The National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) are proud to announce the winners of the 42nd National Book Awards (NBA). The NBA is an annual prize that honors the most outstanding book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines.
The 42nd iteration of the National Book Awards has a total of 326 titles submitted across 31 categories consisting of four languages: English, Filipino, Bikol, and Ilokano. Following the awarding of winners during the 41st cycle last February 2024, the 42nd cycle of the awards is set to be held in November 2024 in the historic Intramuros in Manila.
The 42nd NBA coincides with the preparation of the Philippines as it makes history as the second Southeast Asian country to be chosen as Guest of Honour in 2025 at the world’s biggest book fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse.
The official list of winners for the 42nd National Book Awards are as follows:
LITERARY DIVISION
BEST NOVEL IN ENGLISH
1762: A Novel
Vin dela Serna Lopez
Ateneo de Manila University Press
BEST NOVEL IN FILIPINO
Teorya ng Unang Panahon
Edgar Calabia Samar
Ateneo de Manila University Press
NATIONAL ARTIST CIRILO F. BAUTISTA PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF SHORT FICTION IN ENGLISH
The Collected Stories of Gregorio C. Brillantes
Gregorio C. Brillantes
Ateneo de Manila University Press
GERARDO P. CABOCHAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF SHORT FICTION IN FILIPINO
Mga Kalansay sa Hardin ng Panginoon: Isang Koleksiyon ng Maikling Kuwento
Ronaldo Soledad Vivo, Jr.
Self-Published
PABLO A. TAN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF NONFICTION PROSE IN ENGLISH
Balik-Tanaw: The Road Taken
Soledad S. Reyes
De La Salle University Publishing House
BEST BOOK OF NONFICTION PROSE IN FILIPINO
Patining at Iba Pang Sanaysay
Soliman A. Santos
The University of the Philippines Press
BEST ANTHOLOGY IN ENGLISH
Bordered Lives No More: The Humanities and the Post-COVID-19 Recovery
Dinah Roma (Editor)
De La Salle University Publishing House
BEST ANTHOLOGY IN FILIPINO
Bata, Hiwaga, Bansa: Pamana ni Rene O. Villanueva sa Panitikang Pambata
Eugene Y. Evasco and Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno (Editors)
The University of the Philippines Press
BEST BOOK OF LITERARY CRITICISM/CULTURAL STUDIES
Ang Bisa ng Pag-uulit sa Katutubong Panitikan
Alvin B. Yapan
Ateneo de Manila University Press
BEST BOOK ON MEDIA STUDIES
Ang Mahaba’t Kagyat na Buhay ng Indie Sinema
Rolando B. Tolentino and Aristotle J. Atienza (Editors)
The University of the Philippines Press in collaboration with QCinema International Film Festival
PHILIPPINE LITERARY ARTS COUNCIL PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN ENGLISH
It Is Time to Come Home: New & Collected Poems
Marjorie Evasco
Milflores Publishing, Inc. and De La Salle University Publishing House
VICTORIO C. VALLEDOR PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN FILIPINO
Turno Kong Nokturno: Mga Bago at Piling Tula
Lamberto E. Antonio
The University of the Philippines Press and UP Institute of Creative Writing
BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS IN ENGLISH
Sa Wala
Written and illustrated by
Renren Galeno
Komiket Inc.
BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS IN FILIPINO
Sining Killing
Written and illustrated by Randy Valiente
Komiket Inc.
BEST TRANSLATED BOOK IN ENGLISH
Húbad: Ester Tapia
Translator: Merlie M. Alunan;
Author: Ester Tapia
The University of the Philippines Press and UP Institute of Creative Writing
BEST TRANSLATED BOOK IN FILIPINO
Palâisgën: Epikong-bayan ng mga Tagbanua ng Aborlan, Palawan
Translators in Filipino: Paul D. Jagmis, Sr. and Mary Grace A. Jagmis;
Research by Paul D. Jagmis Sr.,
Chanted by Gem-Gem Bagued and Fernando Lingsan,
Narrated by Delia Jardinero,
and Translated in English by Jonalyn B. Villarosa
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
BEST TRANSLATED BOOK IN ILOKANO
Ti Bassit a Prinsipe (The Little Prince)
Translators: Cles B. Rambaud and Faye Q. Flores-Melegrito;
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Southern Voices Printing Press
BEST BOOK ON DRAMA AND FILM
Lutong Bahay
Glecy Cruz Atienza
Sentro ng Wikang Filipino – Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman
BEST BOOK OF SHORT FICTION IN BIKOL
Kalatraban sa Alkawaraan
Niles Jordan Breis
Ateneo de Naga University Press
BEST BOOK OF POETRY IN BIKOL
Mayong Katapusan na Pabalon asin iba pang Huyon-Huyon: Mga Rawitdawit
Raul Giga Bradecina
Ateneo de Naga University Press
NON-LITERARY DIVISION
ALFONSO T. ONGPIN PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK ON ART
Julio Nakpil (1867-1960) Collected Works, Volume Two: Band and Orchestral Music
Maria Alexandra Iñigo Chua (Editor)
University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
ELFREN S. CRUZ PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Plural Entanglements: Philippine Studies
Dada Docot, Stephen B. Acabado, and Clement C. Camposano (Editors)
Ateneo de Manila University Press
BEST BOOK IN PHILOSOPHY
Critical Theory at the Margins: Applying Herbert Marcuse’s Model of Critical Social Theory to the Philippines
Jeffry Ocay
Aletheia Printing and Publishing House
JOHN C. KAW PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK ON HISTORY
Tales of the Post-Plantation: Unlikely Protagonists of Modern Philippine Banana History
Robin Thiers
Ateneo de Manila University Press
BEST BOOK ON HUMOR, SPORTS, LIFESTYLE, AND BUSINESS
Salumpuwit, Bangko, Silya, Atbp: Chairs in Filipino Life
Gerard Lico
Arc Lico International Services and University of the Philippines College of Architecture
BEST BOOK ON FOOD
Heritage Dishes of the Philippines
Lady Camille L. de Guia
Vibal Group, Inc.
BEST BOOK IN SCIENCE
Wild City: A Photographic Guide to Amphibians, Mammals, and Reptiles of Metro Manila
Jelaine Gan, Trinket Constantino, and Abby Favis
The University of the Philippines Press
BEST BOOK IN SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY
Babaylan Sing Back: Philippine Shamans and Voice, Gender, and Place
Grace Nono
Ateneo de Manila University Press
BEST BOOK ON PROFESSIONS
A Cardiologist's Guide To Lowering High Blood Pressure
Alan S. Tenerife
Self-Published
HILARION AND ESTHER VIBAL PRIZE FOR BEST BOOK IN JOURNALISM
View from the Foxhole: Shaping the Political into the Personal
Joel Pablo Salud
The University of the Philippines Press
DESIGN
BEST BOOK DESIGN
Dogs in Philippine History
Author and Designer: Ian Christopher B. Alfonso
Philippine Historical Association, Project Saysay Inc., and Alaya Publishing
