The Gintong Aklat Awards returns to recognize the best Philippine literature published in the years 2021 and 2022 at the 44th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) at the SMX Convention Center Manila on Sept. 14 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Established in 1981 and held every two years, the primary objective of the Gintong Aklat Awards is to recognize and encourage the production of quality books that excel in all aspects of bookmaking. This includes acknowledging outstanding established and new publishers who have made significant contributions to the industry. The specific areas for recognition encompass book production (printing, binding, etc.), book content (writing and editing), and book design.
This year, Gintong Aklat Awards is honoring books published in 2020 and 2021. It received a total of 203 entries from 25 publishers. Of the 203 entries 128 were shortlisted.
The 20th Gintong Aklat Awards brings forth exciting changes to acknowledge the diverse literature and the remarkable contributions of the Book Development Association of the Philippines’ (BDAP) members. The BDAP was founded on Oct. 24, 1979 by a group of publishing industry stakeholders to address the many problems confronting the local book industry at the time.
These problems included the high cost of books, the lack of copyright protection, and the limited distribution of books.
An addition to the categories is Graphic Literature, which includes comics, graphic novels, and other illustrated forms of storytelling. Additionally, special recognition will be given to outstanding publishers in the following categories:
Best Literary Publisher – This award goes to the publisher voted to have the best
literary works for the period covered by the Award;
Best Academic and Scholarly Publisher – This award goes to the academic and
scholarly publisher voted by the judges to have contributed the most to the creation
of knowledge in the categories of Science and Technology, Natural and Applied
Sciences, and the Social Sciences during the period covered by the Award;
Best Independent Publisher – This award goes to the micro or small publisher,
which despite its size, contributed to the pursuit of the improvement of Philippine
society within the period covered by the Award;
Best Publisher in the Arts and Humanities – This award goes to the publisher
voted to have the best works in the arts and humanities.
Best General Interest Publisher-This award goes to the publisher who
contributed the most in the areas of food, inspiration, and self-help categories.
Furthermore, the event will include six (6) special awards for the best book designs among all the submitted entries.
The finalists for the Gintong Aklat Awards 2022 are as follows:
Poetry (English):
● Milflores Publishing, Inc. and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities for Harvest
Moon: Poems and Stories from the Edge of the Climate Crisis by Padmapani Perez,
Rehanna Rossouw, Alexandra Walter, Renato Redentor Constantino (Editors)
Fiction (English):
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for My Sad Republic: A Novel (Twentieth
Anniversary Edition) by Eric Gamalinda
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for The Age of Umbrage by Jessica Zafra
● UST Publishing House for Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Creative Nonfiction (English):
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for The Philippines is Not a Small Country by
Gideon Lasco
● Milflores Publishing Inc. for Rizal in Saga: A Life for Student Fans by Nick Joaquin,
Introduction by Ambeth Ocampo
Poetry (Filipino):
● Isang Balangay Media Productions for Atra by Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles
● UST Publishing House for Lunas sa Nabubuong Lubos by Paul Alcoseba Castillo
Fiction (Filipino):
● Adarna House, Inc. for Si Janus Sílang at ang Lihim ng Santinakpan by Edgar Calabia
Samar
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Aswanglaut by Allan N. Derain
Creative Nonfiction (Filipino):
● UST Publishing House for #Pasahero: Mga Nakikisakay na Sanaysay by Joselito D.
delos Reyes
Arts and Humanities:
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Children of Postcolony: Filipino Intellectuals
and Decolonization, 1946-1972 by Charlie Samuya Veric
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Endangered Splendor: Manila’s Architectural
Heritage 1571-1960 (Volume 1: The Center) Hardbound by Erik Akpedonu and
Fernando N. Zialcita
Food:
● Anvil Publishing Inc. for Notes from My Kitchen 2 by Reggie Aspiras
Inspiration:
● OMF Literature, Inc. for This Season of Grief by Various Contributors, Joanna
Nicolas-Na (Editor)
● San Anselmo Publications, Inc. for Companion! XJ Narratives by Gemino Abad, L.F.
Habito and Prof. Ed Garcia (Editors)
● San Anselmo Publications, Inc. for Servant Leader Leni Robredo by Prof. Ed Garcia
Science and Technology:
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for The Zanjeras of Ilocos: Cooperative Irrigation
Societies of the Philippines by Jose A. Rivera
● Far Eastern University for A Guide to Gingers of Sorsogon by Rudolph Valentino A.
Docot
● University of the Philippines Press for A Timeline of Mindanao Disasters by Alfredo
Mahar A. Lagmay and Ma. Criselda B. Baldago
Natural and Applied Sciences:
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Countering Covid 19: Cases and Crisis
Response by Edilberto C. De Jesus, Manuel M. Dayrit, Ivyrose S. Baysic (Editors)
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Drugs and Philippine Society by Gideon Lasco
Social Sciences:
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Civilizational Imperatives: Americans, Moros,
and the Colonial World by Oliver Charbonneau
● Ateneo de Manila University Press for Specters of Germany: Colonial Rivalry and
Scholarship in the Philippine Reform Movement and Revolution by Nathaniel Parker
Weston
● Vibal Group, Inc. for Pugot: Head Taking, Ritual Cannibalism, and Human Sacrifice in
the Philippines by Narciso C. Tan
Graphic Literature:
● Adarna House, Inc. for Sixty Six Book II by Russell Molina, Illustrated by Mikey
Marchan
● CANVAS – Center for Art, New Ventures & Sustainable Development for A Bridge for
Silay by Agay Llanera and Ronson Culibrina
● Summit Media (Summit Publishing Co., Inc.) for Salamangka 2 by Ian Sta. Maria
The much-anticipated winners in the thirteen categories, in the best publisher categories and for the best book designs will be unveiled during the event.
The BDAP has been active in promoting the development of the Philippine book industry. It has organized book fairs, workshops, and training programs. It has also lobbied for government support for the book industry.
The BDAP has been successful in raising awareness of the importance of books and reading in the country. It has also helped to improve the quality of books published in the Philippines.
For more information about the Gintong Aklat Awards 2022, 44th Manila International Book Fair and BDAP, please email BDAP secretariat at
bdapsecretariat@gmail.com.
