Filipinos and reading go together like wine and cheese. Remember, second only to the U.S., the Philippines is the most represented country on Wattpad, responsible for 20% of the ebook site’s traffic. Some people might pooh-pooh this information because of the quality of content on that site, but it’s undeniable: a lot of Filipinos are reading. If you need more proof, remember all that outrage when Filipinos thought the government was coming for our book industry?
With a nation of voracious readers like ours, it’s only appropriate to honor the people behind the books we read. Since 2008, the National Book Development Board (the government agency devoted to developing the country’s publishing industry) has been bestowing awards to Filipino authors, publishers, and designers for their achievements in book publishing. They curate their list of winners with the Manila Critics Circle, an organization of professional critics and columnists which gave out the awards from 1982 to 2008 before the NBDB took over. For the Philippine National Book Awards’ 37th running, the NBDB picked out books released in 2017.
Here are the winners of the 37th Philippine National Book Awards #37thNationalBookAwards pic.twitter.com/ZKoYk35Dnw
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Novel in Filipino
- Ang Ikatlong Antikristo by Eros Atalia (Visprint, Inc.)
Best Novel in English
- The Quiet Ones: A Novel by Glenn Diaz (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino
- Ang Nawawala by Chuckberry Pascual (Visprint, Inc.)
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Book of Short Fiction in English
- Coral Cove and Other Stories by Angelo R. Lacuesta (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House)
Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino
- Pag-ahon: Mga Kuwentong Buhay Ng Mga Nanay edited by Luna Sicat Cleto (8Letters Bookstore and Publishing)
Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in English
- Of Tyrants and Martyrs: A Political Memoir by Manuel C. Lahoz (The University of the Philippines Press)
Best Book of Literary Criticism/Literary History in English
- Elites and Ilustrados in Philippine Culture by Caroline Hau (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Books of Essays in English
- The Thing With Feathers by Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House)
Best Anthology in Filipino
- May Tiktik Sa Bubong, May Sigbin Sa Silong by Allan N. Derain (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
Best Anthology in English
- Tinalunay: Hinugpong Nga Panurat Nga Winaray by Merlie M. Alunan (The University of the Philippines Press)
Best Book of Poetry in Filipino
- Mga Sugat na Naligaw sa Gubat by Emmanuel Q. Velasco (Ateneo de Naga University Press)
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Book of Poetry in English
- Running with Ghosts by Merlie M. Alunan (Ateneo de Naga University Press)
Best Graphic Literature
- Dead Balagtas, TOMO 1: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa by Emiliana Kampilan (Adarna House, Inc.)
Best Translated Book
- Bamboo Whispers, Poetry of the Mangyan translated by Hanunuo Mangyan and edited by Lolita Delgado Fansler, Quintin V. Pastrana, Raena E. Abella, Emily L. Catapang (The Bookmark, Inc.)
Best Book on Food
- Feast with Me by Stephanie Zubiri (Anvil Publishing, Inc.)
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Book on Professions
- The Philippines Towards Resilient Cities and Communities by Felino Palafox Jr. (Anvil Publishing, Inc.)
Best Book in the Social Sciences
- Philippine Modernities: Music, Performing Arts, and Language, 1880-1941 by Jose S. Buenconsejo (University of the Philippines Press)
Best Book on History
- Cyclones & Earthquakes: The Jesuits, Prediction, Trade, & Spanish Dominion in Cuba & The Philippines, 1850-1898 by Aitor Anduaga (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
Best Book in Journalism
- Magandang Gabi Bayan: Nation, Journalism Discourse, and Television News in the Philippines by Estelle Marie M. Ladrido (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
Best Book on Humor, Sports, and Lifestyle
- Playing With The Big Boys: Basketball, American Imperialism, and Subaltern Discourse in the Philippines by Lou Antolihao (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
Best Book on Art
- The Life and Times of Purita Kalaw Ledesma edited by Purissima Benitez-Johannot (Vibal Foundation, Inc.)
— NBDB Philippines (@NBDB_PHIL) November 5, 2018
Best Book in Science
- Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to the 19th Century by Ma. Mercedes G. Planta (The University of the Philippines Press)
Best Book Design
- Dead Balagtas, TOMO 1: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa designed by Emiliana Kampilan (Adarna House, Inc.)
Publisher of the Year
- Ateneo de Manila University Press
If you want to see the works that didn’t make the cut, you can head on over to the NBDB’s website to see the shortlist. You can also check here to see the past winners.
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Writer: ZOFIYA ACOSTA
ART TRICIA GUEVARA
