The Palanca Awards is now accepting entries for its 71st edition

The Palanca Awards is now open for entries for its 71st edition, with deadline on May 31, 2023.

According to a press statement, all submissions must be done online, with authors able to submit one (1) entry per category, as follows:

• English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;
OTHER STORIES
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• Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;
• Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano.

The awards is open to all Filipinos and even former Filipino citizens of all ages.

There is also a special Kabataan Division for those below 18 years old. There are only two categories — Kabataan Essay (English) and Kabataan Sanaysay (Filipino) — with the theme “Emerging out of the Pandemic, what are the most pressing issues surrounding mental health among youth and how can Society and Government help in addressing these concerns for the growth and well-being of our younger generations?”

For Filipino, it's “Sa pagsulong mula sa Pandemya, ano ang mga pinakamabibigat na isyung pumapalibot sa kalusugan ng isip ng mga kabataan, at paano makatutulong ang Lipunan at Pamahalaan na tugunan ang mga ito para sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng ating mga nakababatang henerasyon?”

Just so nobody will forget, deadline is on May 31, 2023.

Last year, Atom Araullo bagged the first prize in the English Essay category for his "Letters from Tawi-tawi," which was first published on GMA News Online.

Anyway, visit Palanca Awards website for more details. — LA, GMA Integrated News