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No winners for ebooks, novels in 31st National Book Awards
Ebooks and novels were not among the winners in the 31st National Book Awards, which recognized the best books published in the Philippines in 2011. In the awarding ceremonies held on November 17 at the National Museum, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) handed out awards to authors of books in various categories, from poetry to science. However, no winners were chosen for the Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Novel, whether in a foreign language or in a Philippine language. Finalists in the foreign language category were Lourd Ernest H. De Veyra's "Super Panalo Sounds!" and Antonio Enriquez's "The Survivors," both from University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. Meanwhile, Jun Cruz Reyes' "Ang Huling Dalagang Bukid at Ang Authobiography Na Mali: Isang Imbestigasyon" from Anvil Publishing was the lone finalist for the Philippine language category. Similarly, no winner was chosen to receive the Manila Critics Circle Special Prize for an ebook. There were four finalists in the category, all from Flipside Digital Content Company: Paolo Chikiamco's "Alternative Alamat," Paolo Chikiamco and Hannah Buena's "High Society," Adam David's "The Long Weekend: A Komix Novella," and Rye Gutierrez's "The Top 25 Power Words Every Call Center Agent Should Know." According to the Manila Critics Circle's Isagani Cruz, there were no winners in these categories because the finalists "did not meet the criteria for the awards." According to the National Book Awards selection critera for the novel, "a winning book both delights and instructs, offering breadth and depth comparable to the Philippine novels earlier given National Book Awards." Meanwhile, the National Book Development Board's selection criteria for the awards says "a winning eBook, like a winning printed book, offers fresh insight into its subject matter, is well-written, and delights the reader." Despite the lack of awards for ebooks this year, ebook publishers and authors were happy about the inclusion of the category in the awards. "We are happy that the National Book Awards has included the Ebook Category in this year's awards. We and our authors were pleased to be named finalists. We hope that the Ebook Category in the Awards becomes further refined, to reflect the different ways one can now package stories and to keep the National Book Award itself relevant to the times," Honey de Peralta, VP and general manager of Flipside Publishing, told GMA News Online via email. But De Peralta also said that though they are happy, they were also confused that their ebooks were named as finalists, yet apparently did not meet the criteria. "We assumed that finalists had already been pre-screened for meeting the criteria," she said. Meanwhile, awards were given for the following categories in the Literary division: Short Fiction, Non-Fiction Prose, Anthology, Literary Criticism/Literary History, Poetry, and Graphic Literature. Awards were also given for the following categories in the Non-Literary division: Art, Professions, Social Sciences, Leisure, and Science. Gilda Cordero Fernando received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Anvil Publishing, Inc. was named Publisher of the Year. 31st National Book Awards Winners (2011 Books Published) Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for Short Fiction in English Better Homes and Other Fictions: Collected Prose, by Connie J. Maraan, University Of Santo Tomas Publishing House Short Fiction in Filipino 100 Kislap, by Abdon M. Balde Jr., Anvil Publishing, Inc. Short Fiction In Ilokano Karapote: Antolohia Dagiti 13 A Nasuerte A Sarita, by Ariel S. Tabag, Gumil Metro Manila Nonfiction Prose in English Peace Warriors: On the Trail with Filipino Soldiers, by Criselda Yabes, Anvil Publishing, Inc. Nonfiction Prose in Filipino Almanak Ng Isang Aktibista, by Rolando B. Tolentino, The University Of The Philippines Press Anthology in English The Davao We Know, compiled and edited by Lolita R. Lacuesta, Anvil Publishing, Inc. Anthology in Filipino Telon: Mga Dula, edited by Luna Sicat-Cleto, Rolando S. Dela Cruz, Tim Dacanay, Elmar Beltran Ingles, Nicolas B. Pichay, And Rene O. Villanueva, National Commission For Culture And The Arts Anthology in Ilokano Nabalitokan A Tawid: Antolohia Dagiti Napili A Sarita Dagiti Ilokano, edited by Juan Al. Asuncion, Joel B. Manuel, and Ariel S. Tabag, Gumil Filipinas, Inc. Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize for Poetry in English Tala Mundi: The Collected Poems of Tita Agcaoili Lacambra Ayala, by Tita Agcaoili Lacambra Ayala, edited by Ricardo M. De Ungria, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House Virgilio S. Almario Prize for Poetry in Filipino Distrungka, by Teo T. Antonio, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House Isagani R. Cruz Prize for Literary Criticism/Literary History in a Foreign Language Dead Stars: American and Philippine Literary Perspectives on The American Colonization of the Philippines, by Jennifer M. Mcmahon, The University Of The Philippines Press Citation: Tomas Pinpin and Tagalog Survival in Early Spanish Philippines, by Damon L. Woods, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House Isagani R. Cruz Prize for Literary Criticism/Literary History in A Philippine Language Sawikaan 2010: Mga Salita Ng Taon, edited by Roberto T. Añonuevo and Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr., The University Of The Philippines Press
