Books of the year

I have been a voting member of the Manila Critics Circle’s National Book Awards (NBA) for 26 years, longer than then, lifespan of many relationships. In 1990, fresh from graduate school at the University of Stirling in Scotland, I received an invitation from Dr. Isagani Cruz of De La Salle University to join the group. I had been writing book reviews in the national papers since 1986, and he said they needed “young blood” in the group.

My first book, Skin Voices Faces: Poems in English and Filipino, had just been published by Anvil as part of its Contemporary Philippine Poetry series. One of the surprises of my life was later seeing my book indexed and included in the collection at the US Library of Congress. Because I joined the NBA, my book was no longer included in the deliberation for that year’s best books.

Being a judge meant reading tons of books, attending at least two sets of deliberations (for the shortlisted books and the winners), and getting a trophy for your efforts. Later, the National Book Development Board stepped in and served as secretariat for the now-renamed NBCB-MCC National Book Awards. It also gave modest honorariums to the judges and took care of the nitty-gritty, from inviting resource persons to sourcing a sculptor for the trophies. And the location of our awarding ceremonies has been moved to the beautiful National Museum, which you could now visit for free!

My most memorable deliberations, though, included the witty and sometimes sharp repartee among the judges. One time, Judge A did not like the autobiography of a finalist, saying she writes well but was a mere social dilettante. He favored the book of another finalist. Judge B quickly jumped to the defense of the first finalist, saying the second finalist surely lived a life in service to the poor, but his autobiography was “so wooden.”

Hither and yon the words flew, until our then-youngest member Rui de Vera looked at me and asked, “What does Danton think?” Rui would always do this when the situation was tense. And so I said that, yes, finalist A’s book was indeed the better one, in terms of aesthetics, and yes, finalist B served the country wisely and well, but his prose could cure you of insomnia. So perhaps we should give the award to finalist A?

Another time, Judge A wanted to give the Criticism award to finalist A, but Judge B quickly said, “Oh, he is a better writer than critic. And maybe you are giving him the award because you are close to him?” I quickly offered glasses of water to both judges, not to douse each other with the liquid but to take sips to calm them down.

In the Age of Social Media and Netflix, do people still read? Yes, as shown by the soaring sales of local books, although now dominated by celebrity-driven titles. And yes, as shown by my long backlog of books to proofread or to write: a translation of a foreign novel, my book of writings on the Bicol Region, a selection of my stories, essays and poems.

Here, then, are the winners of the 2016 NBDB-MCC National Book Awards. Buy them and give them away as enduring Christmas gifts.

Best Novel in English: “Locust Girl: A Lovesong,” by Merlinda Bobis (Anvil Publishing Inc.)

Best Novel in Filipino: “Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang (Adarna House Inc.)

Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for Best Book of Short Fiction in English: “Recuerdos de Patay and Other Stories” by Caroline S. Hau (UP Press)

Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino: “Sa Mil Flores, May Isang Hostes at Iba Pang Mga Kuwento ni Rosario de Guzman-Lingat,” edited by Soledad S. Reyes (Ateneo de Manila University Press)

Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in English: “Arsenio H. Lacson of Manila,” by Amador F. Brioso Jr. (Anvil)

Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino: “Ang Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga,” by Jack Alvarez (Visprint)

Best Book of Essays in English: “RE: Recollections, Reviews, Reflections,” by Luis H. Francia (UP Press)

Best Book of Essays in Filipino: “Titser Pangkalawakan at Iba Pang Angas sa Social Network Underworld,” by Joselito D. Delos Reyes (Visprint)

Best Anthology in English: “Habagatanon: Conversations with Six Davao Writers,” by Ricardo M. de Ungria (UP Press)

Best Anthology in a Philippine Language: “35 Kuwentong Klasiko,” (Adarna)

Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize for Best Book of Poetry in English: “Maybe Something,” by Isabela Banzon (UP Press)

Best Book of Poetry in Filipino: “Mula Tarima Hanggang at Iba Pang Mga Tula at Awit,” by Ericson Acosta (UP Press)

Best Book of Literary Criticism/Literary History in English: “Past Mountain Dreaming: New Essays” by Gemino H. Abad (UP Press)

Best Book of Graphic Literature in English: “Kare-Kare Komiks,” by Andrew Drilon (Adarna)

Best Book of Graphic  Literature in Filipino: “News Hardcore! Hukbong Sandatahan ng Kahaggardna!” by Manix Abrera (Visprint)

Best Book of Wordless Graphic Literature: “Light,” by Rob Cham (Adarna)

Best Translated Book: “Sa Atong Dila: Introduction to Visayan Literature,” by Merlie M. Alunan (UP Press)

Best Book of Food: “Panaderia: Philippine Bread, Biscuit and Bakery Traditions,” by Amy A. Uy and Jenny B. Orillos (Anvil)

Victorio C. Valledor Prize for Best Book in the Professions: “Laws for Life,” by Gianna Reyes Montinola and Maria Victoria Rotor-Hilado (Anvil)

Elfren S. Cruz Prize for Best Book in the Social Sciences: “Tradition and Transformations: Studies on Cordillera Indigenous Culture,” by June Perill-Brett  (Cordillera Studies Center)

Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book in Art: Inabel: Philippine Textile from the Ilocos Region,” by Al M. Valenciano, Regalado Trota Jose, Norma A. Respicio, Michael F. Manalo, Hannah P. Cunanan and Rene E. Guatlo (ArtPostAsia Inc.)

John C. Kaw Prize for Best Book in History: “Luzon at War: Contradictions in Philippine Society, 1898-1902,” by Milagros Camayon Guerrero (Anvil)

Best Book of Journalism: Macli-ing Dulag: Kalinga Chief, Defender of the Cordillera,” by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo (UP Press)

Best Book in Science: “The Cosmic Wild: Biology of Science Fiction,” by Ronald Cruz (Admu Press)

Best Book in Language Studies (Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino Prize):“Ambagan 2013: Mga Salita Mula sa Iba’t Ibang Wika sa Filipinas,” edited by Michael M. Coroza (UP Press)

Best Design: “Roberto Chabet,” book design by B+C Design, Manila (King Kong Art Projects Unlimited Inc.)

Publisher of the Year: The University of the Philippines Press