Lawyer Rebecca E. Khan may have spent the last eight years reading and writing in highly technical legalese, but that clearly hasn’t stifled her creativity—Khan is the first-place winner in the Short Story in English category at this year’s Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, the country’s most prestigious literary prize.

Her winning story “In Transit” is about a contractual World Bank employee who drops everything in Washington D.C. and rushes to Manila with only the clothes on her back to be with her mother as her father undergoes heart surgery.

“This is very meaningful for me because I’ve been practicing law for eight years and as you can imagine, the hectic schedule and the language that we use in the practice of law is very different from creative writing,” she told GMA News Online.

“In litigation you lay all your arguments out and you explain everything, but in fiction writing, what you don’t put on the page is as important as what you put on the page. It’s been a struggle to return to that kind of writing so this award is very meaningful because I’ve been able to prove to myself that I can still write creatively,” she said.

For Khan and many other writers who took home the coveted award this year, the Palanca they received at the awarding ceremonies Saturday evening, September 1, was their first.

Of the 58 winning writers, 29 were first-time winners. The other half added new Palancas to their shelf of literary awards.

 

Nery elevated to Hall of Fame

Among the Palanca veterans is Peter Solis Nery, who was inducted to the Palanca Hall of Fame after clinching his fifth first prize win this year. He joined the likes of previous awardees and noted writers Alfred “Krip” Yuson, Isagani R. Cruz, Luisa Igloria, Gregorio Brillantes, and Cirilo Bautista among others.

Nery won first place this year in the Poetry for Children in English category for his collection “Punctuation,” whose eponymous poem brings a grammar lesson to life as it adds color and character to something as mundane as punctuation marks. The poem was read at the ceremonies by poet Marjorie Evasco and actor Miguel Faustmann, to the delight of the audience.

Nery told GMA News Online that he sees his fifth win as an elevation of his responsibility as a writer.

“Kasi tinitingala ko talaga yung Palanca, so for me it’s more of getting a new responsibility more than enjoying the privileges. From now on, I need to be more careful, more crafty, to outdo everything that I’ve done in the past, so pangalagaan din ang pangalan ng Palanca,” he said.

“I’ve always respected the Palanca and I think it’s still the best literary contest in the country and probably the greatest standard that we have for Filipino writers,” he added.

However, he advised young writers to not be preoccupied with trying to achieve Hall of Fame status, but simply to enjoy the craft.

“I think that the drive should not be to achieve the Hall of Fame. I think that the drive should just be to enjoy writing primarily. Pero sa akin importante din kasi yung may message, yung may tinuturo, educating people through literature,” he shared.

 

Younger winners

Palanca Foundation director-general Sylvia Palanca-Quirino noted that more young writers enter their works in the competition each year, and most of the winning writers this year are 30 years old or younger.

“These numbers signify and reaffirm each year that there is a continuous, consistent passing of the torch among the bearers of the light that is our literature,” the director-general said.

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950, and is considered by many writers and scholars to be the most prestigious literary award in the country.

This year, the awards received a total of 1,077 entries in 20 categories. Winning works are archived by the Palanca Foundation and are made accessible to the public through the Foundation library and the official Palanca website.

 

© Amanda Lago & GMA News : September 3, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Poet and author Peter Solis Nery joined the esteemed roster of the Palanca Hall of Fame awardees last Saturday after clinching his fifth first prize at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

Solis won his first Palanca in 1998 for his short story “Lirio,” which was written in Hiligaynon. In 2007, he again won for his Hilgaynon short story “Candido.”

In 2008, Solis won for the full-length play “The Passion of Jovita Fuentes,” and last year, he again won for a Hiligaynon short story “Donato Bugtot.”

This year, Solis won for his poetry collection “Punctuation” under the Poetry for Children category.

Now on its 62nd year, the Palanca Awards received a total of 1,077 entries in 20 categories. Out of these submissions, 59 winning works were selected from 58 writers; half or 29 authors are first-time winners.

During the gala ceremonies, the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi was also conferred on Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., who is considered one of the pillars of Philippine advertising before joining the government.

The Palanca Awards, the country’s most prestigious and longest-running literary competition, was established in 1950 in honor of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. It aims to help develop Philippine literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works.

