All stories must explore one or a combination of the following ideas: a) celebration of Filipino freedom from colonization, b) recognition of the Filipino’s cultural diversity, c) promotion of the Philippine cultural heritage, its traditions and way of life.
Several entries were mostly from the national capital region while others came from other parts of the country. At first, the board of judges had different choices for their top three scripts but somehow they chose same entries for the top three. From these entries, the judges identified the final set of winners. Judges were award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., multi-Palanca awardee Vicente Garcia Groyon, creative supervisor of ABS-CBN/Star Cinema Artemio Abad, Jr., and animation director of Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia Robert Quilao.
The grand prize winner was Anna Abigail Rioflorido Yap for her entry For better, for worse. The story revolves around Myles who is about to get married. She is very superstitious following every Filipino superstition in a book to make sure she would have the perfect wedding and marriage. But everything seems to be going wrong on the wedding day itself. She is about to find what she could have done or she should’nt have done. Yap received a plaque and a cash prize of PhP 10,000.
The second prize was awarded to Christoffer Ralph Kenneth G. Abordo for his script Call me Pepe. The story is set in 2075. The EDSA Revolution is revived for the seventh time. Calixto, a blind eight-year-old boy doesn’t understand its importance and why his Kuya Efren par of it. A journey towards the past might just be what Calixto needs for him to fully understand its relevance, a journey that will make him see the country’s present state and will give him hope for a better tomorrow. Abordo received a plaque and a cash prize of PhP 7,000.00.
Bernadette Villanueva Neri won the third prize Dap-ayan ng Kalinangang Pinoy. “Dap-ayan” is an Igorot term referring to a “meeting” or “gathering.” It originated from the word “dap-ay,” the place where elders meet. In Neri’s story, the concept of “dap-ayan” is still used as “gathering” but instead of elders, children are the ones who meet. They are—children who represent not just one community but various ethno linguistic groups. Readers will see, through the eyes of an innocent cat, how different cultures contribute in forming the Filipino identity. Neri received a plaque and a cash prize of PhP 5,000.00.
The awarding ceremony was held at the ACPI Secretariat office in Makati on June 15, 2009 Incumbent ACPI president Rowena Bagadion, former ACPI president Grace Dimaranan, and ACPI executive director Michael Kho Lim handed the awards . |
