Every year, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature gathers Filipino writers to celebrate the craft of storytelling and honor exceptional literary talent. This year’s 72nd Palanca Awards, held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), lived up to its legacy of highlighting the best of Philippine literature.
From seasoned authors to emerging voices, the event brimmed with energy, camaraderie, and passion. Here’s how the evening unfolded.
Honoring National Artists
The night opened with a heartfelt tribute to the Philippines’ National Artists for Literature, honoring their contributions to the nation’s literary tapestry. Dr. Gémino Abad and Dr. Virgilio Almario graced the event in person, while Dr. Resil Mojares joined via live stream. All three were conferred with the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi for their immeasurable impact on Philippine literature.
Diplomatic Grace
This year’s ceremony welcomed distinguished members of the diplomatic corps from Romania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Norway. Their presence lent an international flair to the evening, underscoring the global relevance of Philippine literature.
𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑒 𝐸𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑚𝑜 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑜
Four New Hall of Famers
Induction into the Palanca Hall of Fame is a monumental achievement, granted to writers who have won First Prize five times. This year, Eros Sanchez Atalia, Mikael de Lara Co, Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, and Joshua Lim So joined this esteemed circle, bringing the total to 30 Hall of Famers since the award’s inception.
Jun Robles Lana: Speaker and Storyteller
Acclaimed filmmaker and writer Jun Robles Lana, known for thought-provoking films like Die Beautiful and Kalel, 15, served as the Guest of Honor. In his speech, Lana reflected on humility in writing, recounting how the Palanca Awards opened doors for him, including a pivotal meeting with Director Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
“I write as an act of humility,” Lana shared. “Competitions like the Palanca Awards remind us that writing is as much about resilience as it is about vulnerability.”
Children’s Poetry Takes the Stage
One of the evening’s highlights was a special reading of award-winning poems from the Poetry Written for Children and Tula Para sa mga Bata categories, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the creativity nurtured by the competition.
Recognizing New Literary Voices
The core of the evening, of course, was the awarding of prizes across 22 categories. This year, 54 winners emerged from the English, Filipino, Regional Languages, and Kabataan divisions, including 31 first-time honorees.
Among the standouts was Lakan Ma. Mg. D. Umali, a proud trans Pinay who clinched the Grand Prize for Novel with her work The Ferdinand Project. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna and 78-year-old Antonio Hernandez represented the youngest and oldest winners, respectively.
The Legacy Continues
Since 1951, the Palanca Awards has celebrated literary excellence, skipping only two years during the pandemic. Recognized by UNESCO in 1995 as a “Living Human Treasure,” it continues to inspire Filipino writers to pursue their craft.
As Hall of Fame inductee Mikael de Lara Co aptly put it, “The Palanca Awards is a center of gravity—a space that brings writers together. It fosters dialogue, fuels creativity, and reminds us why we write.”
With over 2,677 winning works in its archives, the Palanca Awards remains the gold standard of Philippine literature, encouraging writers to craft stories that resonate and endure.