 

© ABS-CBNews.com: September 3, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Fifty-eight winners were declared in this year’s Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, the country’s most prestigious and longest-running literary competition.

Peter Solis Nery became a Hall of Fame Awardee after copping his 5th Palanca 1st place win this year. His Punctuation placed first in the Poetry for Children category, while his Sa Mundo ng mga Kulisap came in 2nd in the Tulang Pambata category. He had previously won Palanca awards in 1998 (Lirio, Short Story – Hiligaynon), 2007 (Candido, Short Story – Hiligaynon), 2008 (The Passion of Jovita Fuentes, Full-length Play), 2011(Donato Bugtot, Short Story – Hiligaynon).

The 2nd prize winner for the Poetry for Children category went to Anca Bautista’s Magic and Nine Other Magical Poems and 3rd prize went to Raymundo T. Pandan Jr.’s The Ocelot and Other Poems.

The winners for the English Full-length Play division are Roberto Arlo B. De Guzman, 1st prize for Practical Aim; Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza, 2nd prize for The Passion of Andres; and Jose Ma. D. Manalo, 3rd prize for Manilatown.

For the English One-Act Play division, no first place winner was declared. The second prize went to Joachim Emilio B. Antonio for The Dust in Your Place, while the 3rd prize went to Patrick John R. Valencia for In Bed with My Mother.

Carlomar Arcangel Daona won 1st place in the English Poetry category for The Elegent Ghost. Charmaine L. Carreon placed 2nd with The Yonic Lover and Jason Leo G. Asistores placed 3rd for Waiting and Other Poems.

For the English Short Story category, the winners are Rebecca E. Khan, 1st prize for In Transit; Ian Rosales Casocot , 2nd prize for It Always Breaks My Heart a Little to See You Go; and Lystra Aranal, 3rd prize for Bright Lights.

For the English Short Story division, Grace D. Chong won first prize for The White Shoes; Raymund M. Garlitos, 2nd prize for Lauan, The Seed that Wanted to Fly; and Aleli Dew B. Ayroso, 3rd prize for Mister World and His Magical Box.

For the English Essay category, the winners are Hammed Q. Bolotaolo, 1st prize for Of Legends; Martin V. Villanueva, 2nd prize for Dao; and Iriwin Allen B. Rivera, 3rd prize for Patterns.

For the English Kabataan Essay category, the winners are Katrina Bonillo, 1st prize for Chapter One: DOWNLOADING; Sari Katharyn Molintas, 2nd prize for Being Bookish; and Jhesset Thrina O. Enano, 3rd prize for What We Are Losing.

 

Tagalog division

In the Tagalag division of the Dulang Pampelikula category, the winners are Rodolfo Vera, 1st prize for Death March; Richard S. Legaspi, 2nd prize for Primera Bella; and Mia A. Buenaventura, 3rd prize for Ang Bulag na Musikero.

The Dulaang Ganap ang Haba winners are Vincent M. Tanada, 1st prize for Ang Bangkay; Luciano Sonny O. Valencia, 2nd prize for Ang Penitensiya ni Tiyo Renato; and Allan B.Lopez, 3rd prize for Melodrama Negra.

Joshua Lim So’s Joe Cool:Aplikante placed 1st in the Dulaang May Isang Yugto category, while Renerio R. Concepcion’s Kumandong Nakaiswat placed 2nd. Erick D. Aguilar’s Terminal came in third place.

For the Tula category, Enrique S. Villasis’s Crocopedia placed 1st; Kristian Sendon Cordero’s Pagsalat sa Pilat, 2nd; and Alvin C. Ursua’s Kumpuni, 3rd.

For the Tulang Pambata category, the winners are John Enrico C. Torralba’s Gusto Ko Nang Lumaki, 1st prize; Nery’s Sa Mundo ng mga Kulisap, 2nd; and Nely T. Azada’s Sampung Tula Para sa mga Bata, 3rd.

For the Maikling Kwento category, the winners are Mark Benedict F. Lim’s Banaag, 1st prize; Honorio Bartolome de Dios’s Ang Tawo sa Puso ni Teresa, 2nd prize; and Mar Anthony Simon dela Cruz’ Darleng, 3rd prize.

