Awards rites on Sept 29

Four essays, nine short stories, three one-act plays, and eight collections of poetry are in contention for top honors in this year’s 2012 Premio Tomas Arejola sa Literaturang Bikolnon (PTALB).

Also in contention are three short stories for children and two one-act plays, this was announced by Carlos Arejola, chair of the nation-wide competition widely regarded as the premiere prize for writing in the Bikol language.

The PTALB, along with the Juliana Arejola-Fajardo Workshop sa Pagsurat Bikol and the 2012 Bukambibig Literary Performance Series, was funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through the Bikol Literature Development Grant this year.

The shortlisted works– written in Bikol Naga, Sorsoganon, Rinconada, Albayano and the other variations of the Bikol language – were chosen from a field of 67 entries submitted from all over the Philippines and overseas.

Cited in the essay category are: “Alagad Mayong Tito an Nabubuhay sa San Vicente” by John Roemart dL. Atienza of Milaor, Camarines Sur, “Binareta kan Anghel: Minahubag an Ngabil” by Niles Jordan Breis of Tabaco City and Makati, “Mayo Akong Panahon na Maggurang” by Eden Elizan- Velarde of Naga City, and “Pusuanon” by Menandro Abanes of Milaor, Camarines Sur and Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Shortlisted for the fiction category are: “Ginubat” by Eduardo E. Uy of Gubat, Sorsogon, “Cinarding” by Jay Salvador III P. Salvosa of Naga City, “An Pigkukurahaw kan Saparupor na Kurakpaw” by Niles Jordan Breis of Tabaco City and Makati, “Hanapon Mo Ako sa Musika” by Eden Elizan-Velarde of Naga City, “Balangaw” by Jeffrey P. Regullano of Pili, Camarines Sur, “An Huring Birhen kan Sebastian” by Irmina V. Torres of Naga City, “Hamis kan Nakalihis” by Richard D. Madrilejos of Tabaco City, “Sulwang nin Paglaom sa Kaogmahan” by Gil Gregorio of San Jose, Camarines Sur, and “Agua de Mayo” by James P. Lopez of Daet, Camarines Norte. Cited in the one-act play are: “Nata Maaskad an Dagat” by Richard D. Madrilejos of Tabaco City, “Mimang” by Eden Elizan-Velarde of Naga City, and “Ini an Sakong Hawak” by Eilyn L. Nidea of Ragay, Camarines Sur.

The finalists for the stories for children are the works “Kan Magkulog an Buot ni Balete” by Eden Elizan-Velarde of Naga City, “An Kino asin an mga Hayop sa Kadlagan” by Jeffrey P. Regullano of Pili, Camarines Sur, and “An Tugon” by Irmina V. Torres of Naga City.

Two entries are being cited for the one-act play for children category, namely: “An Hikot ni ‘Pay Ben” by Richard D. Madrilejos of Tabaco City and “Iniiiit” by Eden Elizan-Velarde of Naga City. Shortlisted in the poetry category– each composed of a suite of ten to twelve poems– are the rawitdawit collections “Pahingawan” by April Joy V. Eufracio of Naga City, “An Parasurat asin iba pan rawitdawit” by Rea P. Robles of Naga City, “Sa Pag-ultanan nin Kamatangaan asin Maagahon” by Honesto Pesimo, Jr. of Naga City, “Nasa Bitis kun Minsan an Kaogmahan” by Niles Jordan Breis of Tabaco City and Makati, “Pagpangaran” by Eduardo E. Uy of Gubat, Sorsogon, “Pinangapon asin iba pan Rawitdawit” by Nestor Awa of Iriga City, “Mga Rawitdawit Atang sa Itom” by Jeffrey P. Regullano of Pili, Camarines Sur, “Pamibi kun Pundido an Pulang Patinti” by Richard D. Madrilejos of Tabaco City. Still the most hotly-contested, the rawitdawit category received a total of 26 collections this year.

Authors of the shortlisted entries will be awarded the Premio Arejola diploma of merit in the Pagrokyaw sa Pinakamaray-rahay na Panurat kan Taon (Celebrating the Best Literary Works of the Year) slated on September 29, 3PM at the St. Vincent de Paul Auditorium of the historic Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in Naga City.

The winning works will announced in the said awards rites and shall be awarded the Premio Arejola gold medallion and a cash prize of P7, 000. The over-all winner, chosen from among the category winners, will be awarded an additional cash prize of P12,000, the Sumaro Bikolnon trophy and shall then be called Parasurat kan Taon (Writer of the Year).

Sharing the stellar billing in the much-awaited literary gathering are the winners of Premio Bibiano Sabino sa Librong Bikol, the region’s only book prize, and the Masirang na Bituon kan Literaturang Bikolnon, the PTALB Lifetime Achievement Award.