Six books written, co-written, and/or edited by UP Diliman (UPD) faculty members were recognized at the 42nd National Book Awards (NBA) by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC).
Three of the books won in the Literary Division while the other three were awarded in the Non-Literary Division.
The book Bata, Hiwaga, Bansa: Pamana ni Rene O. Villanueva sa Panitikang Pambata edited by Eugene Y. Evasco, PhD and Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno, PhD and published by the UP Press won Best Anthology in Filipino. Evasco is a professor at the UPD Institute of Creative Writing, while Sayuno is an associate professor at UP Los Baños.
Best Book in Media Studies was awarded to Ang Mahaba’t Kagyat na Buhay ng Indie Sinema edited by Rolando B. Tolentino, PhD and Aristotle J. Atienza. Tolentino is a professor at the UPD College of Mass Communication, while Atienza is an assistant professor at the Ateneo de Manila University. This book was published by the UP Press in collaboration with the QCinema International Film Festival.
Lutong Bahay by Glecy Cruz Atienza, PhD of the UPD Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas received the Best Book on Drama and Film. It was published by the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino-UPD.
The award for Best Book on Humor, Sports, Lifestyle and Business went to Salumpuwit, Bangko, Silya, Atbp: Chairs in Filipino Life by Gerard Rey A. Lico, PhD, a professor at the UPD College of Architecture (CA). This book was published by the Arc Lico International Services and CA.
The Best Book in Science was Wild City: A Photographic Guide to Amphibians, Mammals, and Reptiles of Metro Manila by Jelaine L. Gan, Trinket Constantino, and Abby Favis. Gan is an instructor at the UPD Institute of Biology, while Constantino and Favis are faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University. This was also published by the UP Press.
Meanwhile, Dogs in Philippine History by Ian Christopher B. Alfonso received recognition for Best Book Design. Alfonso is an assistant professor at the UPD Department of History. This book was published by the Philippine Historical Association, Project Saysay Inc., and Alaya Publishing.
The UP Press was named one of the two Publishers of the Year, with seven of its published books winning at the 42nd NBA.
According to the NBDB and MCC, the NBA is “an annual prize that honors the most outstanding book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines.”
The awarding ceremony took place on Nov. 23 at the Centro de Turismo Intramuros, Manila.
