71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC

71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature celebrated its 71st year, holding the awarding ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center as part of its National Heritage Series.

This year, it added 30 new names—first-time awardees—in its prestigious list of the most prolific Filipino writers, poets, and playwrights. A total of 54 contestants received awards in 20 writing categories in four divisions: Kabataan, English, Filipino, and Regional Languages. Literary luminaries handpicked from their fields evaluated the 1,405 contest entries submitted.

Gracing the night as Guest of Honor and Speaker is award-winning children’s author, columnist, and radio host Luis P. Gatmaitan, M.D. Inducted into the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame in 2005, Dr. Gatmaitan expands his profession as a physician to write children’s storybooks addressing sensitive issues such as disabilities, childhood ailments, and children’s rights, among others. Currently, he is the Chairperson of the National Council for Children’s Television that oversees the implementation of a child-friendly landscape in Philippine Television.  

Adding to his multiple local and international accolades was the night’s Gawad Dangal ng Lahi, a special citation granted by the Palanca Awards to those who have contributed immensely to the development of Philippine literature and have aptly become role models for Filipinos.

Named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr. and sponsored by the Carlos Palanca Foundation Inc., the Palanca Awards is the longest-running and most prestigious literary competition in the country. It upholds the tradition of extending incentives for writers to continuously cultivate Philippine literature. A Palanca medal or recognition is highly coveted in the Filipino writing community here and abroad.

Since 1951, the Palanca Awards has conferred medals and certificates to a total of 2,526 Filipino authors, 26 of which became Hall of Fame awardees for having five first prize-winning works. In championing literature, the Palanca Awards also serves as a treasury of our literary gems, currently holding a total of 2,617 winning works in its archives, spanning the years 1951 to 2023.

  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC
  • 71st Palanca Awards holds ceremony at historical PICC

Following is the list of winners of the 71st Palanca Awards:

