The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, popularly known as the Palanca Awards, are a set of literary awards for Philippine writers. Usually referred to as the "Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines," it is the country's highest literary honor in terms of prestige. It was named after Carlos Palanca Sr., the Chinese Filipino businessman and philanthropist.
The 53rd Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held on September 1, 2003, at The Peninsula Manila in Makati to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario was Guest of Honor and Speaker at this year’s awarding ceremony.
Lualhati Torres Bautista was a Filipina writer, novelist, liberal activist and political critic. Her most popular novels include Dekada '70; Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?; and ‘GAPÔ.
Ian Rosales Casocot is a Filipino journalist and writer of speculative fiction, literary fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction from Dumaguete, Philippines. He is known for his prizewinning short stories "Old Movies," "The Hero of the Snore Tango," "Rosario and the Stories," "A Strange Map of Time," "The Sugilanon of Epefania's Heartbreak," and "Things You Don't Know." He maintained A Critical Survey of Philippine Literature, a website on Filipino writings and literary criticism.
Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. is a Filipino writer. He has won numerous awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction and screenwriting, including 16 Palanca Awards.
Gilda Cordero-Fernando was a Filipino writer, publisher, visual artist, fashion designer, theater producer, and social activist known for writing and publishing numerous works exploring Filipino culture, for her influence as a mentor and supporter of many of the Philippines cultural workers, and for her prominent "colorful presence in the Philippine literary scene."
Isagani R. Cruz is a Filipino writer and literary critic.
Edgar Sinco Romero,, commonly known as Eddie Romero, was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter.
Ricardo Arreola Lee is a Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright. He was conferred the Order of National Artists of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.
The 57th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held on September 1, 2007, at The Peninsula Manila in Makati to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. Senator Mar Roxas was Guest of Honor and Speaker at this year's awarding ceremony. This year saw the discontinuation of the Dulang Pantelebisyon category in the Filipino Division, after seventeen years. Also discontinued is the Future Fiction category, English and Filipino, after seven years.
Lamberto E. Antonio is a Filipino writer.
Adrian E. Cristobal was a Filipino writer who frequently touched on political and historical themes. Perhaps best known to the public for his "Breakfast Table" newspaper column, he was also a Palanca Award-winning playwright, fictionist and essayist. He likewise held several positions in government during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Rodolfo R. Lana Jr., known professionally as Jun Robles Lana, is a Filipino filmmaker. The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2015, he directed the actual one-shot film, Shadow Behind The Moon, which won the Best Director, NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards at the 13th Pacific Meridian Film Festival. At the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala, he won the Best Director award for the same film.
Aloy Adlawan, a chemical engineer by profession, is a multi-awarded Filipino filmmaker- writer, producer, director, composer. He attended filmmaking courses at the Mowelfund Film Institute in the Philippines and the New York Film Academy in New York City.
Peter Solis Nery is a Filipino poet, fictionist, author, and filmmaker. Writing in Hiligaynon, he is a Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Fame Awardee, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Literary Grant, and the All-Western Visayas Literary Contest winner. In 2015, he became the first Filipino author to be invited to the Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates. Writing in English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon, he has authored at least 35 books, and has written screenplays. He wrote and edited newspapers in Iloilo City before becoming a nurse in the United States.
Vincent Abenojar De Jesus is a Filipino composer, librettist, musical scorer, and musical director for theater, television, and film. He is also a writer, lyricist, actor, singer, and educator. He attended the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Music, and majored in piano and voice. He was a member of the Philippine Educational Theater Association from 1983 to 2020.
Danton Relato Remoto is a Filipino writer, essayist, reporter, editor, columnist, and professor. Remoto received the first prize at the ASEAN Letter-Writing Contest for Young People. The award earned Remoto a scholarship at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. As a professor, Remoto taught English and Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University. Remoto is the chairman emeritus of Ang Ladlad, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) political party in the Philippines.
Ilawod is a 2017 Filipino independent supernatural horror film, directed by Dan Villegas in his first venture into the horror genre as a director with a script from Palanca winner Yvette Tan. It stars Iza Calzado, Ian Veneracion, Xyriel Manabat, Harvey Bautista, and Therese Malvar. The film depicts the story of a family's breakdown in the midst of a demonic attack.
Edgardo B. Maranan was a Filipino poet, essayist, fiction writer, playwright, translator and writer of children's stories. He wrote in Filipino and in English.
Therese Martin Alcala Malvar is a Filipino actress.
