CREATED in 2013, the Peter’s Prize (or The Peter Solis Nery Prize for Excellence in Hiligaynon Literature) was envisioned to be the ultimate literary contest in the Hiligaynon language which would help The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc. to fulfill its mission of promoting, preserving, and propagating Hiligaynon literature.
Recognizing the need to honor other “silent workers” in Hiligaynon literature, the Peter’s Prize was expanded to confer special prizes for excellence in literary scholarship (starting 2014), literary translation (starting 2015), theatre arts and cultural dissemination (starting 2017).
In the succeeding years, to honor the “and the Arts” portion in the name of the sponsoring Foundation, the Peter’s Prize competitive categories were also extended to visual arts (starting 2017), and film (in 2019).
*
Gonzales wins 2020 Peter’s Prize for Short Story
Two winners have joined the Peter’s Prize roster of medalists this year to bring the elite list to 25.
The 24thmedallion in the Peter’s Prize eight-year history is awarded to Adonis C. Gonzales for winning the 2020 Peter’s Prize for Short Story.
A teacher of Oral Communication for senior high school at Calinog National Comprehensive High School in Calinog, Iloilo, Gonzales was also the second prize winner of the 2019 Peter’s Prize for Poetry.
During the awards ceremony of the 2019 Peter’s Prize in Dumangas last year, Gonzales vowed to win for himself the gold medallion within the next five years.
Well, he won it this year!
*
Garnering six first place rankings from a jury of eight members, Gonzales’s short story “Sang Nag-ugsad ang Mapula nga Bulan” bested 13 other entries to win the prize.
“…Mapula nga Bulan” is about a kept-maiden in the Suludnon tradition who turned into a hawk in the dramatic climax of the story. Written steep in the local color of the indigenous culture of the Sulud communities of Panay, the story is set against the backdrop of a proposed dam construction that tragically affects the local community.
*
This year’s jury for the writing contest was composed of eight previous Peter’s Prize winners: Dolly Ann Reyes (2015, Literary Translation), Marco Antonio Limson (2016, Flash Fiction for Children), Nilyn Gamuza-Pacariem (2016, Flash Fiction for Adults), John Michael D. Catigan (2017, Visual Arts), Kristoffer George Brasileño (2018, Visual Arts), Janeth Deza Demegillo (2018, Cultural Dissemination), Ferlie Joy M. Lanaria (2019, Poetry), and Richard D. Olano, Jr. (2019, Film).
*
The second and third prizes for the short story contest was won by Serafin I. Plotria, Jr. for his “Ang Kasingkal sang Caliling” and “Handumun Ko ang Banas sa Imo Handurawan,” respectively.
“Kasingkal…” is a tragic love story painted against the enormous background of political corruption and land-grabbing in a small town called Caliling.
“…Banas” is the heart-wrenching story of an honest taxi driver who could have run away with the money needed to save his sick daughter.
Writing from Negros Occidental, Plotria, who was also the 2018 Peter’s Prize winner for Poetry, is an award-winning broadcaster, a part-time communications instructor, and a published author of a children’s book in Bacolod City.
*
Parcon gets 2020 Peter’s Prize for Translation
The 25thmedallion in the Peter’s Prize history, the 2020 Special Peter’s Prize for Excellence in Literary Translation, is awarded to Celia F. Parcon, a retired professor of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.
Parcon has translated some Palanca-winning Hiligaynon works into English, including some stories by Peter Solis Nery, among other authors.
On May 12, 2020, Parcon’s book of translations, “Nothing’s Lost: Stories by Peter Solis Nery,” was published in the US.
The book contains such modern classics as “Lirio,” “The Twins,” “Donato the Hunchback,” “Father Olan, God, and the Rain,” “The Miracle at Ermita,” and the never-before-published “The Tears of Betty Boo.”
*
The red carpet event for the awarding ceremony of the Peter’s Prize, traditionally conducted in September or October, is cancelled this year due to Covid concerns.
Instead, the Foundation will celebrate the winners for the rest of the year in all media possible as the general public adjusts to the new normal.
Congratulations to all the winners!
And thank you, everyone, for your support and understanding of The Peter’s Prize even in this time of the pandemic./PN
