“Are you here to receive an award?”
Medical practitioner and children’s book author Dr. Luis Gatmaitan asked as we exchanged greetings at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature ceremony.
I wish I were. But the truth is, I hadn’t submitted anything to the Palanca—unbelievable, according to friends both in and out of the writing community.
I know I’m capable of writing, but I have so many concerns swirling in my head. What should I write about? Which story is worth telling? And how do I even begin when every idea feels either too small, too overwhelming, or somehow not “Palanca-worthy” enough?
Sometimes the blank page isn’t just empty; it’s intimidating. So, I end up hesitating, overthinking, second-guessing myself before I even put down the first sentence.
Submitting to the Palanca takes courage, discipline, and faith in one’s voice. Writing feels like laying a piece of your soul on the page—your wounds, joys, questions, and quiet longings. Sending that work to a prestigious award means letting others hold that part of you, and I’m not sure I’m ready to share something that raw just yet.
For now, I’m celebrating the Palanca moment of dear friends who dared to put their hearts on paper.
Award-winning filmmaker-playwright Dustin Celestino earned three prizes this year: third prize for A.NI.MAL in Dulang Ganap ang Haba—soon to become a film and a 2026 Cinemalaya finalist; second prize for Elehiya in Dulang May Isang Yugto, set for the 2026 Virgin Labfest; and first prize for Fidelity in the Full-Length Play category.
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Dustin and his partner, Janel Gutierrez-Celestino. Watching them build their careers together has always felt like witnessing a true partnership in life and art.
Another favorite couple, Arjanmar Rebeta and Khaye Medina-Rebeta, is also heading into a full year. Arjanmar’s Mga Kalapating Matayog ang Lipad won third prize in Dulang Pampelikula and will soon take on new life through their community-based filmmaking project, Sayaw nin mga Salampati (The Dance of the Pigeons).
I was also thrilled to see John Bryan Balolong, whose children’s short story Captain Crayon and the Doodle Pirates won first prize in the Short Story for Children category. I’ve known Tatay Bryan, as we fondly called him back then, since my college days. He was one of the peer facilitators who made my freshman year so much easier to navigate. Now an educator, it’s heartwarming to see him continue to inspire young readers through his writing.
Of course, there’s Sir Rody Vera, whose work as a writer and playwright I’ve always admired. His work, Watsonville, won second prize in the Dulaang Pampelikula.
Host Wendell Capili joked that many people were asking Rody why he still participates even as a Hall of Famer. Rody quipped that he keeps joining because he has so many “cats to feed”—a funny reminder of his humility and tireless dedication.
On this diamond jubilee year, the total number of entries reached a historic high of 2,359 entries in 20 categories—as overseen by 57 judges, resulting in 58 winning works by 54 authors.
There were 38 new winners and 20 former winners, with the most senior awardee is 64 years 64-year-old male writer, while the youngest winner is a female writer at 15 years old.
“Seventy-five years of a hallowed tradition can only spur the Filipino writers to be as courageous in determining new ways to chart inventive paths for the attainment of literary fulfillment and authenticity,” said Carlos Palanca Foundation Inc. vice president Criselda “Dang” Cecilio-Palanca.
She continued: “While we had often contended with mostly gradual global developments and managed to keep pace with elements that we imagined we would encounter only at a future time, we recognize that that future has come quicker than anticipated, pressing us on to accomplish new feats of agility and resolve. We realize that we cannot afford to stay stuck in our comfort zones in the midst of a fast-evolving and ever-confounding landscape.”
