The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature made a grand return to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to celebrate its illustrious 72nd year. The prestigious event honored some of the country’s finest writers across various genres and categories and proudly inducted new additions to its Hall of Fame.
The Palanca Hall of Fame is an elite circle of awardees who have achieved the remarkable feat of winning First Prize five times, in any writing category. It now has 30 honorees following the inclusion of four distinguished writers, namely, Eros Sanchez Atalia, Mikael de Lara Co, Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, and Joshua Lim So, cementing their legacy in Philippine literature.
The Awards also honored achievements across 22 writing categories, including the Novel and Nobela categories. Remarkably, 31 new names were recognized among a total of 54 awardees in four divisions: Kabataan, English, Filipino, and Regional Languages. All entries were meticulously evaluated by a respected panel of literary luminaries.
Gracing the night as Guest of Honor/Speaker and Gawad Dangal ng Lahi awardee was Director Jun Robles Lana. An internationally acclaimed Filipino filmmaker, Lana boasts an impressive portfolio of local and international accolades, including 12 Palanca Awards prizes and his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2006. His award-winning films include “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan,” “Die Beautiful,” “Kalel, 15,” and “About Us But Not About Us.” Lana’s achievements underscore his immense contributions to both Philippine literature and cinema.
The Palanca Awards stands as the longest-running and most prestigious literary competition in the Philippines. It was named after the businessman and philanthropist Carlos Palanca, Sr. and sponsored by the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc. This esteemed event maintains a tradition of encouraging writers to nurture and develop Philippine literature. A Palanca medal or recognition is a highly sought-after honor within the Filipino writing community, both locally and internationally.
Since 1951, the Palanca Awards has honored 2,580 Filipino authors with medals and certificates. As a champion of Philippine literature, it also serves as a repository of literary treasures, boasting an archive of 2,677 winning works from 1951 to 2024.
Following is the list of winners of the 72nd Palanca Awards:
KABATAAN DIVISION
KABATAAN 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
KABATAAN 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
The 72nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature by the numbers:
