The list below completes the finalists for the National Book Awards for non-literary books published in 2019 and 2020. And now follows the difficult task of the Manila Critics Circle and the invited category judges – especially knowledgeable in their fields of expertise – to choose one winning book from the shortlist.
It is especially interesting that the Design category considers all of the submitted entries whether a finalist or not. The category rules also emphasize that this distinction is not meant to be limited only to coffee table books, for “an inexpensive book without pictures or illustrations can be better designed than an expensive one with pictures or illustrations.”
There is the Publisher of the Year award given to the publisher with the most number of winning titles.
This yearly initiative, a collaboration between the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle, is an important one especially in these times when our students have been found to be wanting in their reading and comprehension skills. How to teach these basic skills without noteworthy books that students and teachers have to read? What are we as a nation bereft of basic literacy skills? What kind of students are we nurturing as the future generation that will lead the country?
Non-literary division
Art: Deco Filipino: Art Deco Heritage in the Philippines by Ivan Man Dy and Gerard Lico; Philippine Social Realists by Amadis Maria Guerrero; The Art and Times of the Seventies by Marian Pastor Roces; The Art and Times of the New Millennium, 2000-2020 by Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, Tina Arceo-Dumlao, JJ Atencio and others; The Art of Collecting: A Guide to the Philippine Market by Joseph Sedfrey S. Santiago; Philippine Cinema, 1897-2020 by Gaspar A. Vibal and Dennis S. Villegas; edited by Teddy O. Co.
Professions: School is Life: Progressive Education in the Philippines by Ani Rosa Almario and Tina Zamora; Cool Minds, Brave Hearts: The People of the Philippine Central Bank by Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP); Creating Sustainable Value in Social Enterprises: Stories of Social Innovation by Atty. Noel Romero del Prado; Time Out Muna: Gabay sa Utang, Upa, at iba pa sa Panahon ng Pandemya by Atty. Noel Romero del Prado; Securing a Continuum of Care: The Challenges of a Fragmented Health Sector by Carlo Irwin A. Panelo, Orville Jose C. Solon, Rebecca M. Ramos, Alejandro N. Herrin.
Social sciences: Making Sense of the City: Public Spaces in the Philippines by Remmon E. Barbaza; Counterrevolution: The Global Rise of the Far Right by Walden Bello; Rethinking Filipino Millennials: Alternative Perspectives on a Misunderstood Generation by Jayeel Cornelio; A Capital City at the Margins: Quezon City and Urbanization in the Twentieth Century Philippines by Michael D. Pante; Handbook of Sikolohiyang Pilipino Bolyum 2: Gamit/Hand by Rogelio Pe-Pua.
History: Asian Place, Filipino Nation: A Global Intellectual History of the Philippine Revolution, 1887-1912 by Nicole Cuunjieng Aboitiz; Clothing the Colony: Nineteenth-Century Philippine Sartorial Culture, 1820-1896 by Stephanie Coo; The Story of Philippine Central Banking: Stability and Strength at Seventy by Jose Dalisay Jr.; Manila Cathedral: Restoring a Monument to Faith, Architecture and History by Gerard Lico; More Hispanic than We Admit 3: Quincentennial Edition, 1521-1820 Filipino and Spanish Interactions over the Centuries by Jorge Mojarro; Yaman: History and Heritage in Philippine Money by Ambeth R. Ocampo; Philippine Politics and the Marcos Technocrats: The Emergence and Evolution of a Power Elite by Teresa S. Tadem.
Journalism: Press Freedom Under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo; The Community Press and Its Revolutionary Tradition by Georgina Reyes Encanto; I, Journalist, and Other Newsroom Introspections by Joel Pablo Salud; The Battle of Marawi by Criselda Yabes.
Humor, sports and lifestyle: Winning Study Abroad Strategies for Filipinos by Maria Regina Arquiza, Eva Marie Wang; Walk Manila by Lorelei D.C. de Viana; Neat Obsessions: Starting Your Journey to Organizing, Productivity and Happiness by Issa Guico Reyes.
Food: Also Filipino: 75 Regional Dishes I Never Had Growing Up by Angelo Comsti; Kain Na! An Illustrated Guide to Philippine Food by Bryan Koh and Felice Prudente Sta. Maria; Lasa ng Republika Dila at Bandila: Ang Paghahanap Sa Pambansang Panlasa Ng Filipinas by Ige Ramos; Mesa ni Misis by Juana Manahan Yupangco.
Science: A Timeline of Mindanao Disasters by Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay and Ma. Criselda B. Baldago; Society, Science and Technology by Romina Almazan, Emmanuel de Dios, Geoffrey Ducanes, Ruth Guzman, Jovino Miroy, Olga Nunez, William G. Padolina; The Zanjeras of Ilocos: Cooperative Irrigation Societies of the Philippines by Jose A. Rivera.
Design: Marka Demonyo: Or Poems on Love, Faith and Duct Tape by Lourd Ernest H. de Veyra, designed by Tom Estrera and illustrated by Paul Eric Roca; Also Filipino: 75 Regional Dishes I Never Had Growing Up by Angelo Comsti; Trese Lite Postcard Book 1 by Budjette Tan, designed by Kajo Baldisimo; Clothing the Colony: Nineteenth-Century Philippine Sartorial Culture,1820-1896 by Stephanie Coo, designed by Felix Mago Miguel Jr.; A Watercolor Journey by Claude Tayag; Humadapnon (Tarangban): Sugidanon (Epics) of Panay, Book 8 by Alicia P. Magos and Anna Razel Limoso Ramirez, designed by Gian Niño Genoveza and artwork by Caiden L. Ramirez; Walk Manila: A Guide Book by Lorelei D.C. De Viana, designed by Martin Z. Lopez and Gianna Reyes Montinola.
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Young Writers’ Hangout on June 25 with literary editor Alma Anonas Carpio, 2-3 pm. Write Things’ six-day summer workshop “Writefest” will have a second run on June 27, 29, July 1, 4, 6 & 8 (MWF), 3-4:30 pm. This is now our 9th Writefest and we are always so happy to have repeater students joining us again.
Contact writethingsph@gmail.com. 0945.2273216
Email: elfrencruz@gmail.com