The Philippine National Book Awards, or simply the National Book Awards, is a Philippine literary award sponsored by and the Manila Critics' Circle (MCC) and the

National Book Development Board The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is an attached agency of the Department of Education that develops and promotes the Philippine book publishing industry. The agency was established in 1994 with the enactment of Republic Act No. 8047, ...

(NBDB). Every year since 1982, the Manila Critics Circle has been giving the National Book Awards to the best books written, designed, and published in the Philippines. Early in 2008, the Manila Critics Circle entered into an agreement with the National Book Development Board (Philippines) to institutionalize and co-administer the National Book Awards to better honor Philippine publishers, authors, and book designers. The NBDB’s participation in the conduct of the National Book Awards is in line with its mandate to support local authorship and promote the development of quality books, in accordance with RA 8047 or the Book Publishing Industry Development Act. Both the NBDB and the MCC envision to give a yearly tribute and will continue to recognize the creative works of talented authors and publishers to produce quality books for many years to come.

The Story Behind the National Book Awards

The Manila Critics Circle was founded in 1981 when Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta, Alfredo Navarro Salanga, Alfred A. Yuson, and Isagani R. Cruz realized that Philippine books were not getting the attention they deserved. What to Cruz “seemed like a quixotic venture at that time” was featured in the Asiaweek Literary Review. That magazine article carried this lede: “Considering the Philippines’ relatively high literacy rate, it is ironic that reading is not a favourite pastime among Filipinos. A quartet of dedicated Manila littérateurs believes it’s high time something was done to dispel this literary lassitude.” Over the last four decades, this intrepid group of critics grew to include Leonides V. Benesa, Arlene Babst-Vokey, National Artist for Literature

Virgilio S. Almario Virgilio Senadren Almario (born March 9, 1944), better known by his pen name Rio Alma, is a Filipino author, poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher, and cultural manager. He is a National Artist of the Philippines. He formerly served as the c ...

, Alice Guillermo, Doreen G. Fernandez, National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares, Roger Bresnahan, Miguel A. Bernad, SJ, Juaniyo Arcellana, National Artist for Literature Cirilo F. Bautista, Soledad S. Reyes, Joel Pablo Salud,

Danton Remoto Danton Relato Remoto (born March 25, 1963) is a Filipino writer, essayist, reporter, editor, columnist, and professor. Remoto received the first prize at the ASEAN Letter-Writing Contest for Young People. The award earned Remoto a scholarshi ...

, and Ruel de Vera. The present set of MCC members are Shirley O. Lua, Dean Francis Alfar, Alma Anonas-Carpio, Michael Coroza, and Tony La Viña. Jenny Ortuoste, who passed on last July 21, 2024, continued to participate in the 42nd cycle of nominee selection for the National Book Awards until her health no longer allowed her to join the meetings and deliberations. The National Book Awards has had several sponsors who helped defray the huge expenses holding such awards has entailed: several corporations, agencies, and schools such as Artlab, the Ateneo de Manila University, Ayala Museum, Benguet Corp., Betty’s Sans-Rival & Catering Service, Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., the Cultural Center of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Equitable Philippine Commercial International Bank, Far Eastern University, Filipinas Foundation, Filipino Bookstore, Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Ganesh Art Center, Heritage Art Gallery, Jollibee Foods Corporation, La Tondeña, Land Bank of the Philippines, Magnolia Corporation, Manila Electric Company, Mobil Philippines, Nestlé Philippines, Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Philippine Studies Association, Primetrade Asia, San Miguel Corporation, SGV & Company, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center, now known as the UP Likhaan center. Government agencies have also provided support by letting us utilize their facilities. The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the administrator of the Manila Metropolitan Theater, and the Hyundai Hall in Areté, Ateneo de Manila University have served as venues for the awarding ceremonies of the National Book Awards. Today, the NBDB covers the costs of mounting the National Book Awards. The NBDB also adds to the MCC’s expertise by inviting other critics, organizations, and schools to participate in the process of judging which books are the best of the year. The winners receive cash awards from various donors, as well as the NBDB, and these awards are given in those donors’ names. For the 42nd cycle of the National Book Awards, we have the Gerardo P. Cabochan Prize (short fiction in Filipino), the

National Artist National Artist is an honorary title issued by some states as the highest recognition of artists for their significant contributions to the cultural heritage of the nation. An equivalent title, People's Artist, has been known in countries of the ...

Cirilo F. Bautista Prize (short fiction in English), the Pablo A. Tan Prize (nonfiction prose in English), the Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize (poetry in English) the Victorio C. Valledor Prize (poetry in Filipino), the Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize (art), the Elfren S. Cruz Prize (social sciences), the John C. Kaw Prize (history), and the Hilarion and Esther Vibal Prize (journalism). The 42nd National Book Awards honored the best books written, designed, and published in the Philippines, and this cycle of the awards highlighted titles published in 2023. A total of 326 titles submitted across 31 categories consisting of four languages: English, Filipino, Bikol, and Ilokano. Following the awarding of winners during the 41st cycle last February 2024, the 42nd cycle of the awards is in November 2024 in the historic Intramuros in Manila. When the National Book Awards set out on its maiden voyage in 1981, there were very few quality books being published in the Philippines. Four decades later, hundreds of Philippine books are marvelously written, beautifully designed, professionally published, and widely read. These are the treasures yielded by our patrimony of letters.

