Award-winning PH titles to enjoy, give away

Why not local titles for Christmas presents?

Tonight at 6 p.m., the best books published in 2016 will be awarded by the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) at the National Museum auditorium for the 36th year. Consider it the Academy Awards of the Philippine publishing industry.

This partnership is one that the NBDB is particularly proud of because it highlights the importance of quality books for everyone and promotes the book publishing industry.

The award-winning books were selected by MCC members Virgilio S. Almario, Dean Francis Alfar, Alma Anonas-Carpio, Ruel S. De Vera (MCC chair), Shirley Lua, and Jose Pablo Salud, assisted by Emma Porio, Gary Devilles, Michael Coroza, Gary Devilles, Jerry Gracio and 17 others known for their expertise in the different categories. Thanks to these readers and writers for reading all of the 2016 bounty of titles, certainly the most pleasant of chores.

How I love book lists, especially one like this.

Literary Division, English Category: short fiction, “Mariposa Gang and Other Stories” by Catherine Torres, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Publishing House; novel, “The Music Child and the Mahjong Queen” by Alfred A. Yuson, Anvil Publishing Inc. (Anvil); nonfiction prose, “Marcos Martial Law Never Again” by Raissa Robles, Filipinos for a Better Philippines; poetry, “Snail Fever: Poems of Two Decades” by Francis C. Macansantos, The University of the Philippines (UP) Press; anthology (bilingual), “Remembering/Rethinking Edsa” by JPaul S. Manzanilla and Caroline S. Hau, Anvil; literary criticism/literary history: “Migrations and Mediations: The Emergence of Southeast Asian Diaspora Writers in Australia 1972-2007” by Jose Wendell P. Capili, UP Press; essays, “To the People Sitting in Darkness … and Other Footnotes of Our Pasts” by Jose Victor Torres, UST Publishing House; graphic literature, “Meläg” by Bong Redila, Adarna House Inc.

Filipino Category: short fiction, “Sangkatauhan, Sangkahayupan: Mga Kuwento” by Alvin B. Yapan, Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo) Press; novel, “Toto O.” by Charmaine Lasar, PageJump Media; nonfiction prose, “Sulyap sa Aking Pinanggalingan” by Roque J. Ferriols, SJ, Ateneo Press; poetry, “Banayad: Mga Tula” by Rowena P. Festin, UP Press; anthology, “Batang Rizal at iba pang Dula” by Christine S. Bellen, Ateneo Press.

Waray Category for works published in 2014-16: anthology, “Susmaton: Oral Narratives of Leyte” by Merlie M. Alunan, Ateneo Press; poetry, “Taburos Han Dagat” by Victor N. Sugbo, UP Press.

Translation, “Shri-Bishaya” by Ramon Muzones and Maria Cecilia Locsin-Nava, New Day Publishers.

Nonliterary Division: food, “Philippine Food, Cooking, and Dining Dictionary” by Edgie Polistico, Anvil; history, “Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945” by Daniel F. Doeppers, Ateneo Press; science, “A Field Guide to Flight: Identifying Birds on Three School Grounds” by Amado C. Bajarias Jr., Ateneo Press; social sciences, “Out of the Shadows: Violent Conflict and the Real Economy of Mindanao” by Francisco J. Lara Jr. and Steven Schoofs, Ateneo Press; journalism, “Peryodismo sa Bingit: Mga Naratibong Ulat sa Panahon ng Digmaan at Krisis” by Kenneth Roland A. Guda, UP Press; leisure, “Pinoy Manners: A Modern Guide to Delicadeza for All Generations” by Joy Lumawig-Buensalido, Christine Jocelyn Buensalido; professions, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent: Mga Sikreto sa Likod ng Dubbing, Voice-over at Voice Acting” by Pocholo Gonzales, PSICOM Publishing Inc.; art: “Eiga: Cinema in the Philippines During World War II” by Nick Deocampo, Anvil; language studies, “Capampangan Roots” by Papa Osmubal (Oscar Balajadia), Holy Angel University Press; book design, “Colonial Manila, 1909-1912” by Karl Fredrick M. Castro, Ateneo Press.

The Publisher of the Year is Ateneo de Manila University Press, for having the highest number of winning nominations in all categories.

Neni Sta. Romana Cruz (nenisrcruz@ gmail.com) is chair of the National Book Development Board and a member of the Eggie Apostol Foundation.