Launched in 1988, Gawad Balagtas is a lifetime achievement award given to Filipino writers
by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), the country’s largest organization of
Filipino writers.

2020

Dr. Crisanta Nelmida Flores (Literary Criticism in Filipino)
Dr. Priscelina Legasto (Literary Criticism in English)

2019

Dr. Luna Sicat-Cleto (Fiction in Filipino)

2017

Dr. Romulo Baquiran, Jr. (Poetry in Filipino)

2016

Prof. Joi Barrios-Leblanc, PhD (Poetry in Filipino)

2015

Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Jr., PhD (Poetry in
Filipino)

2014

Eulalio R. Guieb III, PhD (Kathang Filipino)

2013

Rolando B. Tolentino, PhD (Fiction and Essay in Filipino)
Mario I. Miclat, PhD (Fiction in English and Filipino)

2012

Rosario Cruz Lucero, PhD (Fiction in English)