Añonuevo conferred SEA Write, National Book Awards

MANILA, Philippines - Prize-winning poet and current Filipino department chair of Miriam College Dr. Rebecca Añonuevo was recently given two prestigious literary awards: the Southeast Asian Writers Award and the 2013 National Book Award. The SEA Write Awarding ceremony was held last October 14 in Bangkok, Thailand. The said award is given to writers of countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These writers are honored for different genres of literature, mainly poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and folklore. Since its inception in 1979, The SEA Write Award has been given to other distinguished names in Philippine literature such as National Artists Nick Joaquin and Virgilio Almario as well as Alfred Yuson, Marjorie Evasco, Gregorio Brillantes, and Isagani Cruz, to name a few. It is the most prestigious literary award for poets and writers given in the region. Last November Añonuevo likewise bagged the Best Book of Poetry in Filipino at the 32nd National Book Awards for Isa Lang and Pangalan: Mga Tula. The book was published in 2011 by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. Since 2008, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics’ Circle have been jointly presenting the National Book Award, which is given to a singular book per category and comes with a monetary prize alongside a trophy by an esteemed Filipino artist.