Philippines Graphic announces winners of 2016 Nick Joaquin Literary Awards

The list of winners of the 2016 Nick Joaquin Literary Awards were announced Monday in a Facebook post by Philippines Graphic editor Alma Anonas-Carpio.

Leading the awards for fiction is Sarge Lacuesta, who won First Prize for "Coral Cove." Kate Osias received Second Prize for "Silang" and Celestine Marie Gaspar Trinidad Third Prize for "Giving Lives."

Mookie Katigbak Lacuesta, meanwhile, was hailed Poet of the Year.

Among those shortlisted for a prize is "The Sundays in Dapitan" by GMA News Online Science and Technology editor Timothy James Dimacali, "One Truck Driver's Story" by Merlie Alunan, and "Tooth, Scale, and Claw" by Ethan Chua.

"The editors and staff of the Philippines Graphic and NJLA Judges Krip Yuson, Susan S Lara and Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo are very pleased to offer their congratulations to the winners," Anonas-Carpio wrote. "The Lit Ed looks forward to partying with you peeps at the awards night. Your work totally rocks my world."

Annual entries to the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards are English-language short fiction pieces published in Philippines Graphic magazine. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News