Author Interview: Patricia Gomez, 2025 Salanga Prize Winner

On July 18, 2025, during National Children's Book Day, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People awarded the Salanga, Alcala and de Jesus Prizes to Patricia Gomez, Tin Javier and Rommel Joson respectively. I invited them for a blog interview and they all said yes! 

My dear readers, I am pleased to present to you, Ms. Patricia Gomez, winner of the 2025 Salanga Prize for the young adult novel, Three Thimbles.

1. Congratulations! What was your first reaction when you found out Three Thimbles had won the Salanga Grand Prize?

               Thank you, Ms. Zarah! I couldn’t believe it at first when I received an email from PBBY that my story, Three Thimbles, had won the Grand Prize.  I had to read the message several times just to be sure.  It was a mixture of surprise, joy, gratitude and disbelief when I first found out.

2. Can you share the inspiration behind Three Thimbles? Was there a specific event, person, or image that sparked the idea?

              My inspiration for the story was none other than Marcela Agoncillo             herself.  To me she was a heroine who took on a very important role in our country’s history, sewing the first Philippine flag, one that would outlive her and be synchronous to our nation’s birth itself, its struggles and triumphs, its identity and story.  

       When I was looking her up on the Internet, I saw a picture of her old thimble and immediately knew that hers and her seven-year old daughter, Lorenza’s and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad’s stories, stories of the three women who sewed the first flag of the Philippine republic, are what I would really like to write as one story, intertwined and entitled Three Thimbles, for this historical fiction category of PBBY.

3. Your story blends narrative history and symbolism in a way that feels both intimate and universal. How did you approach shaping it for young readers?

               Although I wanted to, I was not able to use the first-person point of view for each of the three main characters’ stories that would have made it more accessible and fun for young readers.  What I did instead was to narrate the story of each character alternately, akin to sewing together pieces of cloth, until the whole tapestry is revealed.  It is my hope that young readers would not only be able to relate to Lorenza as she was the youngest of the characters but also find solace in Delfina and develop empathy from Marcela as their stories are as distinct as the three thimbles that represents them.

4. What was it like to see Tin Javier’s illustrations bring your words to life? Did her visual interpretation reveal new dimensions of the story to you?

               It was so surreal to see Ms. Javier’s illustrations because she really brought color, light and life to my story.  I was so thrilled.  To have a talented artist and illustrator like her read and then translate my story into visual form is a great honor.

       Yes, her visual interpretation revealed a new dimension to me in the illustration of the funeral scene.  Whereas I had imagined them solemnly gathered around a coffin already lowered on the ground, Ms. Javier’s high angle portrayal of the event that showed a raised coffin and everyone’s grief-stricken faces huddled tight around it was definitely more intimate and impactful.

5. What message or feeling do you hope children—and the adults reading alongside them—will carry after experiencing Three Thimbles?

              The message I would like to impart in my story is to always have hope.  Just as our nation’s forefathers did not give up on our country despite insurmountable odds, we should also not give up on the things that matter most, because in the end, we will have that sovereignty, we will be able to sew that flag, we will have that peace we long for, we will find the answers we are seeking, we will triumph over adversity but if not, we may be given a gift that will outlive us and our children and help countless others, if we do not give up. 

Watch for Tin Javier's interview in the next posting. Read more about the Salanga Prize by visiting the PBBY website.

Happy National Children's Book Day!

Back-to-Back Winner for 2017 PBBY-Salanga Prize

The official press release reads:

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People declared Genaro Gojo Cruz as the grand prize winner of the 2017 PBBY-Salanga Prize. Gojo Cruz bagged the Salanga prize with his story Dalawa Kami ni Lola, a story about a child and his grandmother.

This is Gojo Cruz’s second grand prize win. Gojo Cruz, a children’s book author and professor, won the grand prize last year. For his win, Gojo Cruz will receive 25,000 pesos and a medal.

Gojo Cruz’s story, Pamilya Papel was also declared honorable mention alongside Imelda Estrella’s story, May Lihim ang Dagat.

Winners will be awarded during the celebration of the National Children’s Book Day on July 18, 2017.

