Literary stars aligned on the night of September 13 for this year’s Nick Joaquin Literary Awards (NJLA), in recognition of lifetime achievments and promising talents in local literature.
Writing luminaries from Carlos Palanca Award Hall of Famers to National Book awardees and top publishers graced the event, titled “NJLA 2017: Nick Joaquin Centennial”, organized by the weekly newsmagazine Philippines Graphic. The brightest of the star-studded guests, however, were the four living National Artists in Literature, namely, Virgilio Almario, Cirilo Bautista, F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera, who were each recognized for promoting Filipino values and culture through their works with the “Guardian of the National Memory Award”.
In his speech, Philippines Graphic Editor in Chief (EIC) Joel Salud said the award’s name came from his conversation with the late Manila Times EIC Fred de la Rosa, who once asked him about the vision he had for the esteemed magazine. Salud answered he hoped for it to become a venue where the people’s memory will be preserved. “Then from this day forward,” Salud recalls de la Rosa as saying, “we will all be guardians of the national memory”.
The Philippines Graphic EIC said they have adopted that line, and took it as a mission—one that serves greater purpose today, “in the age of fraudulent and run-amok news”. He then shifted toward the four literary titans, the receivers of the award, whose pieces have “helped in the preservation of the national memory in all its pristine glory”, saying, “These are the people we look up to, people who inspire us.”
Lumbera accepted the recognition with a short speech, thanking Philippines Graphic for its continued support to the literary community. Jose did the same, but spent more time talking about the event’s namesake, Nick Joaquin.
“Nick Joaquin was, perhaps, the greatest writer we have—after Rizal and myself,” Jose quipped, drawing cheers from the crowd, before proceeding with a more serious tone. “If there is any stone keeper of our national memory, it is him. His essays on history and culture are incomporable.”
Jose’s speech crescendoed into a chorus of praises from Joaquin’s friends and collegaues, who, in one portion of the event, shared their memories of the late literary icon. The presenters were Joaquin’s niece, Charo Joaquin-Villegas, Human Rights Watch researcher Carlos Conde and former Philippines Graphic literary editor Marra Lanot, who said Joaquin was like a father to her.
Two milestones mark this year’s edition of the NJLA: first is the 100th birth anniversary of Joaquin, born on May 4, 1917; and second is the 90th anniversary of Philippines Graphic, launched as The Graphic in 1927.
A National Artist for Literature, Joaquin stood as the Philippines Graphic EIC from 1990—when the magazine was relaunched through its third owner, the late media mogul-businessman Antonio L. Cabangon Chua and his family—until his death in 2004.
According to T. Anthony C. Cabangon, publisher of Philippines Graphic, Cook Magazine and BusinessMirror, his father Antonio and Joaquin got along perfectly because they both loved to drink, and they shared the same idea. The two wanted to put up a magazine that will publish short stories, and give out recognition. That paved the way to the annual awards given to the top English short fiction stories published in Philippines Graphic, later renamed after Joaquin following his passing.
Carlos Palanca Awards Hall of Famer for Literature Alfred Yuson chaired this year’s board of judges, while Susan Lara and Angelo Lacuesta served as members.
The top honors for the NJLA 2017 went to Christian Ray Buendia for his work, titled “Mathilde’s Absence”. The story follows an unnamed, familied woman forced by financial struggles to fill in the shoes of a man’s dead wife named Mathilde.
Buendia, 28, explained in the sidelines of the event that he captured a recurring thought he had for years, using it as the story’s first sentence and working his way from there. He also took home a prize of P50,000.
Coming at second (P30,000) was Scott Lee Chua for “Margarita”, while Wayne Benitez Castillo took third place (P20,000) for “Certainly a Train Love Story”.
Bestowed with this year’s “Poet of the Year” title was Anne Carly Abad.
Aside from the regular honors, a “Patron of Literature Award” was presented to insurance company Pru Life UK for its long-standing support to Philippine literature through the Philippines Graphic literary section and the NJLA.
For next year’s edition, T. Anthony C. Cabangon said plans have been made to expand the NJLA’s scope beyond the Philippines, and include the Asia Pacific region.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza