Winners of this year's Philippines Free Press Literary Awards were announced last night. Charlson Ong led the Board of Judges for Fiction, which included Timothy Montes and Dr. Paraluman Giron while Ricardo de Ungria chaired the Board of Judges for Poetry, which included J. Neil Garcia and Danton Remoto.
The winners are:
FICTION:
First Prize: Rhea B. Politado, for Epic Life.
Second Prize: Menchu Aquino Sarmiento, for Marita Pangan.
Third Prize: John Bengan, for Bad Heart and Sasha Martinez, for Catherine Theory. (tie)
POETRY:
First Prize: Arkaye Kierulf, for Textbook Statistics.
Second Prize: Sid Gomez Hildawa, for Poet Talks to an Old Movie.
Third Prize: Mikael de Lara Co, for Mebuyen.
Congratulations to all the winners, especially to Kael!
Info source: Sungazer (Eliza Victoria): Four eyes, etc.
BREAKING NEWS: Millions greet Aquino upon arrival
HEAVEN -- Millions of blessed and joyous souls who had patiently gathered and waited at the Pearly Gates for the past several days greeted former Philippine president Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino upon her much-anticipated arrival at 3:18 a.m. today.
According to the Archangel Gabriel, celestial communications chief, the Apostle Peter quickly admitted her into the Kingdom, where a cheering legion of her loved ones, led by her husband, former Philippine senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., rushed to surround and embrace her at the waiting lounge.
"Thank God, you're now here!" an overjoyed Ninoy was heard to have exclaimed, according to witnesses.
Outside the terminal, the former senator led Aquino to a gleaming two-seater open coach, which she initially declined to step in out of humility. After the couple rode away in it en route to the Palace of the Almighty, trumpets blared and angels and souls lining the path to the Holy Home threw confetti on them as they passed.
Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, is expected to personally greet her at the palace and escort her to the Most Blessed Trinity.
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Rest in peace, Madame President. Thank you very, very much.
Photo: Richard Samaniego Roque, from the Cory Aquino Facebook Page.
