Among this year's Palanca Awardees is GMA Network art director!

GMA Program Support Department - Creative Services Division art director Jerking "Erik" Pingol bagged the grand prize for the Nobela category in this year's Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for his novel "Agaw-anino."

"Agaw-anino" is a story about the coming of age of six boys who were born in a fictional area in Pampanga. The story mainly centers on their fading belief in Philippine mythology.

"Ginamit ko mostly dito ay metaphor ng changes sa society, sa tao at tsaka pinasukan ko ng culture ng Filipinos," Erik told GMA News Online.

For Eric, a first-timer in the Palanca, this piece is in honor of our ancestors. He said myths are part of the Filipino culture and he doesn't want it to just go away.

"Ito na kasi 'yong panahon na, kung hindi 'yan ike-kwento, makakalimutan na 'yan ng generation," he said.

"Siya ay part ng ating culture and I want that to forever be etched in our history."

According to Erik, he started writting "Agaw-anino" in 2012 and remained in the process of editing until 2014.

After joining a workshop in 2017 that allowed him to polish his novel even more, Erik submitted a copy of the complete manuscript to a publisher, but he didn't make the cutoff.

Little did he know that the unfortunate incident will lead him to the Palanca. 

Erik admitted he had no intention of sending it to the Palanca Awards, but it was like fate led him to it.

"All I could say is mas napaganda. Kasi ngayon, mapa-publish na siya, mas madaling i-defend na it is publish-worthy," he said. 

There are 22 writing categories in the 69th Palanca with the bi-annual Novel and Nobela open this year.

Erik, who has been with GMA Network for more than a decade, said this experience will forever change his life.

Meanwhile, Rodolfo Vera, who is a consultant for GMA Public Affairs, won third place in the category Dulaang Pampelikula for "Nana Rosa." 

A total of 56 writers, 32 of which are first-time awardees, were chosen as winners in the 69th Palanca Award last November 8.

Congratulations to the winners! — LA, GMA News