba Ring Paglalakbay).
Futuristic Fiction (English): Third prize — Yvette Natalie Uy Tan (Sidhi).
Short Story: Second prize — Ian Rosales Casocot (The Hero of The Snore Tango); Third prize — Maria Francezca Theresa Kwe (Closed Doors).
Short Story for Children: Second prize — Cyan Abad-Jugo (Behind The Old Aparador); third prize — Yvette Natalie Uy Tan (Kulog).
Essay: Second prize — Lourd Ernest De Veyra (Videoke Blues); third prize — Xerxes Matza (Licking Lollies: The Re-Education of an Accidental American).
Poetry: Second Prize—Angelo V. Suarez (Exploratoria); third prize—Mike Maniquiz (Tornadoes and Other Poems).
One-act Play: Second Prize—Dean Francis Alfar (The Onan Circle); Glenn Sevilla Mas (The Birth of Flight).
Full-length Play: Second Prize—Floy Quintos (Fluid); Third Prize—Frank Rivera (The Adventures of Pilandok) .
Short Story Cebuano: Second Prize—Lamberto G. Ceballos (Tinggutom sa Nayawak); Thrid Prize—Arnel Mardoquio (Tikbalangkapre).
Short Story Hiligaynon: Second Prize—Lester Mark Carnaje (Haligi Nga Asin); Third Prize—Isabel Sebullen (Mga Misteryo sa Kagulangan).
Short Story Iluko: Second Prize—Ariel Tabag (Sudario); Third Prize—Clariot Garcia de Francia (No Tallikudan Dagiti Tugot).
The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950 in honor of Don Carlos Palanca Sr., a self-educated businessman and patron of educational institutions.
