The Winners of the 37th Philippine National Book Awards Have Been Announced

The 37th Philippine National Book Award winners have just been announced by the National Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle, honoring the best books published in 2017. 

While the awards are highly anticipated in the publishing industry, for us readers, the annual list reminds us of the quality and variety of locally published books: the categories include such niches as Best Book on Professions, Best Graphic Literature, and Best Book of Literary Criticism or Literary History.

This year's list:

Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino: Ang Nawawala, Chuckberry Pascual

Best Book of Short Fiction in English: Coral Cove and Other Stories, Angelo Lacuesta

Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino: Pag-ahon: Mga Kwentong Buhay ng mga Nanay, Luna Sicat Cleto

Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in English: Of Tyrants and Martyrs: A Political Memoir, Manuel C. Lahoz

Best Book of Essays in English: The Thing With Feathers, Christina P. Hidalgo

Best Anthology in Filipino: May Tiktik sa Bubong, May Sigbin sa Silong, Allan N. Derain

Best Anthology in English: Tinalunay: Hinugpong nga Panurat nga Winaray, Merlie M. Alunan 

Best Book of Literary Criticism/ Literary History in English: Elites and Ilustrados in Philippine Culture, Caroline Hau

Best Book of Poetry in Filipino: Mga Sugat na Naligaw sa Gubat, Emmanuel Q. Velasco

Best Book of Poetry in English: Running with Ghosts, Merlie M. Alunan

Best Graphic Literature: Dead Balagtas, Tomo 1: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa, Emiliana Kampilan

Best Translated Book: Bamboo Whispers, translated by Hanunuo Mangyan, edited by Lolita Delgado Fansler, Quintin Pastrana, Raena Abella, Emily Catapang

Best Book on Art: The Life and Times of Purita Kalaw-Ledesma, Purissima Benitez-Johannot

Best Book on Professions: The Philippines Towards Resilient Cities and Communities, Felino Palafox Jr.

Best Book in the Social Sciences: Philippine Modernities, Music, Performing Arts, and Language, 1880-1941, Jose S. Buenconsejo

Best Book on History: Cyclones & Earthquakes: The Jesuits, Prediction, Trade, & Spanish Dominion in Cuba and the Philippines, 1850-1898, Aitor Anduaga

Best Book on Journalism: Magandang Gabi Bayan: Nation, Journalism Discourse, and Television News in the Philippines, Estelle Marie Ladrido

Best Book on Humor, Sports, and Lifestyle: Playing with the Big Boys: Basketball, American Imperialism, and Subaltern Discourse in the Philippines, Lou Antolihao

Best Book on Food: Feast With Me, Stephanie Zubiri Crespi

Best Book in Science: Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to 19th Century, Ma. Mercedes Planta

Best Book Design: Dead Balagtas, Tomo 1: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa, Emiliana Kampilan

Publisher of the Year: Ateneo de Manila University Press

The winners were announced yesterday, 5 November 2018, on the National Book Development Board website.