For inquiries about the contest, contact the PBBY Secretariat at telephone number 352-6765 loc. 203 or e-mail pbby@adarna.com.ph.

Congratulations to Mr. Genaro Gojo Cruz and Ms. Imelda Estrella!

Salanga Prize and Alcala Prize Winners of 2015

A few months back, PBBY declared the story The Missing Blanket by Cheeno Marlo Del Mundo as the 2015 Honorable Mention winner of the Salanga Prize. By way of tradition, here now is good news on the Alacala Prize.

Two Artists Declared as Honorable Mention Winners in the 2015 PBBY-Alcala Prize

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People awards Joffrey Z. Atienza and Maria Sabrina P. Palmares as Honorable Mention winners for the 2015 PBBY-Alcala Prize. No one was declared Grand Prize winner for the contest this year.

This year’s PBBY-Alcala called for entries based on the 2015 PBBY-Salanga Honorable Mention winner, “The Missing Blanket,” written by Cheeno Marlo Del Mundo Sayuno, a story set in the province of Kalinga. The Alcala winners were chosen based on their creative approach to Sayuno’s story along with their respect for cultural authenticity.

Atienza, a motion graphic designer from Quezon, and Palmares, a freelance artist from Rizal, will be awarded during the celebration of National Children's Book Day on July 21, 2015.

For inquiries about the contest, contact the PBBY Secretariat at telephone number 352-6765 loc. 203 or e-mail pbby@adarna.com.ph.

Art work by Joffrey Z. Atienza

Art work by Sabrina P. Palmares

 

Salanga Prize Winner 2013

L-R MJ Tumamac, Anthony Mariano, Zarah Gagatiga and Cindy Bajema

 

News from the PBBY Secretary General on the Salanga Prize 2013 --

Grand Prize Winner is Michael Jude C. Tumamac
Honorable Mention goes to Mark Anthony Angeles and April Jade I. Biglaen

I have no news yet on their winning stories, but it's definitely about Andres Bonifacio. Will post updates in the coming months.

Call for Entries: The 2013 Salanga Prize

The 29th NCBD and the 2md Best Reads NCBA have been recently concluded. Another writing season begins for the Salanga Prize 2013.

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2013 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library of the Philippines (NLP).
The winner shall receive Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos and a medal. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day in July 2013.

2013 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio. To commemorate this event, all 2013 PBBY-Salanga entries should be inspired in part or in whole by the life or works of Andres Bonifacio. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day in July 2013.

For contest rules, go to the PBBY website.

The 29th NCBD @ Museo Pambata

Russel Molina accepts the 2012 Salanga Prize

After months of preparation, the PBBY has concluded the 29th NCBD celebration at Museo Pambata. The Salanga and Alcala Prizes were awarded to Russell Molina and Hubert Fucio respectively. Honorable mentions: Dang Bagas and Jun Matias for the Salanga and Jonathan Ranilla and Aldy Aguirre were given their plaques as well. Tarie Sabido was inducted as new board representative for book bloggers/book reviewers and I did a tandem telling of Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon, the winning Salanga of 2012, with Abs de Lina of Batibot. Museo Pambata people, Nina Lim Yuson, Maricel "Mamu" Montero and Noreen "Tich" Parafina were such warm hosts. The PBY Secretariat and staff were so efficient, as always, that this year's 29th NCBD was indeed a humorously successful affair.

Teacher Dina Ocampo gave a brilliant keynote on language, reading and mother tongue. It was a keynote where in everyone meaningfully derived nuggets of learning on the use of one's mother tongue. Indeed, language plays a great role in reading and writing development as well as the context. The intermission number by The Minstrels of Hope was a delight.

The Minstrels of Hope

I met old friends - CLAPI, Librarians from Manila and the National Library of the Philippines, Neni SR Cruz who is now Chairman of the National Book Development Board, and finally, met Honey de Peralta and Paolo Chikiamco in person. I was also able to touch base with my former grad school professor, Lina Diaz de Rivera who gave me a copy of her recent book, Teaching Filipino Novels, published by Anvil.

Thank you to those who celebrated NCBD in their schools and learning communities: Teacher Jerson Capuyan of St. La School, Rochelle Siverio, Cynthia Sumagaysay Del Rosario, OMF-Hiyas Publication to mention a few. In the coming days, I will post pictures you sent and activities you had with your kids.

Until next NCBD! Magbasa sa Sariling Wika!

Hubert Fucio's 2nd Alcala Prize

Congratulations to Hubert Fucio for winning the 2012 Alcala Prize!

Below is a sample of his art work for Russell Molina's Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon (2012 Salanga Prize). This is Fucio's and Molina's second win who both won the Alcala and the Salanga prizes respectively in 2003 for Sandosenang Kuya (A Dozen Brothers).

2012 PBBY Salanga Prize Call for Entries

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2012 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library of the Philippines (NLP). The winner shall receive Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos and a medal. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day in July 2012.
CONTEST RULES

The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.

Stories should be intended for children aged 6 to 12 years old. The plot and the sequence must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book of 28 to 32 pages.

Entries may be in Filipino or English.

Entries must be in hard copy, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Maximum length is five (5) pages.

A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.

Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.

All entries must be sent through snail mail to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Sts., Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.

All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., November 11, 2011.

Winners will be announced no later than December 16, 2011. Non-winning entries will be disposed of by the PBBY Secretariat.

The winning story will be the basis for the 2012 PBBY-Alcala Prize. For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at 3526765 local 203 or email pbby[at]adarna.com.ph.

Author of the Month: Eugene Evasco Part 2

Bago pa humaba ang pasasalamat na ito, nais kong ibahagi ang pagkakasulat ng kuwentong "Rizaldy." Hinamon ako noon ng mga kasamang guro na sumulat ng kuwentong naiiba sa hulma ng Kanluran. Tunay, unibersal naman ang pagkabata. Lahat ng lipunan ay may kinikilalang yugto ng pagkabata, ngunit magkakaiba ang kultura't tradisyon upang kilalanin, ipagdiwang, at pausbungin ito. Ang hamon nila: Bakit hindi ako sumulat ng kuwento kaugnay sa pagmamahal sa bansa at pagpapahalaga sa pagka-Pilipino?

Produkto rin ang kuwentong Rizaldy ng halos isanlibong aklat pambata na nabasa ko noong taong 2010 upang muli’t muling makilala ang anyo ng kuwento para sa picture book. Proyekto ko ang pagbabasang ito pagkaraang mapanood ng "Julie & Julia" na may 500 recipe na kailangang matupad sa isang taon sa maliit niyang apartment. Buhat sa paglangoy sa karagatan ng mga aklat, naisip ko, paano maiiba ang isang kuwento na may tatak-Filipino?

Paano ako makatutulong upang maiipakilala ang isang bayani? Halimbawa ay ang kaso ng aking pamangkin. Sa mura niyang gulang, kaybilis niyang makilala ang mga mascot at logo ng fastfood. Mula sa malayo, alam na niyang tukuyin ang pulang higanteng bubuyog, ang tila-masayahing payasong naka-dilaw at pula, at ang batang babaeng naka-pigtail ang pulang buhok. Kung lilikha ako ng eksperimento sa mga bata, at ipapakita’t ipapakilala ang mga larawan ng mascot, bayani ng bansa, at mga popular na tauhan sa panitikan, hindi na ako magugulantang sa magiging resulta.


Ito ang agenda ko sa pagsulat noon pa man—ang ipakilala ang mga bayani ng epiko, mito, alamat, at ngayon: ang pambansang bayani ng bansa.

Likas na sa mga Pilipino ang maglaan ng tatak at kuwento sa pangalan. Tulad ko, ipinangalan sa chess grandmaster na si Eugene Torre. Ilang kakilala kong bata noon, may pangalang John Paul sa pagbisita ng Santo Papa sa bansa noong 1981. Ang mga kaibigan kong guro’t anak ng manunulat ay may malilikhaing pangalan: Haraya, Mithi, Patnubay, Tala, Alon, Laya, Tagumpay, Daniw, Daan, Sanyata, Sining. Ang mga pinsan ko'y nagkaroon ng kakaibang pangalan dahil sa pagsasama ng pangalan ng kanyang magulang.

