TWO ACCLAIMED Thomasian writers were given lifetime achievement awards in the 32nd Gawad Ustetika Thursday night (March 9).
Palanca-winning playwright Jesus Peralta and the late Spanish Dominican historian Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P. were given the Parangal Hagbong at the George Ty Hall of the Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Building last March 9.
Assoc. Prof. Eloisa de Castro, who teaches history at the Faculty of Arts and Letters, received the award on behalf of Villaroel.
“I think all Thomasians should be able to appreciate the decade-long work Fr. Fidel has written which is the history of UST. No Thomasian should call himself a Thomasian without being able to read this impressive and awe-inspiring book that he has written,” she said.
Fourth-year literature student Raymond Gold Padao was the recipient of this year’s coveted Rector’s Literary Award for his essay, “Trinkets, Tools, and Toys.” Padao’s entry was chosen by the Rector himself from among first-prize winners.
“[Thomasians should] never stop both reading and writing. Huwag natin isipin na maganda o pangit ang sinusulat natin basta ilagay natin ang gusto nating sabihin,” Padao said in an interview.
A total of 146 entries were submitted to the Varsitarian for this year’s University-wide literary derby, the longest running in the country. Listed below are the winners for each category:
- First place – “The Interrogation” by George Deoso
- Second place – “Si Magayon” by Leanne Claire Bellen
- Third place – “TXT” by Marianne Freya Nono
- Honorable mention – “When Monsters Love” by Lloyd Opalec
- Honorable mention – “Hail Goretti, Full of Grace” by Janelle Dino
- Honorable mention – “The Ugliest Drowned Man in the World” by Harvey Castillo
- First place – “Consolations in Between” by Jan Dennis Destajo
- Second place – “Gravity in Female” by Irish Foja
- Third place – “The Voyeurs of Doom: Poems” by George Deoso
- Honorable mention – “The Erratum Effect” by Marian Karen Cabalona
- Honorable mention – “Undocumented” by Ma. Doreen Evita Garcia
- Honorable mention – “The Ghosts of Lotteries Lost” by Harvey Castillo
- First place – “Trinkets, Tools, and Toys” by Raymond Padao
- Second place – “Cataract Clouds and Turning Tables” by Harvey Castillo
- Third place – “A Trail Runner” by Noreen Christie Miano
- Honorable mention – “A Wooden Consolation” by Leanne Claire Bellen
- Honorable mention – “Getting Used To” by Aaron Philip Dela Cruz
- First place – “Tatlong Mga Daliri, Kamay at Paa” by Christian Mendoza
- Second place – “Rebelyon” by George Deoso
- Third place – “Ang Hindi Matapos-tapos na Pagtatapos” by Patrick Ernest Celso
- Honorable mention – “Boda de Oro” by Samantha Manalansan
- First place – “Mga Mumunting Dagundong” by George Deoso
- Second place – “Sirang Orasan at Iba Pang Tula” by Raymond Padao
- Third place – “At Nakipanahan sa Gitna Natin: Mga Tula sa Panahong Gaya ng amin” by Joshua Russel Iringan
- Honorable mention – “Patay Mali Siya… Patay Malisya: Isang Pahayagan” by Julius Villavieja
- First place – “Bakit ang Cool Kapag Americans ang Nagsasabi ng ‘You’re Driving Me Nuts'” by Christian Mendoza
- Second place – “Biyaheng Fairview sa UV Express” by Jann Kyla Mendoza
- Third place – “Isang Lihim Para Kay H.” by Geroge Deoso
- Honorable mention – “Soria, Soria, Soria” by Marianne Joy T. Ligan
- Honorable mention – “Ang Tunay na Calling Ko” by Patrick Ernest Celso
- Honorable mention – “Ang Pinag-uusapan ng mga Filipino pag Nakikita ng Ibang Filipino Abroad” by Patrick John Danque
- First place – No winner
- Second place – “Bulong ng Hangin” by Lloyd Alcedric Opalec
- Third place – “Paper Cranes” by Jann Kyla Mendoza
- Honorable mention – “Forever Young” by Rani Mae Aberin
- Honorable mention – “Writer’s Block” by John Michael Peña
The judges for this year’s contest were Carlomar Daoana, Mariano Kilates and Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta (Poetry); Chuckberry Pascual, Sarge Lacuesta and Augusto Antonio Aguila (Fiction); Vim Nadera, Joselito de los Reyes and Rebecca Añonuevo (Tula); John Jack Wigley, Jose Wendell Capili and Shirley Lua (Essay); Edgar Samar, Eros Atalia and Jun Cruz Reyes (Katha); Gary Devilles, Oscar Campomanes and Beverly Siy (Sanaysay); and Jose Victor Torres, Jerry Gracio and Ralph Galan (One-Act Play/Dulang Isang Yugto).
