Two new Palanca Awards’ categories to bring Philippine literature closer to children

Filipino children are exposed to western culture early in their lives, owing to the kinds of poems or nursery rhymes they learn from their parents and teachers. But the average Filipino kid who has not traveled nor lived in the US and other western countries finds it hard to relate to the Baa Baa Black Sheep, the London Bridge is Falling Down, and Mary had a Little Lamb. These foreign poems do not help either in increasing the young ones’ appreciation of their own native culture.

In recognition of this reality, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) has added two new categories, Poetry Written for Children in the English Division and Tulang Isinulat Para sa mga Bata in the Filipino division, to encourage both aspiring and veteran Filipino writers to focus their attention to crafting masterpieces that will mold the children’s sense of nationalism, and someday be as classic as the English nursery rhymes that generations of children the world over have come to love.

By adding Filipino and English children poems in the competition, Palanca Awards is further deepening its literature treasure trove with these new categories envisioned to encourage the development of a body of poetry for young children. An entry must consist of a collection of at least 10 but not more than 15 poems. It may deal with any subject and must be comprehensible within the grade-school reading level of children ages 6-12, and can be appreciated in its oral form by younger children.

Starting its first contest in 1951 with only two categories, Short Story in English and Filipino, the Palanca Awards has now grown into a wide-ranging competition which now include short story, short story for children, essay, poetry, one-act play, and full-length play, in both English and Filipino; screenplay in Filipino; and short story in Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Iluko regional languages.

The literary contest is open to all Filipino (or former Filipino) citizens, except current officers and employees of its organizing body, the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc.  Contest rules and official entry forms are available at Palanca Awards’ official website, www.palancaawards.com.ph.

Entries with complete requirements may be submitted to the Foundation’s office at the 6th Floor, One World Square Bldg., 10 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City or may also be entered online through the Palanca Awards website or sent through email at palancaawards@yahoo.com.

Deadline of submission of entries for this year’s awards is midnight of April 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2009.

For further information, you may call telephone number 856-0808. 

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