Palanca 2017 now accepting submissions; Novel, Nobela categories open

Dust off that manuscript—the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is now accepting entries for 2017. Writers will have a shot at the Novel and Nobela categories, which is only open every two years.

Charmaine Mercader Lasar and Victorette Joy Z. Campilan won the prize for Nobela and Novel respectively in 2015.

The deadline for submission this year is on April 30 for all categories, which are as follows:

• Novel (English)
• Nobela (Filipino)
• Short Story in English
• Short Story in English for Children
• Short Story in Cebuano
• Short Story in Hiligaynon
• Short Story in Ilokano
• Maikling Kuwento
• Maikling Kuwentong Pambata
• Essay (English)
• Sanaysay (Filipino)
• Poetry (English)
• Tula (Filipino)
• Poetry Written for Children (English)
• Tulang Para sa Mga Bata (Filipino)
• One-act Play (English)
• Dulang May Isang Yugto (Filipino)
• Full-length Play (English)
• Dulang Ganap ang Haba (Filipino)
• Dulang Pampelikula (Filipino)

A separate essay/sanaysay category is open to writers below 18 years of age, with the theme  “How can the youth contribute to building interest in Philippine culture and literature?”/“Paano makaaambag ang mga kabataan sa pagsulong ng interes sa kultura at panitikang Pilipino?”

The competition is open to all Filipinos and former Filipino citizens, except current directors, officers, and employees of the Palanca Foundation.

The Palanca Awards were first handed out in 1950, in honor of Don Carlos Palanca Sr., a Filipino-Chinese businessman and philanthropist.

The awards hope to stimulate interest in generating and patronizing Philippine literature.

For inquires and information on contest rules, visit the Palanca Foundation's official website. — BM, GMA News