Calling all writers: You may submit your entries to the 76th Palanca Awards until June 30
The Palanca Awards, also known as the country’s most prestigious literary competition, is now accepting entries for its 76th edition.
The Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc., announced in a press release that it is now accepting submissions of literary works for the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. The contest is open to Filipino citizens or former Filipino citizens of all ages, based locally or abroad.
You may submit only one entry per category:
- Novel and Nobela;
- English Division – Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play;
- Filipino Division – Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula Para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, and Dulang Pampelikula;
- Regional Languages Division – Short Story-Cebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano; and
- Kabataan Division – Kabataan Essay (English) and Kabataan Sanaysay (Filipino)
For the Kabataan Division, writers must write informal, personal essays on the following themes:
- English: “As the world becomes more connected yet increasingly shaped by differing ideologies, beliefs, and perspectives, young people face the challenge of understanding the divisions around them and helping shape a more hopeful future. How can today’s youth rise above differences and become bridges of understanding, promote peaceful coexistence, and help build societies rooted in empathy, mutual respect, and collective progress?”
- Filipino: “Habang ang daigdig ay lalong nagiging magkakaugnay, patuloy din itong hinuhubog ng magkakaibang ideolohiya, paniniwala, at pananaw. Nahaharap ang mga kabataan sa mga pagsubok na unawain ang mga pagkakawatak-watak o paghahati-hati sa lipunan, habang nagsisikap na makabuo ng isang bukas na puno ng pag-asa. Paano makaaahon ang mga kabataan sa ganitong kalagayan? Paano sila magsisilbing tulay ng pagkakaunawaan, magtataguyod ng mapayapang pakikipamuhay, at makatutulong sa pagbuo ng isang lipunang nakaugat sa malasakit sa kapwa, respeto sa isa’t isa, at sama-samang pag-unlad?”
The Palanca Awards welcome published and produced, as well as unpublished and unproduced works. Published or produced works should be released between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. For the Novel and Nobela categories, published entries should be released between June 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026. For Dulaan Pampelikula, only unproduced works may be submitted.
Ineligible works include those that have received a prize in another contest before midnight of June 30, 2026.
You may submit your entries until June 30 through the Palanca Awards website at www.palancaawards.com.ph. Note that the contest is not accepting printed and email submissions for any categories.
Contest winners will be honored in a special ceremony later this year.
The Palanca Awards was created in 1950, making it the longest-running literary competition in the country. It was named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr.
Traditionally, the awarding ceremony was held on Sept. 1, the birth anniversary of Palanca Sr., but it has been held on other days in recent years.
Since 1951, over 2,500 Filipino writers have won Palanca medals and certificates, with over two dozen of them being inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame.
