THE FORMER captain of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe won the coveted Rector’s Literary Award (RLA) during the 34th Gawad Ustetika, the country’s biggest and longest-running literary derby organized by the Varsitarian.
Benjamin Joshua Gutierrez, a Journalism graduate taking up his master’s degree in creative writing at the University, bagged the first prize for katha to qualify him for the RLA, given to any first-prize Ustetika winner that reflects “the University’s Catholic vision of grace and redemption.”
His “Ang Tatlong Ulo ng Sitio Pag-asa,” chosen by Fr. Rector Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., is about the story of three people residing in a dumpsite.
“Parte ito ng adbokasiya k[o]: ang kumatok sa itaas sa kung ano ba talagang kalagayan ng masa sa bansa,” Guttierez told the Varsitarian.
“Para rin ito sa maliit na barangay kung saan ako galing—sa Hagonoy sa Taguig. Para ito sa mga tao roon. At siyempre sa Kanya, sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, at sa sining,” he added.
Gutierrez is also among the fellows of the UST National Writers’ Workshop to be held on April 7 to 14 in Baguio.
The Ustetika Gabi ng Parangal was held last March 30 at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. building.
Complete list of winners:
Poetry: Carlito Topacio, “Essential Oils for the Filipino,” first place; Celine Marie Garcia, “Some Omens,” second place and Ryan Ram Malli, “If I Have To Be Honest,” third place
Fiction: Christine Andas, “Room 73,” first place and Joseph John Verallo, “Scheherazade,” second place
Essay: Nashrene Franczelle Gacutan, “School Rides and Destinations,” first honorable mention
Tula: Joshua Russell Iringan, “Mula sa Tuwa Namin,” first place; John Joseph Isaiah Orpilla, “Deremen: Mga Tula ng Gunita at Konsiyensya,” second place; Ma. Shena Paz Monfero, “Larangan ng Lansangan,” third place; Joshua John de la Peña, “Pista sa Nayon,” first honorable mention and Philip Jamilla, “Parang Ulan! Mga Tula tungkol sa Pamamaslang,” second honorable mention
Katha: Kisha Aleena Abuda, “Tayong Dalawa,” second place and Joshua John de la Peña, “Pista ng Obando,” third place
Sanaysay: Ma. Shena Paz Monfero “Palitada,” first place; Joshua John de la Peña, “Ang Prusisyon ng mga Maton,” second place; James Michael Benitez “Alab,” third place
One-Act Play/Dulang May Isang Yugto: Patrick Ernest Celso, “Reyon at Sherwella,” first place; Joshua John de la Peña “Sa Hapag nabubuo ang Pamilya,” second place; Jhudiel Clare Sosa, “How to be a Tutubi,” third place and Jan Ivan Gordola “Isang Araw, Isang Buwan,” first honorable mention
The judges for this year’s Gawad Ustetika were Allan Pastrana, Mookie Katigbak Lacuesta and Marne Kilates for poetry; Michael Coroza, Vim Nadera and Rebecca Añonuevo for tula; Nestor Cuartero, Jose Wendell Capili and Shirley Lua for essay; Oscar Campomanes, Gary Devilles and Beverly Siy for sanaysay; Augusto Antonio Aguila, Sarge Lacuesta and Paolo Enrico Melendez for fiction; Eros Atalia, Chuckberry Pascual and Joselito de los Reyes for katha; and Jerry Gracio, Jose Victor Torres and Ralph Galan for one-act play/dulang may isang yugto.
The awarding ceremony also saw the awarding of the Parangal Hagbong, a lifetime achievement award given to outstanding Thomasian writers and artists. The Parangal Hagbong was given to researcher Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava, poet Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., and posthumously, to the late actor Bernardo Bernardo. J. J. C. Buenafe
