MANILA, Philippines — For writing a timely chronicle of the life and times of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, Inquirer sports columnist Recah Trinidad’s “Pacific Storm: Dispatches on Pacquiao of the Philippines” won as best book on sports in the 26th National Book Awards.
His entry was published by Anvil Publications and Inquirer Books and bested Valentin Oreta’s “Advanced Badminton Techniques” (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House).
Trinidad is currently in the United States and was not around at the awarding ceremonies at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Friday, but his Anvil publishing manager, Karina Bolasco, received the trophy on his behalf.
Despite the fact that the book was completed in just three weeks, Velasco said the finished product “came out quite well.”
“We were trying to put it out before the match against (Erik) Morales at the Araneta Center. Recah wrote it in a very sophisticated tone,” she said.
The 26th National Book Awards is an annual event of the Manila Critics Circle in cooperation with the National Book Development Board.
Meanwhile, “Daughters True: 100 Years of Scholastican Education” (St. Scholastica’s College) was adjudged the best book on education.
A chronicle of the school’s history and its prominent students, the book was co-edited by Inquirer columnist Ma. Ceres P. Doyo, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Paulynn Paredes Sicam, and Karina Bolasco. Its motif and design was conceptualized by Inquirer art director Lynett Villariba.
“If another book on the next 100 years of St. Scholastica’s College were to be written, it would be a bit different. The culture wouldn’t be as strict, the discipline would be different, they would be more independent,” Doyo said.
Sta. Romana-Cruz said it took them more than five years to finish the book, working with over 65 graduates of the all-girls’ school.
United States Ambassador Kristie Kenney was awarded a citation for her active support in publishing Filipino children’s books.
“Writing opens worlds to all of us — it is a source of comfort whenever we read books and poems in times of stress,” Kenney said as she thanked the Manila Critics Circle for the recognition.
The other winners are:
Best Book in Cultural Studies: Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Dulaang Pambata sa Pilipinas, by Arthur P. Casanova. UST Publishing House. Treading Through: 45 Years of Philippine Dance, by Basilio Esteban S. Villaruz. University of the Philippines Press and Philippine Folklife Museum Foundation.
Best Book in Theology/Religion: God Was Not in the Wind: An Evolutionary Understanding of Popular Religion in the Philippines, by Jimmy A. Belita, C.M. Adamson University Press.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Prize for Best Book on Business/Economics/Finance: Coconut: The Philippines’ Money Tree, by Renato M. Labadan. RM Labadan and Associates and University Research and Resource Development.
Best Book on Plays: Mga Premyadong Dula, by Lito Casaje. De La Salle University Press.
Best Cookbook/Best Book on Food: The Governor-General’s Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes, 1521-1935, by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria. Anvil. Potluck, Hidalgo Bonding: A Family Heritage Cookbook, edited by Jaime C. Laya and Adelaida Lim. Anvil.
Best Book of Essays: Science Solitaire: Essays on Science, Nature, and Becoming Human, by Maria Isabel Garcia. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Best Book in the Social Sciences: Adios, Patria Adorada: The Filipino as Ilustrado, the Ilustrado as Filipino, by Alfredo Roces. De La Salle University Press.
Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Art/Architecture: Ani: The Life and Art of Hermogena Borja Lungay, Boholano Painter, by Marjorie Evasco. UST Publishing House. Brushstrokes from the Heart: ArtPetron, The First Five Years, by Alice G. Guillermo. Petron Corporation.
Best Children’s Book: Bad Kings, by Gilda Cordero Fernando. Anvil.
Best Biography/Autobiography: Beyond the Great Wall: A Family Journal, by Mario I. Miclat. Anvil. Kapitan: Geny Lopez and the Making of ABS-CBN, by Raul Rodrigo. ABS-CBN Publishing. Myself, Elsewhere, by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil. Nakpil Publishing.
Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Book of Fiction in a Foreign Language: Banyaga: A Song of War, by Charlson Ong. Anvil. The Jupiter Effect, by Katrina Tuvera. Anvil.
Best Anthology: The Manila We Knew, edited by Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio. Anvil.
Best Book in the Sciences: A Guide to Families of Common Flowering Plants in the Philippines, by Irma Remo Castro. University of the Philippines Press. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (C.A.M.), by Victoriano Y. Lim. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House.
Best Edited Book: Great Scott!: The New Day William Henry Scott Reader, edited by Bezalie Bautista Uc-Kung. New Day.
Best Book on Film/Film Criticism: Postmodern Filming of Literature: Sources, Contexts and Adaptations, by Joyce L. Arriola. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House.
Best Book of Short Fiction: Maligayang Pagdating sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 1 / Malagim ang Gabi sa Sitio Catacutan: Mga Kuwentong Kasisindakan, Aklat 2, by Tony Perez. Anvil. Pagluwas, by Zosimo Quibilan Jr. University of the Philippines Press.
Best Book of Poems: Gagamba sa Uhay: Kalipunan ng mga Haiku, by Rogelio G. Mangahas. C&E Publishing. Apokripos, by Jerry B. Gracio. University of the Philippines Press.
Best Translation: The Colonial Odyssey of Leyte, 1521-1914, by Manuel Artigas y Cuerva, translated by Rolando O. Borrinaga and Cantius J. Kobak. New Day. Gagamba sa Uhay: Kalipunan ng mga Haiku, by Rogelio G. Mangahas, translated by Marne L. Kilates. C&E Publishing.
Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Book of a Fiction in a Vernacular Language: (H)istoryador(a), by Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr. University of the Philippines Press. Ang Sandali ng mga Mata, by Alvin B. Yapan. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Best Book Design: The Governor-General’s Kitchen: Philippine Culinary Vignettes and Period Recipes, 1521-1935, by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, designed by Guillermo Ramos. Anvil.
Publisher of the Year: Anvil Publishing.
Citations were also awarded to the University of the Philippines Press for its “Sawikaan: Mga Salita ng Taon” series and to Sy Yinchow for translating Philippine literature into Chinese.
The Ayala Foundation also received citations for its three books on children’s paintings: “Juan Luna: Patriot and Painter” by Carla C. Pacis, “The Boy Who Lost a Father and Found the Sun: The Life of Maestro Fernando Amorsolo” by Rene Villanueva, and “Fernando Zobel: The Man Who Painted Ideas” by Maria Elena Paterno.