KABATAAN DIVISION
KABATAAN SANAYSAY 
1st PrizeWALANG NAGWAGI
2nd PrizeAmancio A. Caponpon VAranya sa Kisame
3rd PrizeGlorious Zavannah Exylin C. AlesnaSa Panahon ng Bagabag at Balisa: Paghagilap sa Pira-pirasong Retaso ng Hinahon at Pa(g)hinga
KABATAAN ESSAY 
1st PrizeFrancis Roberto San Antonio SevillenaLiving on play in a world on pause
2nd PrizeGlorious Zahara Exylin C. AlesnaThe Bully is you
3rd PrizeRheyn Khrieztine S. Dela PenaFive More Minutes, Please!
FILIPINO DIVISION
MAIKLING KUWENTO 
1st PrizePeter Solis NeryAng Tariktik
2nd PrizeJay Jomar F. QuintosBuwaya
3rd PrizeElla Jane G. HermonioBoses Pusa
MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA 
1st PrizeJaylord S. LosabiaSi Toyo at si Suka
2nd PrizeMikka Ann V. CabangonSi Liya at ang Dapithapon sa Ilaya
3rd PrizeIza Maria G. ReyesBabasagin, babasagin!
SANAYSAY 
1st PrizeKimberly Rose L. PilloKung Paanong Nagmukha akong Sponge sa harap ng mga Pinggan
2nd PrizeAl Joseph A. LumenAuslander: Mga Danas sa Alemanya
3rd PrizeEdward Joseph FernandezAko ay si Ako nga
TULA 
1st PrizeMikael de Lara CoEpistolaryo ng Bagamundo at ang tugon ng Multo
2nd PrizeRogelio dela Rosa Jr.Ang Hindi Maiwasang Patlang
3rd PrizeRalph Lorenz G. Fonte, M.D.Ex Novo Mvndo
TULA PARA SA MGA BATA 
1st PrizeDexter B. GragasinTutula, Tutuli, Tutulo
2nd PrizeGenaro R. Gojo CruzAko, mga tulang pambata
3rd PrizeKeisiah Dawn T. TiaosonTugma ng Buhay kong Payak
DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO 
1st PrizeEljay Castro DeldocAng Lipnayan ng ating mga Katawan
2nd PrizeDan Ian Paulo B. MariposqueThe Divine Family
3rd PrizeDustin Edward D. CelestinoFermata
DULANG GANAP ANG HABA 
1st PrizeMiguel Antonio Alfredo V. LuarcaNekropolis
2nd PrizeChristian R. VallezPingkian
3rd PrizeJoshua Lim SoAtin ang Panahon
DULANG PAMPELIKULA 
1st PrizeJonathan P. JurillaLove Child
2nd PrizeJimmy F. Flores (co-author) and Emmanuel Q. Palo (co-author)Elehiya
3rd PrizeRaymund T. BarcelonBeki Naman
REGIONAL DIVISION
SHORT STORY-CEBUANO
1st PrizeNeile Genica M. SyLenteng Pilokilay
2nd PrizeJohn DanteAng Magsusulat Nga Haduol na sa Kamatayon
3rd PrizeCD BordenAlindasay
SHORT STORY-HILIGAYNON 
1st PrizeRitchie D. PagunsanKauhaw sa Tingadlaw
2nd PrizeAlvin Q. LaridaLola Violeta
3rd PrizeSerafin I. Plotria, Jr.Puno sang Aligotgot
SHORT STORY-ILOKANO 
1st PrizeRodolfo D. Agatep Jr.Diro Ti Disierto
2nd PrizeJorge Richard P. GuerreroIdiay Langit, Awan Lanit
3rd PrizeClarito De FranciaPiglatan
ENGLISH DIVISION 
SHORT STORY
1st PrizeExie AbolaVile Creatures
2nd PrizeIan Rosales CasocotDon’t Follow Me, I Don’t Even Know Where I’m Going
3rd PrizeKatrina D. TorralbaAmadito and Amanda
SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN
1st PrizeNO WINNER
2nd PrizeJonny Bernas PornelThe Legend of Ipot-ipot
3rd PrizeElvie Victonette B. Razon-GonzalezThe Race to Uswag
ESSAY  
1st PrizeRio Renato Pulido ConstantinoThe Year of the Periwinkle
2nd PrizeRussell Stanley GeronimoProfile of a Stateless Person: Notes on a Deportation Proceeding
3rd PrizeFrancine M. MarquezNormalizing Survival
POETRY 
1st PrizePatricia Mariya ShishikuraTranslating Wildfires 
2nd PrizeVince Raphael V. AgcaoiliCarrying
3rd PrizeMichael ManiquizLou Reed Meets Delmore Schwartz at a Bar
POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN 
1st PrizeJohn Patrick F. SolanoOdd Numbers
2nd PrizeIan Rosales CasocotBisaya for all that we gugma
3rd PrizeSimone Marie SalesPaper Planes
ONE-ACT PLAY 
1st PrizeRandy Q. VillanuevaNeneng
2nd PrizeIan Rosales CasocotThe Midsummer of Manuel Arguilla
3rd PrizeRossielle Sarabia ManicadMy Lover’s Presscon
FULL-LENGTH PLAY 
1st PrizeMiguel Antonio Alfredo V. LuarcaDogsblood
2nd PrizeNO WINNER
3rd PrizeNO WINNER

The 71st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature by the numbers:

Total number of entries1,405 
Number of categories 20 
Total number of judges57 
Total number of winning works 56 
Total number of winners 54 
New winners 30 
Former winners 24 
Male winners40
Female winners14
Age breakdown
20 and under5
21-3015
31-4013
41-5011
51-609
61-701
Note: The youngest winners this contest year are 13-year-old female twins; the oldest winner is a 65-year-old male.
Total number of winners (authors) from 1951-20232,526
Total number of winning works from 1951-20232,617
Total number of Hall of Famers26
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