Ngunit ang pinakainspirasyon sa kuwento ay ang aking kaklase sa kolehiyo na may pangalang Rizaldy. Kakaibang pangalan. Binusisi namin namin ang kasaysayan nito at napag-alamang ipinanganak siya sa Dec. 30, Rizal Day. Sa aking pananaliksik, nalaman kong marami pa siyang kapangala: isang artista (Jose Rizaldy Zshornack), basketball player, manunulat, guro, at ayoko sa sanang banggitin ang kontrobersiyal na gobernador sa Maguindanao. Isang search sa facebook: maraming lilitaw na Rizaldy, mga Pilipinong ikinabit ang pangalan kay Jose Rizal, ang dahilan kung bakit tayo magkakasama ngayong umaga.

Sa pagtatapos, mag-iiwan sana ng isang hamon. Tulad ni Rizaldy, nawa'y ikarangal natin hindi lamang ang pangalan na ibinigay sa atin ng ating mga magulang o ang pangalan na nais nating ipamana sa magiging anak. Higit pa rito, sana'y ikarangal natin ang pagkabayani ni Rizal, ang giting ng ating mga ninuno, ang identidad ng ating bansa, at ang ating lahi bilang Pilipino.

Maraming salamat at maligayang araw ng mga aklat pambata!

Author of the Month: Eugene Evasco Part 1

Eugene Evasco shares with us his "acceptance" speech for the Salanga Prize awarded to him last 19 July 2010 at the UST Museum during the 28th National Children's Book Day. Written in Filipino, Mr. Evasco emphasizes his motives and agenda in writing for children. This is his second Salanga Prize having won in 1998 for his story, Federico, a story about a boy with Down Syndrome.

Magandang umaga at pagbati sa ating lahat—sa mga ilustrador, tagapaglimbag, kapwa manunulat, guro, tagapagsalaysay.

Lubos akong nagagalak sa pagdiriwang at sa pagkilalang ito sa larangan ng aklat pambata. Nakagagalak dahil karangalan ang makatanggap ng premyo mula sa mga tunay na tagapagtaguyod ng panitikang pambata. Pagkaraan ng 14 na taon, muli na naman akong naparangalan ng Salanga Writer's Prize. Medyo matagal-tagal na paghihintay, pero isang kaiga-igayang paghihintay.

Kung totoong tao si Federico, ang karakter na may Down’s Syndrome sa kauna-unahan kong aklat, siya'y isa nang clerk sa post office, naghahardin, nagpipinta, volunteer sa pangangalaga ng ligaw na pusa't aso, at nagagalak sa pag-aaral ng internet. Sa palagay ko, magiging kaibigan niya si Rizaldy, isang batang nais kilalanin ang katukayong bayani at ang diwa ng pagkabansa.

Ngayong umaga, nais kong pasalamatan ang PBBY, na unang kumilala sa aking panulat. Ang pagkilala na nagsimula pa noong 1996 ang nagsilbing hudyat, pahiwatig, at motibasyon sa kung ano ang aking magiging karera pagkatapos ng kolehiyo. Ngayo'y nagtuturo na ako ng pagsusulat, nakapaglathala na ng mga aklat, kolektor at mag-aaral ng mga aklat pambata sa Pilipinas at ng daigdig.

Maraming salamat sa pagtukoy ng landas na aking tatahakin.

Nais ko ring pasalamatan ang mga tagapaglathala ng mga aklat pambata na bumubuhay sa mga tekstong aagapay sa pag-unlad ng kabataan. Ang pagdami ng mga publisher at ang pagbabagong-bihis ng aklat mula pa noong 1996 ay indikasyon sa makabuluhang pamumuhunan sa kabataan at sa pagbabasa.

Winners of the 2011 Alcala Prize

Congratulations to Yasmin Doctor for winning the 2011 Alcala Prize. She will be awarded the medal and cash prize along with Eugene Evasco (Salanga Prize 2011) on 19 July 2011 during the National Children's Book Day celebration. Below is her winning illustration to Evasco's story, Rizaldy. 

Honorable mention goes to Jonathan Ranolla and Leo Agtuca. Their works are posted below respectively. Thanks to Ani Almario and Liza Flores for the graphics. View more of the winning artworks in PBBY website.

