40th National Book Award winners
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of the 40th National Book Awards (NBA)!
The National Book Awards makes a valuable contribution to the Philippine literary community by recognizing and rewarding Filipino authors and publishers for the outstanding quality of their work.
This event was founded in 1982 by the Manila Critics Circle, and in recent years has been organized and sponsored by the National Book Development Board (NBDB).
The current cycle, the milestone 40th, recognizes books published in 2021.
The organizers received 213 title nominations across the Literary, Non-Literary, and Design divisions. The books are written in English, Filipino, and this cycle’s chosen regional language Ilocano.
One hundred finalists were selected, of whom 29 were declared winners. The awarding ceremony will be held onsite on May 13, the first time since the pandemic.
This year’s event is particularly significant because of the many excellent books recognized by the judges and the impressive array of authors.
The variety of books honored shows the sheer talent of authors and designers present in Philippine literature.
The NBA also celebrates the efforts of publishers and editors in helping shape the works of these authors and bringing them to the public.
For the Filipino literary community, the 40th Philippine National Book Awards is a sign of affirmation of the hard work of our authors and publishers.
It serves as an inspiration and encourages aspiring authors. It offers recognition to a wide range of individuals who, in spite of the challenges, are passionate about promoting the value of Philippine literature.
Here is the full list of winners. To purchase these books, visit their publishers’ websites or shopping platforms. LITERARY DIVISION: Best Novel in English
“Snakes in the Grass” - Patrick Everard (University of the Philippines Press) Best Novel in Filipino
“Aswanglaut” - Allan N. Derain (Ateneo de Manila University Press) National Artist Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for Best Book of Short Fiction in English
“Selected Short Stories” - Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House) Gerardo P. Cabochan Prize for Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino
“Ang Itim na Orkidyas ng Isla Boracay: Mga Kuwento” - Genevieve L. Asenjo (University of the Philippines Press) Pablo A. Tan Prize for Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in English
“Departures: Essays” - Priscilla Supnet Macansantos (University of the Philippines Press) Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino
“Sa Yakap ng Gubat at Dagat ng Palawan: Mga Ekosanaysay” - John Iremil Teodoro (Pawikan Press) Best Anthology
“Harvest Moon: Poems and Stories from the Edge of the Climate Crisis” - Padmapani L. Perez, Rehana Rossouw, Alexandra Walter, & Renato Redentor Constantino (Milflores Publishing, Inc. & Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities)
Best Book of Literary Criticism/Cultural Studies in English
“Campaigns of Knowledge: U.S. Pedagogies of Colonialism and Occupation in the Philippines and Japan” - Malini Johar Schueller (Ateneo de Manila University Press) Best Book of Literary Criticism/Cultural Studies in Filipino
“Musika ng Pananakop: Panahon ng Hapon sa Filipinas, 1942-1945” - Raul Casantusan Navarro (University of the Philippines Press) Best Book on Media Studies
“Hindi Nangyari Dahil Wala sa Social Media: Interogasyon ng Kulturang New Media sa Pilipinas” - Rolando B. Tolentino, Vladimeir B. Gonzales, & Laurence Marvin S. Castillo (Ateneo de Manila University Press) Philippine Literary Arts Council Prize for Best Book of Poetry in English
“Tangere” - Rodrigo V. Dela Peña, Jr. (University of the Philippines Press)
“College Boy” - Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta (Ateneo de Manila University Press) Victorio C. Valledor Prize for Best Book of Poetry in Filipino
“Pasakalye” - Lean Borlongan (Selfpublished)
“Tuwing Nag-Iisa sa Mapa ng Buntonghininga” - Paolo Miguel G. Tiausas (University of the Philippines Press) Best Graphic Novel in English
“Alandal” - J. Philip Ignacio, Author; Alex Niño, Illustrator (Komiket, Inc.) Best Graphic Novel in Filipino
“Ang Mga Alitaptap ng Pulang Buhangin” - RH Quilantang, Author & Illustrator (Komiket, Inc.) Best Translated Book
“Mga Himutok sa Palikuran at Iba Pang Kuwento” - Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III, Translator; Eka Kurniawan, Author (Savage Mind: Arts, Books, Cinema) Best Novel in Ilocano
“Dagiti Pundador (The Founders)” - Prescillano N. Bermudez (Saniata Publications) Best Anthology in Ilocano
“Panaglantip (Union)” - Dionisio S. Bulong & Eden Laguesma Cachola-Bulong (Saniata Publications) Best Book of Poetry in Ilocano
“Baribari (Pardon Me)” - Roy Vadil Aragon (Saniata Publications)
“Anglem (Incense)” - Daniel L. Nesperos
(Saniata Publications) NON-LITERARY DIVISION: Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize for Best Book on Art
“Endangered Splendor: Manila’s Architectural Heritage, 1571-1960” - Fernando Zialcita & Erik Akpedonu (Ateneo de Manila University Press) Elfren S. Cruz Prize for Best Book In The Social Sciences
“The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved a Country from Corporate Greed” - Robin Broad & John Cavanagh (Ateneo de Manila University Press) John C. Kaw Prize for Best Book On History
“Púgot: Head Taking, Ritual Cannibalism, and Human Sacrifice in the Philippines” - Narciso C. Tan (Vibal Foundation, Inc.) Best Book on Humor, Sports, Lifestyle, & Business
“The Business of Banking: Structure and Profitability; Risks and Controls” - Deogracias N. Vistan (Anvil Publishing, Inc.) Best Book on Food
“Appetite for Freedom: The Recipes of Maria Y. Orosa, with Essays on Her Life and Work” - Helena Orosa del Rosario (Ige Ramos Design Studios) Best Book on Spirituality And Theology
“Handumanan (Remembrance): Digging for the Indigenous Wellspring” - Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR (Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.) Best Book on Philosophy
“Repentance and Rebirth at the End of Life as We Know It” - Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez (Ateneo de Manila University Press) DESIGN: Best Book Design
“Endangered Splendor: Manila’s Architectural Heritage, 1571-1960” - Ali Figueroa & Erik Akpedonu, cover design, book design, layout, and artistic direction; Fernando Zialcita & Erik Akpedonu, authors (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
The variety of books honored shows the sheer talent of authors and designers present in Philippine literature