Award Categories

National Book Awards stats 36th to 42nd cycle

Literary Division *Novel in English *Novel in Filipino *Short Fiction in English *Short Fiction in Filipino *Nonfiction Prose in English *Nonfiction Prose in Filipino *Anthology in English *Anthology in Filipino *Literary Criticism/Cultural Studies *Media Studies *Poetry in English *Poetry in Filipino *Graphic Novel and Comics in English *Graphic Novel and Comics in Filipino *Translated Book in English *Translated Book in Filipino *Drama and Film Non-Literary Division *Art *Social Sciences *Philosophy *History *Humor, Sports, Lifestyle, and Business *Food *Science *Spirituality and Theology *Professions *Journalism Design Special Prizes *The Gerardo P. Cabochan Prize (short fiction in Filipino) *The

Cirilo F. Bautista Prize (short fiction in English) *The Pablo A. Tan Prize (nonfiction prose in English) *The Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize (poetry in English) *The Victorio C. Valledor Prize (poetry in Filipino) *The Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize (art) *The Elfren S. Cruz Prize (social sciences) *The John C. Kaw Prize (history) *The Hilarion and Esther Vibal Prize (journalism)

The National Book Awards Trophy

In the early years, several sculptors donated trophies and, later, when the NBDB took over the management of the awards, those trophies and their design were finally funded. The National Book Awards now has a standardized trophy, much like the Academy Awards has its recognizable Oscar trophy. Our sculptors were

Eduardo Castrillo Eduardo de los Santos Castrillo (October 31, 1942 – May 18, 2016) was a renowned Filipino sculptor. Early life Eduardo Castrillo, commonly known as 'Ed', was born in Santa Ana, City of Greater Manila (now part of Manila), Philippines, on Oc ...

Agnes Arellano Agnes Arellano (born 21 November 1949) is a sculptor from the Philippines known for her surrealistic and expressionist sculptural groupings. Her works tend to be provocative, often featuring nude female bodies in imposing positions or mutilated ...

Manuel Baldemor Manuel Baldemor is a Filipino painter, sculptor, printmaker, writer and book illustrator. He was born on March 26, 1947, in Paete, Laguna, Philippines. He is best known for his paintings on various media that depict scenes in simplified geometr ...

, Cesare and Jean Marie Syjuco, Edgar Doctor, Gino Gonzalez, National Artist for Sculpture

Napoleon Abueva Napoleon "Billy" Veloso Abueva (January 26, 1930 – February 16, 2018) was known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" Through Proclamation No. 1539. He was proclaimed National Artist for Sculpture in 1976 when he was 46, making him ...

, Tito Sanchez, Glenn Cagandahan, Michael Allen R. Cacnio, Salvador Joel Alonday, Pete Jimenez, Lawin Abueva, and Raul Funilas. The current National Book Awards Perpetual Trophy was designed by artist Apolinario L. Aquino Jr. and was first used in the 37th National Book Awards in 2018. It symbolizes the Filipino's love of reading books. The half-person-half-pen figure represents all the writers, editors, translators, book designers, creatives, publishers, and book lovers across the country. The book, as its pedestal, signifies the importance of reading—a valuable foundation of education. The black and gold colors embody the significance of books’ entertainment value, flair to ignite creativity, and even power to spark a conversation. The design also integrates the logos of the two collaborating partners, the Manila Critics Circle and the National Book Development Board. The trophy is a testament of our pride of the Philippine publication industry.

Awarding Ceremonies

The 42nd Philippine National Book Awards

The 42nd Philippine National Book Awards took place on November 23, 2024 at the Centro de Turismo Intramuros. The Manila Critics Circle and the National Book Development Board co-hosted the event.

Awards Catalogs (36th cycle, 2017 to 42nd cycle, 2024)

In 2017, the National Book Awards catalog was redesigned under the art direction o
Anthony John Balisi
adopting a striking black and gold theme. Each year, the catalog showcases a distinct design school of thought, featuring styles such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Brutalism. It has also highlighted traditional design patterns, including the intricate motifs of the Maguindanaon Inaul.
36th National Book Awards37th National Book Awards38th National Book Awards39th National Book Awards40th National Book Awards41st National Book Awards42nd National Book Awards
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Award Administrators

The Manila Critics Circle (MCC) 41st National Book Awards catalog

Founded in 1981, the Manila Critics Circle, Inc. is a non-profit, non-stock organization of professional literary critics and newspaper columnist who believe that Philippine books deserve much more attention than they usually get from business, media and the general public. Aside from giving the Annual Book Awards, the Circle has held an ASEAN-wide literary contest (in cooperation with Filipinas Foundation), participated in the nomination process for National Artist awards, joined National Book exhibits, prepared various position papers on literary publishing, and sat in the National Book Development Board. Members have done reviews for national and international periodicals, such as ASEAN Theater Journal, Asiaweek, Diyaryo Filipino, Filipinas, Filipino Magazin (Filmag), Independent, Journal of Asian Studies, Kinaadman, Manila Chronicle, Manila Times, National Book Review, Philippine Daily Globe, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Graphic, Philippine Journal of Education, Philippine Panorama, Philippine Star, Philippine Studies, Sun-Star Weekend, Unitas, and World Literature Today, and for television shows such as Mabuhay: This is Your Wake-Up Call. ''Rebranding -'' MCC chair Dean Francis Alfar made an announcement on November 2024 with regards to how to better nurture the Philippine literary ecosystem: “As of next year, we are officially rebranding the MCC to Filipino Critics Circle.” 40th National Book Awards catalog

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) The National Book Development Board is the book agency of the Philippines mandated to create a robust environment for publishing that stands on a strong culture of reading. It provides technical and developmental assistance to creatives, publishers, booksellers, enterprises, and individuals involved in the production of books and the business of publishing. It has a multisector representation which harnesses the creativity of content creators, publishers, book distributors, and readers toward a vibrant book publishing ecosystem.

References

{{Reflist

External links

National Book Awards (Philippines)
official website
Books Philippines Catalogs

List of award winning books
Philippine literature Philippine literary awards Fiction awards Non-fiction literary awards Poetry awards Awards established in 1981