March 5, 2016, 9:38p.m. – ANOTHER batch of budding Thomasian writers gathered and received recognitions for their works in the longest-running literary derby in the country hosted by the Varsitarian.
Held Mar. 5 in the George Ty function rooms of the Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. building, the 31st Gawad Ustetika recognized works in various categories such as Poetry/Tula, Fiction/Katha, Essay/Sanaysay, One-Act Play/Dulang May Isang Yugto, and Short Story for Children/Maikling Kwentong Pambata.
A total of 118 entries were submitted to the Varsitarian. Listed below are the winners for every category.
One-Act Play/Dulang May Isang Yugto
Honorable Mention
“Binhi” by Rani Mae B. Aberin (Michelle Faucult)
Third Place
“Curfew” by John Michael V. Peña (Plainjane)
Second Place
“Layo” by Miko Jan A. Portes (Sadle)
First Place
“Deadline” by Reena Medina (Pusakal sa Eskinita)
Sanaysay
Third Place
“Patayin sa sindak si Juan dela Cruz” by George G. Deoso (J. Dela Cruz)
“Panty” by John Evan P. Orias (Yi Wan)
Second Place
“Ang Paggiba sa Palaruan ng Pool” by Ma. Beatrice C. Pancho (Tricia)
First Place
“Kuwentong Nota” by Patrick Ernest C. Celso (Kai B. Ghan)
Katha
Honorable Mention
“Working Scholar and Other Fees” by Patrick Ernest C. Celso (Kai B. Ghan)
Third Place
“Ang Pinakamahabang Pedestrian Lane sa España” by Nathan Micah A. Bagayas (Eloisa P. Noval)
Second Place
“ZXCVBNM” by Christian P. Mendoza (Mark Ang)
First Place
“Ang Lalaki sa Banyo” by Miguel A. Herrera
Tula
Third Place
“Pangngalan” by Nathan Micah A. Bagayas (Farrah V. San)
Second Place
“Ang Pamilya Sta. Maria” by Joshua John G. Dela Peña (Juan Catacutan)
First Place
“Ang Watak-Watak na Salinlahi ni Godot: Mga Tula” by George G. Deoso (Conchita D. Mabuhay)
Maikling Kuwentong Pambata
Honorable Mention
“Isa Dalawa Tatlo” by Miko Jan A. Portes (Desmond Sunflower)
Third Place
No winner
Second Place
No winner
First Place
No winner
Essay
Honorable Mention
“That Moment When I Envisaged A Priest” by John Alfred F. Rabena (Mirus Alumnus)
Third Place
“It’s not just a game!” by Kimberly Mae J. Crisologo (Abyss)
Second Place
“The Last Ten Years” by Nathan Micah A. Bagayos (Jamie Wellerstein)
First Place
“Origin Story” by Maria Tanya Patricia P. Cruz (Punny)
Fiction
Honorable Mention
“One Night in the Life of Ivan Dihagiba” by George G. Deoso (Margaret Dela Paz)
Third Place
“The Woman” by Johannah Mari B. Felicilda (AHP)
Second Place
“Aswang” by John Evan P. Orias (Yi Wan)
First Place
“The Lampiko” by Paulo Miguel J. Gabuat (Lucas Martinez)
Poetry
Honorable Mention
“Flowering Shade and Other Poems” by Nikko Miguel M. Garcia (Mikel Macay)
Honorable Mention
“Choreography #1, Why is it hard to forget you, Adam’s Sonnet, Trajectory, Around the World in Six Words, An Arbitrary Picture” by John Michael A. Espino (Aninag)
Third Place
“(Dis)closures” by Patricia Camille H. Que (Clementine Kruczynski)
Second Place
“Spare Weather” by Jan Reitchelle C. Atanacio (Pat Quijano)
First Place
“Poems in Praise of the Matriarch” by George G. Deoso (Jose D. Makalimot)
Rector’s Literary Award
“The Lampiko” by Paulo Miguel J. Gabuat (Lucas Martinez)
Literature student George Deoso walked away with multiple accolades during the awards night, landing first prizes in the Poetry and Tula category, respectively, and third place in the Sanaysay Category.
The coveted Rector’s literary award was given to Paulo Miguel Gabuat for his story, “The Lampiko”.
Novelist Paulino Lim, Jr. received the Parangal Hagbong, the lifetime achievement award given to Thomasian writers who have contributed to the growth of the Philippine literary scene.
Judges for this year’s Gawad Ustetika include notable literary figures such as Palanca-winning poet and former Varsitarian associate editor Carlomar Daona, poet and Ustetika founder Vim Nadera, fictionist Jun Cruz Reyes, Esquire editor-at-large Sarge Lacuesta, known historian Victor Torres, and UST Publishing House director John Jack Wigley. Cedric Allen P. Sta. Cruz
