Here are the winners of the 70th Palanca Awards

After a two-year hiatus, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the most prestigious literary contest in the Philippines, is back in its 70th year.

A total of 59 writers, 28 of whom are first-time awardees, were acknowledged as this year's Palanca award recipients through a physical awarding ceremony held at the Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City on Wednesday night.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 70th Palanca Awards:

Kabataan Division

SANAYSAY:

1st prize - Pamimintana by Glorious Zavannah Exylin C. Alesna

2nd Prize - Ang Larong Naipanalo Ko by Hansly Kendrich C. Saw

3rd Prize - Mga Bantas ang Nagsilbi kong Guro by John Clarence D. Espedido

ESSAY:

1st prize - Home is a Bowl of Warm Soup by Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna

2nd Prize - Covid-19 is My Alter Ego by Jenine A. Santos

3rd Prize - The Social Pandemic by Gavin Micah T. Herrera

Filipino Division

MAIKLING KUWENTO:

1st prize - Ang Value ng X Kapag Choppy si Mam by Charmaine M. Lasar

2nd Prize - Barangay Alitaptap by Abegail E. Pariente

3rd Prize - Kung sa Bawat Pagtawag ay Pagtawid sa Dagat by Alec Joshua B. Paradeza

MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA:

1st prize - Si VeRaptor1 Laban kay Trolakuz by Mark Norman S. Boquiren

2nd Prize - Balong Batsit, ang Bidang Bulilit at Bayaning Bulinggit by Wilfredo Farrales Sarangaya

3rd Prize - Mirasol para kay Lola Sol by Benedick N. Damaso

SANAYSAY:

1st prize - Kung Magkapalad Ka't Mangmang by Venice Kayla Dacanay Delica

2nd Prize - Tatlong Pancit Canton by Jhon Lester P. Sandigan

3rd Prize - Isang Dekadang Kontrata sa Piling ng mga Mikrobyo by Nathaniel R. Alcantara

TULA:

1st prize - Uyayi ng mga Patay na Buwan by Ralph Lorenz G. Fonte, M.D.

2nd Prize - Pintula by Enrique S. Villasis

3rd Prize - Mga Anino sa Guho at iba pang mga tula by Sonny C. Sendon

TULA PARA SA MGA BATA:

1st prize - Tula, Tula, Paano ka Ginawa? by Christian R. Vallez

2nd Prize - Ale Bangbang by Rebecca T. Anonuevo

3rd Prize - Mga Pahina sa Alaala ng Nanay by Ninia H. dela Cruz

DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO:

1st prize - Punks Not Dead by Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete

2nd Prize - Dance of the Foolies by Layeta P. Bucoy

3rd Prize - Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria by Ryan Machado

DULANG GANAP ANG HABA:

1st prize - Mga Silid ng Unos: Tomo Uno by Joshua Lim So

2nd Prize - Anak Datu by Rodolfo C. Vera

3rd Prize - Badung by Steven Prince C. Fernandez

DULANG PAMPELIKULA:

1st prize - Amoy Pulbos by Avelino Mark C. Balmes, Jr.

2nd Prize - DOS by Noreen Besmar Capili

3rd Prize - Ang Pananalangin sa Getsemani by Ehdison M. Dimen

Regional Division

SHORT STORY-CEBUANO:

1st prize - Barang by Noel P. Tuazon

2nd Prize - Ikigai by Manu Avenido

3rd Prize - John Wayne ug ang Goldfish kong Inahan by Januar E. Yap

SHORT STORY-HILIGAYNON:

1st prize - Ang Macatol Kag Ang "Queen of Relief" by Peter Solis Nery

2nd Prize - Malipayon nga Katapusan by Early Sol A. Gadong

3rd Prize - Esperanza by Ritchie D. Pagunsan

SHORT STORY-ILOKANO:

1st prize - Ti Kimat Ken Ti Silag by Oswald Ancheta Valente

2nd Prize - Ti Ubing by Remedios S. Tabelisma-Aguillon

3rd Prize - Karton by Rodolfo D. Agatep Jr.

English Division

SHORT STORY:

1st prize - Ceferina in Apartment 2G by Ian Rosales Casocot

2nd Prize - Ardor by Exie Abola

3rd Prize - The Money Changer by Hammed Bolotaolo

SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN:

1st prize - NO WINNER

2nd Prize - Cloud Keeper by Cloud Keeper

3rd Prize - My Grandma who lives in Half a House by Heather Ann Ferrer Pulido

ESSAY:

1st prize - Letter from Tawi-Tawi by Atom Araullo

2nd Prize - Filipino Millennial Monomyth by Michaela Sarah De Leon

3rd Prize - The Helmsman's Daughter by Alexandra Francesca A. Bichara

POETRY:

1st prize - Bol-anon Prodigal by Ramil Digal Gulle

2nd Prize - A Few Dawns from now, A Sunfish by Soleil David

3rd Prize - The Blueline by Lawrence Anthony R. Bernabe

POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN:

1st prize - An Empty Chair in the Corner by Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba

2nd Prize - Picnic, Symphony and other concepts a 4th Grader needs to know by Peter Solis Nery

3rd Prize - NO WINNER

ONE-ACT PLAY:

1st prize - The Cave Dwellers by Ronald S. Covar

2nd Prize - Salvaged Eman by Bonifacio P. Ilagan

3rd Prize - Agencia Feliz by Maria Kristine B. Roxas-Miller

FULL-LENGTH PLAY:

1st prize - Orgullo Compound by Layeta P. Bucoy

2nd Prize - Black Bordello by Jay Mariano Crisostomo IV

3rd Prize -The Lost Filipino Patriots of America by Dustin Edward D. Celestino

NOVEL:

Grand Prize - Bittersweetland by Raymundo T. Pandan, Jr.

Special Prize - 1762 by Alvin Dela Serna Lopez

NOBELA:

Grand Prize - ANTIMARCOS by Khavn

Special Prize - Teorya ng Unang Panahon by Edgar Calabia Samar

Named after the businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards was established in 1950 and is considered the longest-running literary competition in the Philippines and is considered the "gold standard" in writing excellence.

Congratulations to all the winners!

-- BAP, GMA Integrated News