5 moments that made the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration unforgettable
5 moments that made the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration unforgettable
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards), the longest-running and most prestigious literary competition in the Philippines, recently celebrated its Diamond Jubilee or 75 years since the first awards were conferred in 1951.
In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of five moments from that unforgettable night.
1. Diamond Jubilee: A trip down memory lane
The night’s program started by taking the audience on a trip down memory lane tracing the history of the Palanca Awards through a collection of photos and videos from past ceremonies.
“It all began on September 1, 1951 with the vision of one man—Don Carlos Palanca, Jr. One man who believed the need to recognize and honor our country’s literary writers; who understood that you cannot build a nation without supporting the people who are able to build national identity and pride, the artists and writers who ultimately touch hearts and minds,” Mrs. Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca shared.
As a repository of literary treasures, the Palanca Awards maintains an archive of over 2,000 winning works from 1951 to the present, and it’s open to the public for viewing.
2. Winners take center stage
On this Diamond Jubilee year, the total number of entries reached a historic high of 2,359, proving that Philippine literature is very much alive in this generation’s authors, poets, and playwrights.
The night’s 54 winners span across 20 writing categories in four divisions, namely, Kabataan, English, Filipino, and Regional Languages. Three winners bagged multiple prizes: Mr. Genaro R. Gojo Cruz – 2nd Prize Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, 2nd Prize Tula Para sa mga Bata; Ms. Salvacion D. Tandoc – 3rd Prize Poetry Written for Children, 3rd Prize Full-Length Play; Mr. Dustin Edward D. Celestino – 2nd Prize Dulang May Isang Yugto, 3rdPrize Dulang Ganap ang Haba, 1st Prize Full-Length Play.
3. A cultural welcome for foreign guests
Also gracing the night are distinguished guests from the diplomatic corps, giving Philippine literature a wider, global audience through the ambassadors in attendance. Present during the event were Her Excellency Constance See, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines; Her Excellency Anna Pernilla Ferry, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Philippines, her spouse, Mr. Alexandre Ferry, and Ms. Athena Cartagena, Communication and Political Officer of the Embassy of Sweden in Manila; Her Excellency Emma Hickey, Ambassador of Ireland to the Philippines; Atty. Vicente Carlos, Consul General of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to the Philippines, and his wife, Madame Cristina Carlos; Mr. M. Issam Eldebs, Consul General of Syrian Arab Republic to the Philippines; Mrs. Maria Thummasorn Jensen, Second Secretary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, and her spouse, Mr. Jørund Hansen; Mr. Juan Antonio Carlos, Vice Honorary Consul of Côte d’Ivoire to the Philippines, and his wife, Madame Sheila Carlos.
(L-R) Madame Cristina Carlos, Mrs. Anne Nicole Palanca, and Her Excellency Constance See, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines
Mrs. Anne Nicole Palanca, Mr. Alexandre Ferry, Her Excellency Anna Pernilla Ferry, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Philippines, Mr. Carlos Palanca IV, and Ms. Athena Cartagena, Communication and Political Officer of the Embassy of Sweden in Manila.
Mrs. Anne Nicole Palanca, Mrs. Maria Thummasorn Jensen, Second Secretary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, Mr. Jørund Hansen, and Mr. Carlos Palanca IV
Mr. M. Issam Eldebs, Consul General of Syrian Arab Republic to the Philippines (center) together with Mr. Carl Anthony Palanca (left) and Mr. Carlos Palanca IV (right)
Her Excellency Emma Hickey, Ambassador of Ireland to the Philippines (center) together with Mrs. Anne Nicole Palanca and Mr. Carlos Palanca IV
4. First Woman in the Palanca Hall of Fame, Gawad Dangal ng Lahi awardee
(Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo gives a personal account of her life and career in her keynote speech during the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration
Guest of Honor and Speaker Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo [center] receives the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi Award and Medal from Mrs. Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca and Mr. Carlos Palanca IV; assisting Dr. Mabanglo are Ms. Karina Bolasco and Ms. Alma Miclat
The Guest of Honor and Speaker that night was Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, who recounted how the Palanca Awards shaped her life and career. It helped embolden Dr. Mabanglo—the first woman inducted into the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame for having five first-prize winning works—to pursue the opportunities that opened for her, eventually leading to a long and influential academic career at the University of Hawaii. She taught there for 30 years and retired as a professor emeritus.
“Thanks to Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature which opened many doors for me, the most consequential of which was to Hawaii. Thank you to Dr. Teresita Ramos who took note of my expertise in Filipino and Philippine literature. Dr. Ramos was also my ‘kasangga,’ my partner in forming and developing the Bachelor of Arts degree in Filipino language and Philippine literature outside the Philippines,” Dr. Mabanglo said in her speech. “In my life, I lovingly look back at this with affection and profound gratitude.”
Dr. Mabanglo was conferred the Gawad Dangal ng Lahi, an accolade given by the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature to honor those who have excelled prominently in their field of expertise and have aptly become role models for the Filipino citizenry.
5. Hall of Fame awardees and National Artists for Literature also in attendance
(seated L-R) National Artist for Literature Dr. Virgilio Almario, Mrs. Emelina Almario, Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo; (standing L-R) Palanca Awards Hall of Fame awardee Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Mr. Carlos Palanca IV, Ms. Alma Miclat, Mr. Edward Cabagnot, Dr. Ani Rosa Almario, and Ms. Frances Ong
(seated L-R) Palanca Awards Hall of Fame awardee Dr. Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr., National Artist for Literature Dr. Gémino Abad; (standing L-R) Mrs. June Dalisay, Dr. Sheila Yap, Ms. Tes Teng, and Mrs. Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca
It was a star-studded night as the Philippines’ most prominent literary figures gathered for the evening’s revelry. Joining the celebration are the National Artists for Literature Dr. Virgilio Almario and Dr. Gémino Abad, and the other Palanca Hall of Famers including Mr. Eros Atalia, Mr. Miguel Antonio Alfredo Luarca, Mr. Mikael de Lara Co, Mr. Rodolfo Vera, Dr. Reuel Molina Aguila, Atty. Nicolas Pichay, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Mr. Alfred “Krip” Yuson, and Dr. Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr.
2014 Palanca Hall of Fame awardee Mr. Rodolfo Vera joined the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration as a winner anew, bagging 2ndPrize in the Dulang Pampelikula category for “Watsonville”; with him on stage are (L-R) Mrs. Nemesia Bermejo, Mr. Charles Cristopher Palanca, Mrs. Anne Nicole Palanca, and Mr. F.M. Reyes, a member of the panel of judges
2024 Palanca Hall of Fame awardees Mr. Eros Atalia (left) and Mr. Mikael de Lara Co (center) joined the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration as judges
2007 Palanca Hall of Fame awardee Atty. Nicolas Pichay graces the Palanca Awards Diamond Jubilee celebration (center) together with Mr. Edwin Saguibo (left), and Mr. Dominique Sepagan (right).
– END –
For media inquiries, please refer to:
Ms. Daisy Sabangan / Mr. Erwin dela Cruz / Ms. Ruth Tamesis
CID Communication