The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in collaboration with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), celebrates National Children’s Book Day (NCBD) this July. This celebration aims to embrace the transformative power of literature to fuel curiosity and ignite imagination among children.

A highlight to this celebration is the awarding event of the prestigious PBBY-Salanga Prize and the PBBY-Alcala Prize, which recognize exemplary works in writing and illustration.

The PBBY-Salanga Prize, named after esteemed journalist and writer Alfredo Navarro Salanga, lauds exceptional story writing that captivates young audiences. This year, it recognizes Eric R. Roxas for his captivating story, “Monina’s Many Moles,” that transcends boundaries and inspires young minds.

Roxas is a picture book and middle grade author writing under the name Benjamin Orion. He won the 2021 #RevPit writing contest for his fantasy middle grade novel, Sampaguita and the Goddess of Lost Things, and was awarded a three-month developmental edit and mentorship under US Literary Agent Hannah VanVels Ausbury. Earlier this year, he was chosen by We Need Diverse Books as one of their 2023 mentees with his contemporary LGBTQIA+ middle grade novel, The Rainbow Diary of a Gravestone Maker’s Son, and was paired with internationally published author Nicole Melleby.

The five honorable mention winners are What Mona Likes, What Lolo Likes by Kim Alexis D. Santiago; Beybi Namin si Lola by Carmela Esguerra-Jose; The Balayong Table by Patricia Marie Grace S. Gomez; Tiny Little Box of Isla by Alleona Marie B. Antido; and May mga Nawawala sa Loob ng Aming Bahay by Genaro R. Gojo Cruz.

On the other hand, illustrator Marcushiro Nada receives the illustrious PBBY-Alcala Prize for his artistry, enriching the world of children’s literature with captivating visuals. The coveted prize, named in honor of National Artist Larry Alcala, celebrates mastery in visual storytelling, awarded to illustrators who skillfully bring children’s stories to life.

Nada has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Advertising from the University of Santo Tomas and has been illustrating books for more than 20 years. He also has been teaching at the College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts since 2011. He is also a recipient of the 2001 Gawad CCP Award for the collaborative 35mm animated short film Movements and is a long-standing member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan.