WITH this year’s total coming up to 21 career Palanca Awards including the Hall of Fame, I am easily the most decorated Ilonggo writer in the new millennium.
And perhaps in the whole Ilonggo literary history.
So what if I concentrated in the Palanca contest?
The Palanca is still the most prestigious literary contest in the country.
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Oh, but I have other writing awards.
Like the historic Centennial Literary Prize for Screenplay in 1998.
I was the only Ilonggo winner in that one big contest.
Let other writers wait another 76 years to catch up with me on that one!
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My award-winning career really started with the CCP Literature Grant for Hiligaynon Poetry in 1992.
In 1993, I also won the Premio Operiano Italia; and was named Hari sang Binalaybay, a title I held until 1998.
Throughout my career, I also won the 1995 NCCA Western Visayas Poetry Competition.
And the 2001 Cinemanila International Film Festival Scriptwriting Competition.
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I won other screenwriting contests from both the Film Development Council of the Philippines (in 2012), and the now-defunct Film Development Foundation of the Philippines (in 1998).
FDCP is connected with the Office of the President.
FDFD was connected with the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
So yeah, I’m a pretty good screenwriter even if my scripts were never really turned into movies. Haha.
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By this list alone, that’s 28 major literary awards of national and international significance.
I challenge other Ilonggo writers to top that.
And by “challenge”, I mean that I encourage and inspire other writers to write prize-worthy literature.
Literature that elevate the art and craft of literary and creative writing.
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That I achieved so many awards for various genres such as poetry, fiction, drama, poetry for children, screenplay; and in various languages such as Hiligaynon, Filipino, and English is testament to my versatility as a writer.
Thus, I am not just a most decorated Ilonggo writer.
I am a most decorated Ilonggo versatile writer!
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At the Palanca Awards, a writer who has won five first prizes is elevated to the Hall of Fame.
This year, I won my tenth first prize.
So, in my mind, that’s a double Hall of Fame.
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People are so eager for me to end my Palanca-winning participation.
Why don’t I just retire, and start judging at the Palanca, they ask.
Their argument is that I can better shape Hiligaynon literature if I give better judgments at the Palanca.
It’s a beautiful thought, but I don’t believe that.
Literature is best shaped by writers and readers, not by contest judges.
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Still, winning my fifth first prize in Hiligaynon short story this year is cause for great reflection.
Five first prizes in Hiligaynon short story—that’s a Hall of Fame in Hiligaynon short story right there.
This year, my total of Hiligaynon stories that have been awarded the Palanca has reached the beautiful number eight.
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The first prize winners are:
Lirio (1998),
Candido (2007),
Donato Bugtot (2011),
Si Padre Olan kag ang Dios (2013),
Ang Macatol kag ang ‘Queen of Relief’ (2022).
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The other winners are:
Ang Pangayaw (2000, third prize),
Ang Kapid (2006, second prize),
Ang Milagro sa Ermita (2017, second prize).
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I do not make claims hastily.
I’d hate to be wrong.
I can stand being corrected, but I’d rather not be wrong at all.
In fact, the reason why I continue to field entries to the Hiligaynon short story category of the Palanca year after year even if I feel there is a bias against my works (if not really against me) is that I wanted to win five first prizes in the category.
And now that I have achieved that goal, I feel vindicated of all nasty talks about my real genius.
And I feel rightfully entrenched as Hiligaynon story writing royalty.
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At least for my peace of mind, it is now hard for me to be shaken or challenged with this year’s double win at the Palanca.
And one gold, a first prize, for Hiligaynon short story!
It’s a fitting crowning achievement.
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Whether I continue to write Hiligaynon stories, and whether I continue to field entries at the Palanca is a matter of opinion for now.
But it’s nice to know that if ever I decide to retire now, I retire at my peak.
But then again, have I already peaked?/PN