The winners of the Maikling Kwentong Pambata category are are Will P. Ortiz, 1st prize for Ang Tatlong Bubwit at Bangkang Marikit; Bernadette V. Neri, 2nd prize for Atang sa Kaluluwa Nina Apong Salawal at Apong Saya; and Luz B. Maranan, 3rd prize for Ang Pangat, ang Lupang Ninuno, at ang Ilog.

For the Sanaysay category, Niles Jordan Breis’s Go-See, Kraw Gen, Intro: Sa Daigdig ng Promo placed 1st; Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba’s Utang Ina, 2nd; and Jing Panganiban-Mendoza’s Redempsiyon, 3rd.

The winners of the Kabataan Sanaysay category are Jan Francis B. Asis’s Sa Ingit ng Pinto, 1st prize; Gerome E. De Villa’s Sa Aking Pagbuklat sa mga Makabagong Pahina, 2nd prize; and Jueliand Peter A. Perez’ Madyik Bisikleta, 3rd prize.

 

Regional division

For the Short Story-Cebuano category, the winners are Noel P. Tuazon, 1st prize for Duhiraw; Richel G. Dorotan, 2nd prize for Ang Tulo Ka Mayor sa Hinablayan; and Rev. Fr. Rey B. Araneta, CM, 3rd prize for Abog sa Flyover.

For the Short Story-Hiligaynon category, the winners are Alice Tan Gonzales’s Lanton, 1st prize; Dr. Jesus C. Insilada’s Panubok sa Pula Nga Pulos, 2nd prize; and Alain Russ Dimzon’s Binukot, 3rd prize.

For the Short Story-Iluko caregory, the winners are Danilo B. Antalan’s Dagiti Sala Ti Panawen, 1st prize; Fernando Sanchez’ Babato, 2nd prize; and Sherma E. Benosa’s Dagiti “No La Koma” ni Monika, 3rd prize.

 

© The Philippine Star: September 3, 2012

“Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa (Love in the Time of the Bakunawa,) the full-length feature film debut of Ilonggo literary icon Peter Solis Nery will have its gala premiere screening at SM City Iloilo Cinema 3 on Wednesday, September 5 with two schedules, 4 pm to 6 pm, and 6 pm to 8 pm with tickets available for P100 at the venue.

The movie is scheduled for international screening at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore on Sunday, September 9 at 3pm as part of Singapore Portraits.

A day before the Iloilo screening of the movie, Tuesday, September 4 at 2 pm, Nery will have a book launch at Al Dente Restaurant at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center. The multi-awarded Ilonggo writer who was honored with a First Place and a Second Place wins (Children’s Poetry Category) at 2012 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards on September 1 at Manila Peninsula Hotel is optimistic to launch his books—the novel version of the movie, and his Imelda Marcos-inspired book, “If the Shoe Fits.”

While steep with Filipino values and commentaries on issues like poverty, tourism, social and ecological responsibilities, the movie is really a classic love story that entertains more than moralizes. Under the deft hands of Nery, the movie, which stars Pinoy Dream Academy alumnus Eman Abatayo, upcoming actress Priscilla Fontana, and sexy actor-model Jet Alcantara, has raised the bar for Hiligaynon films, and regional filmmaking in the Philippines.

Other featured Ilonggo talents in the film are Sol Fernandez School of Dance, Low Nook Dance Company, and a cameo by Ilongga artist Sheila Barrios.

Co-produced by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the film was a finalist at the 1^st Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition in Davao City last July. The movie is also recommended for the Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece this November, and will be screened at the 6^th Karay-a Arts Festival on October 19 in San Jose, Antique.

For updates, check out www.facebook.com/loveinthetimeofthebacunaua or visit www.petersolisnery.com.

 

© The News Today: September 3, 2012

Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa is a film by Ilonggo writer and director Peter Solis Nery and is also a finalist in the First Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Shot in an amazing six days, this film is written, produced, and directed by award-winning writer Peter Solis Nery, with glorious cinematography by OJ Baclig and fine editing by Michael Bruner.

A loveless and struggling musician comes home to Isla Pulang Pasayan to discover that the Bacunaua Festival that his grandmother “invented” may yet provide the background for finding his own success in love and career.

It stars Ilonggo singer-songwriter Eman Abatayo, upcoming model Priscilla Fontana, and the sexy Jet Alcantara in a career-defining role.

 

© Jeehan Fernandez: May 5, 2012