2024 Palanca Awards Explained

72nd Palanca Awards
Date:	November 22, 2024
Location:	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines
Previous:	2023
Next:	2025

The 72nd Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held on November 22, 2025, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City^[1] to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.^[2]

A total of 54 writers, 31 of whom were first-time awardees, were chosen as this year's recipients. The total number of writing categories awarded was 22.^[3] Film director and writer Jun Robles Lana, recipient of the Palanca Awards Hall of Fame in 2006, was Guest of Honor and Speaker at this year's awarding ceremony.^[4]

Four writers were elevated to the Hall of Fame, including Eros Sanchez Atalia, who clinched his fifth first prize for the novel "Thirty Virgins"; Mikael de Lara Co, for his poetry collection "Panayam sa Abo"; Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, for his full-length play "Corridors"; and Joshua Lim So, for his one-act play "Pagkapit sa Hangin."^[5] The said award is given to writers who have won five (5) first places in any category.^[6]

LIST OF WINNERS

The 2024 winners are divided into four categories:^[7]

English Division

Novel

• Grand Prize: Lakan Umali, "The Ferdinand Project"^[8]
• Special Prize: Michael Aaron Gomez, "The People's Republic of Negros"

Short Story

• First Prize: Jan Kevin M. Rivera, "Muted City"
• Second Prize: Antonio Hernandez, "The Man Who Sold Dignity"
• Third Prize: Kiefer Adrian Z. Occeño, "Bee Happy"

Short Story for Children

• First Prize: No Winner
• Second Prize: No Winner
• Third Prize: Edgar Calabia Samar, "A Young Poet Dreams of a Hundred Words That Rhyme with Manila"

Essay

• First Prize: Lioba Asia E. Piluden, "Ghost-Hunting in Sagada"
• Second Prize: Kara Danielle Eraña Medina, "Another Hope Entirely"
• Third Prize: Jade Mark Capiñares, "A Personal History of Sea Urchins"

Poetry

• First Prize: Joel M. Toledo, "Silangan"^[9]
• Second Prize: Lyde Sison Villanueva, "La Muerte de la Luz"
• Third Prize: Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, "We Are Not Yet Lost"

Poetry Written for Children

• First Prize: Edgar Calabia Samar, "Every Year, J Gained a Power"
• Second Prize: Stacy Haynie Bolislis Ayson, "Where are the Dinosaurs?"
• Third Prize: Peter Solis Nery, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Books"

One-Act Play

• First Prize: Eljay Castro Deldoc, "Unidentified"
• Second Prize: Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, "The Impossible Dream"
• Third Prize: Kenneth Theodore Cheng Keng, "Line Up"

Full-Length play

• First Prize: Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, "Corridors"
• Second Prize: Dustin Edward Celestino, "Birdie"
• Third Prize: Emilio Antonio Babao Guballa, "The Echoist"

Filipino Division

Nobela

• Grand Prize: Eros Sanchez Atalia, "Thirty Virgins"
• Special Prize: No Winner

Maikling Kwento

• First Prize: Mark Anthony Angeles, "Gagambang-Bahay"^[10]
• Second Prize: Hannah A. Leceña, "Siya si Ril"
• Third Prize: Aljane C. Baterna, "Ang Lungga"

Maikling Kwentong Pambata

• First Prize: Christopher S. Rosales, "Musikong Bumbong"
• Second Prize: Brian James S. Camaya, "Si Bambalito, Ang Batang Bayani ng Bangkusay"
• Third Prize: John Patrick F. Solano, "Atang Para Kay Nanang Toyang"

Sanaysay

• First Prize: Tomas F. Agulto, "Tulambuhay ng Isang Makatang Laway"
• Second Prize: David R. Corpuz, "Autoetnograpiya ng Luksa"
• Third Prize: Adelle Liezl Chua, "Love Child"

