The annual De Francia Awards for Literature (DEAL) from California has announced the Global Pinoy Short Story Competition winner this year.
DEAL Awards founder Dr. Clarito de Francia said out of the six entries, the third prize with the corresponding cash prize of 200 US dollars is Hermilinda Bulong, the editor at the UP Press.
DEAL is known for Filipino-based short stories that are written in the English language.
The lone winner for the competition who won fourth prize in the first DEAL Awards last year is also known for the pen name Linda Lingbaoan and Delilah.
Bulong impressed the judges with her story “There is Life after Jack,” which talks about a woman who made a mistake in life because of love but unlike the man, she faced her problem.
The Board of Jurors of DEAL 2 is composed of Dr. Sonja Chan of Saint Louis University, Dr. Marlina Lino of the Mariano Marcos State University and Director of the Language Center, and Aurelio Agcaoili of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Agcaoili served as chair of the board.
De Francia said there are no winners for the first and second prizes based on the rubric used by the jurors. “There is life after Jack,” earned the highest average of 85 on the rubric.
The annual DEAL Awards is also being supported by Fil-Americans’ Jesusa and Rockwell Ocab, NP Elvira Dela Pena, and the Filipino Seniors of Santa Maria Valley headed by their president Thelma Alafriz Cabanas.
Other supporters of the award are Fil-Am Association of Santa Maria Valley president Charles Lara and board of director lawyer Imelda Picar-Fernandez.
The awarding of Bulong was held last February 13 at the Timpuyog dagiti Mannurat iti Iloko iti Filipinas (TMIF) annual literary conference at North Luzon Philippines State College, Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
The event which run until April 15 revolved on the theme “Panangtaginayon kadagiti pagulidanan a kultura ken kannawidan ni Ilokano.” (Preservation of the culture and traditions of the Ilocanos worthy of emulation).
More than one way of developing one’s writing skills, literature inspires people, and a very important tool of revitalizing and appreciating more our rich culture.
May Deal and TMIF continue to promote the importance of literature with the support of the public.