The deadline of the 6th Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon (PTALB) has been extended to the end of July, this year. This is in response to requests from literary quarters all over the region, according to Carlos Arejola, chair of the annual literary competition.
Widely regarded as the region's premiere literary prize, the Premio Arejola accepts entries in the rawitdawit (poetry), saysay (essay), osipon (fiction), osipon na pan-aki (stories for children), nobela (novel) and dula (play) categories. Entries in the drama category may be full-length or one-act play and written, as in all categories, in any of the variations of the Bikol language. The top winner receives P10,000 and the Naga City Jaycees Parasurat kan Taon (Writer of the Year) Trophy.
Also extended to the end of July are the deadlines for the Rawitdawit para ki Ina (Poems for the Lady of Peñafrancia), a poetry category open to elementary, high school, and out-of-school youth 18 years old and below, and the Premio Bibiano Sabino, a recognition for book authors, editors, designers and publishers of Bikol literary titles. Both awards were first handed out last year.
Winners will be named in a gala award ceremony on Sept 18, this year, along with the honorees of the first Bikolinismo awards, a nationwide search for the most outstanding Bikolano artists, which also extends its deadline to the end of July.
The annual literary competition is named after 19th century Bikolano patriot Tomas Padilla Arejola. For more information about the tilt, log on to www.panitikan.com.