Tula

• First Prize: Mikael de Lara Co, "Panayam sa Abo"
• Second Prize: John Dave B. Pacheco, "Paa, Tuhod, Balikat ng Tagakaulo: Higatang sa Pangil ng Pana-panahong Pagkalugmok"^[11]
• Third Prize: John Brixter M. Tino, "Dugo ng Aking Dugo"

Tulang Pambata

• First Prize: John Romeo Leongson Venturero, "Anak ng Baha! Mga Tulang Pambata"
• Second Prize: John Michael G. Londres, "Saklolo, Trak ng Bumbero!"
• Third Prize: Eros Sanchez Atalia, "Add to Cart at Iba Pang mga Tula"

Dulang May Isang Yugto

• First Prize: Joshua Lim So, "Pagkapit sa Hangin"
• Second Prize: Hans Pieter Luyun Arao, "Vengeance of the Gods"
• Third Prize: U Z. Eliserio, "Ang Trahedya ni Bert"

Dulang Ganap ang Haba

• First Prize: No Winner
• Second Prize: Miguel Antonio Alfredo V. Luarca, "Ardor"
• Third Prize: Andrew Aquino Estacio, "Ka Amado"

Dulang Pampelikula

• First Prize: Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete, "Championship"
• Second Prize: Raymund T. Barcelon, "Paglilitis"
• Third Prize: Rian Jay Hernandez, "Dobol"

Regional Division

Short Story [Cebuano]

• First Prize: Michael Aaron Gomez, "Pamalandong ni Antonio Mokayat"
• Second Prize: Reynaldo A. Caturza, "Anino"
• Third prize: Gracelda I. Lina, "Maninibya"

Short Story [Hiligaynon]

• First Prize: Serafin I. Plotria Jr., "Ang Liwat nga Paglupad ni Lolo"
• Second Prize: Bryan Mari Argos, "Labo"
• Third Prize: Al Jeffrey L. Gonzales, "Anagas, Anagas, Baylo 'Ta Ngalan"

Short Story [Iluko]

• First Prize: Neyo E. Valdez, "Panaggawid"
• Second Prize: Ma. Lourdes Ladi Opinaldo, "Uram"
• Third Prize: Prodie Gar. Padios, "Anniniwan"

Kabataan Division

Kabataan Essay

• First Prize: Brant Angelo S. Ambes, "The Digital Snowball"
• Second Prize: Ruth Mecanelle Magolhado, "My Humanly Unhuman Friend"
• Third Prize: Glorious Zahara Exylin Alesna, "Some Things Must Never Change"

Kabataan Sanaysay

• First Prize: Glorious Zahara Exylin Alesna, "Dito sa Kanlungan ng Hiraya't Katotohanan"
• Second Prize: Raya T. Mitra, "Sinulid at Buhay"
• Third Prize: Lancelot MJ T. Edillor, "Bura, Sulat"

External links

• Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature

Notes and References

1. Web site: 72nd CARLOS PALANCA MEMORIAL AWARDS for LITERATURE AWARDING . Philippine International Convention Center.
2. http://www.palancaawards.com.ph/index.php/history History of Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
3. Web site: 72nd Palanca Awards inducts 4 new Hall of Fame awardees . Philippines Graphic . 23 November 2024.
4. Web site: Winners of the 72nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature . ABS-CBN . 22 November 2024.
5. Web site: 4 enshrined in Palanca Hall of Fame . Daily Tribune . 23 November 2024.
6. Web site: PALANCA AWARDS HALL OF FAME YEAR 2019 . Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature . palancaawards.com.ph . 26 August 2024.
7. News: 72nd Palanca Awards: Full list of winners . 23 November 2024.
8. Web site: Instagram . 23 November 2024 .
9. News: Sta. Rosa . Francis Miguell . Artlets instructors bag first prizes in 72nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards . 23 November 2024.
10. News: Sta. Rosa . Francis Miguell . Artlets instructors bag first prizes in 72nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards . 23 November 2024.
11. Web site: Rebollido . Guia . Tagakaulo writer wins Palanca for poetry . MindaNews . 20 October 2024 . 23 November 2024.