The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
A 14-year-old company first known as the publisher of graphic novels and of author Bob Ong’s popular books beat highly regarded Anvil Publishing Inc. and several university-based presses to win the top prize at the 34th National Book Awards, which honors books published in 2014.
In a online statement published late last week, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) said it and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) named Visprint Inc. as publisher of the year. Five of its nominated titles won: Dwellers by Eliza Victoria, best novel in English; iStatus Nation by Joselito D. de los Reyes, best collection of essays in Filipino; Ang Labingtatlong Pasaway, edited by Jun Cruz Reyes, best anthology in Filipino; Tabi Po (Volume 1) by Mervin Malonzo, best graphic novel in Filipino; and 14 (Silent Comics) by Manix Abrera, best wordless graphic-literature book.
Interestingly, Anvil, which has won the top publisher award several times, also saw five of its titles win: Wonderlust by Nikki Alfar, best collection of short stories in English; Ramon Obusan, Philippine Folkdance and Me by Kanami Namiki, best nonfiction book in English; Country Cooking by Michaela Fenix, best book on food; The Adventures of a PR Girl by Bettina Rodriguez-Olmedo, best professions book; and Buti Pa Ang Roma, May Bagong Papa by Noreen Capili, best leisure book.
Another former publisher of the year winner, the University of the Philippines (UP) Press, triumphed in five categories: The Postcolonial Perverse Vol. 1 by UP Press Director J. Neil C. Garcia, best English-language book of literary criticism or literary history; Kundiman sa Gitna ng Karimlan by E. San Juan, best book of poetry in a Philippine language except Hiligaynon/Kinaray-a; Tikum Kadlum by Federico Caballero and Alicia P. Magos, best book of poetry in Hiligaynon/Kinaray-a; Vantage Point: The Sixth Estate and Other Discoveries by Luis Teodoro, best book in the journalism category; and Ambagan 2011: Mga Salita Mula sa Iba’t Ibang Wika sa Pilipinas, by Michael M. Coroza and Galileo S. Zafra, best language-studies book.
For its part, the Ateneo de Manila University Press, also won five prizes: Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami by Rey Ventura, best collection of essays in English; Manila Synod of 1582: The Draft of Its Handbook for Confessors, translated by Paul A. Dumol and designed by Karl Frederick M. Castro, best book in the translation and design categories; Rido: Clan Feuding and Conflict Management in Mindanao (expanded edition), edited by Wilfredo Magno Torres III, best social-sciences book; and Sakdalistas’ Struggle for Philippine Independence, 1930–1945, by Motoe Terami-Wada, best history book.
Regional universities also winners
Three other university presses also received awards. The Ateneo de Naga University Press won in the Filipino-language book of literary criticism or literary history category for Rebecca T. Añonuevo’s Talab: Mga Sanaysay sa Wika, Panitikan, at Pagtuturo and in the English-language book of poetry category for Marne Kilates’ Time’s Enchantment and Other Reflections. The latter tied with Jose Marte A. Abueg’s Hidden Codex: Fictive Scriptures, published by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. And the University of San Carlos Press won in the science category for Birds of Cebu and Bohol Philippines, by Nilo Arribas Jr., Bobby Kintanar, and Raul Benjamin Puentespina.
Edgar Calabia Samar’s Filipino-language novel Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon (Adarna House Inc.); Regina Abuyan’s English-language anthology Agam: Filipino Narratives on Uncertainty and Climate Change (Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities); writer Gerry Alanguilan and illustrator Arnold Arre’s English-language graphic novel Rodski Patotski: Ang Dalagang Baby (Meganon Comics Publishing House); and Norma A. Respicio’s art book Journey of a Thousand Shuttles: The Philippine Weave (National Commission on Culture and the Arts), complete the list of winners.
The National Book Awards was started in 1982 by the MCC, composed of professional literary critics, newspaper columnists and creative writers. Its current members include National Artists for Literature Virgilio S. Almario and Cirilo Bautista; scholars Isagani R. Cruz, Resil Mojares and Soledad S. Reyes; and newspaper editors Juaniyo Arcellana and Ruel S. de Vera.
Since 2008, the MCC has been giving the awards in partnership with the NBDB, which is tasked by the government to promote and support the the country’s book-publishing industry.