The Palanca — or the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature — has returned for its 70th edition.

The Philippines most prestigious literary competition held an awarding ceremony on 30 November at Marquis Events Place in BGC, Taguig, honoring 59 winners in 22 categories, 28 of whom were first-timers.

Recipients included poet/musician/multi-awarded filmmaker Khavn dela Cruz and lawyer Raymundo T. Pandan, who bagged the grand prizes in the Nobela and Novel categories for their novels ANTIMARCOS and Bittersweetland, respectively.

Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo won first prize in Essay for Letter from Tawi-Tawi. Silliman University writer Ian Rosales Casocot clinched his sixth Palanca for his first prize-winning short story, Ceferina in Apartment 2G.

Garnering special prizes were Edgar Calabia Samar, Natatanging Gantimpala, Nobela category for "Teorya ng Unang Panahon" and Alvin Dela Serna Lopez for the Novel category for "1762." These special prizes are given by the Palanca awards every two years.

Daily Tribune spoke to Susan Severino Lara — Palanca winner and judge, former director of Silliman University National Writers Workshop, and recipient of Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for fiction in English from UMPIL (Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas).

DT: What made the 70th Palanca Awards different from other editions?
Susan Severino Lara (SSL): The 70th Palanca awards came after a two-year hiatus, which probably explains the large number of entries, specifically in the Novel English Division. People had more time to write, more things to write about.

DT: Was it hard to select a winner?
SSL: It was easy enough to come up with a short list (of four). It was more difficult, and we had a longer discussion, when the choice was down to the top two, since traditionally, there is only the grand prize for the novel, no second and third prizes. We finally made our choice for the grand prize (Bittersweetland by Rayboy Pandan) and decided to have a special prize for second place (1762 by Alvin dela Cerna).

DT: What's your advice to writers aspiring to win?
SSL: My advice to writers is just to keep writing, honing their craft, without any thought of winning a contest. If you take your writing seriously, your work will get better and better, and get the recognition it deserves. The award is just a bonus, not the goal.

The complete list of winners:

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