A sample of Jonathan Ranolla's interpretation of Evasco's story, Rizaldy

Leo Agtuca's samples of his rendition of Rizaldy by Eugene Evasco

2011 Salanga Prize Winners

Congratulations to Eugene Evasco for winning the grand prize of the 2011 Salanga Award. His story, Rizaldy, will be awarded the Salanga Medal on July 2011 during the celebration of the 28th National Children's Book Day.

Honorable mention goes to Patricia Gomez for her story Pepe's Gift.

Salanga 2011 Prize Goes Rizaliana

Because it's Rizal's 150th next year, PBBY remembers his relevance in Philippine Children's Literature.

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2011 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library.

2011 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal. To commemorate this event, all 2011 PBBY-Salanga entries should be inspired in part or in whole by the life or works of Jose Rizal. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day in July 2011.
CONTEST RULES

1. The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.

2. Stories should be intended for children aged 6 to 12 years old. The plot and the sequence must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book of 28 to 32 pages.

3. Entries may be in Filipino or English.

4. Entries must be in hard copy, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Maximum length is five (5) pages.

5. Each entry should be accompanied by a brief note explaining how the story was inspired by Rizal, as well as the source of the said information (i.e. title of book/article on Jose Rizal).

6. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

7. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.

8. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.

9.All entries must be sent through snail mail to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Sts., Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.

10. All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., November 15, 2010.

11. Winners will be announced no later than December 17, 2010. Non-winning entries may be claimed at the PBBY Secretariat until January 10, 2011.

The winning story will be the basis for the 2011 PBBY-Alcala Prize. For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at Telefax 372-3548 or email pbby[at]adarna.com.ph.

Celebrate National Children's Book Day (NCBD) 2010

On 20 July, 2010 PBBY will once again commence the celebration of National Children's Book Day. This year, we're awarding the Salanga to Raymond Falgui for his beautiful poetry and the Alacala to Aldy Aguirre for his dreamy and whimsical illustrations of Falgui's poems. Ms. Candy Gourlay, fresh from the successful publication of her Young Adult novel,Tall Story, in the UK, will deliver the keynote address. The opening of the Albert Gamos Retrospective and the presentation of published children's books and YA novels are part of this year's NCBD as well. Three days after, PBBY and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) will announce the Best Reads of 2008 and 2009 at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati.

The NCBD is a one day event that will transpire at the Museo Pambata (for 2010). This, however, does not stop schools, learning communities, libraries and families from celebrating NCBD. This July, a host of NCBD related activities can be organized by individuals and groups of people who love books and the children who read them.

Here is my top ten NCBD activities for schools and libraries:

1. Conduct storytelling sessions in the classrooms and in the library

2. Organize a Filipino book characters on parade

3. Invite a Filipino Author and/or Illustrator to speak to kids

4. Display winners of the Salanga and the Alcala winners in the library with their accompanying authors and illustrators. The PBBY website has the list of winners

5. Stage your own Best Reads by parents, teachers and students. Remember to focus on Filipino books for children and young adults

6. Drum up the theme by showcasing Filipino books that carry this year's slogan: Ang Nagbabasa Ng Libro Laging Panalo! (A Book Reader Is A Winner!)

7. Hold contests on story writing and illustrating. This can be a follow-up activity from the author and illustrator visit

8. Publish or display reviews of Filipino story books by students online or in the school paper

9. Invite parents, school officials, teachers and other members of the learning community to talk about books they grew up with

10. Read a Filipino children's book or YA novel.

The NCBD celebration is not exclusive to PBBY. Bring it to your schools and families. After all, we are all here to celebrate reading, books and the Filipino young reader.

The 2010 Salanga Prize for Children's Poetry

Congratulations to Raymond Falgui, fictionist, poet and English teacher at UP Diliman, for being the first winner of the 2010 Salanga Prize for Children's Poetry. He will be formally awarded on July 20, 2010 at the Museo Pamabata during the celebration of the 26th National Children's Book Day (NCBD).

Poet and publisher, Rayvi Sunico and Metrobank's Most Outstanding Teacher of 2009, Prof. Dina Ocampo served as judges to this year's Salanga Prize.

Extended: PBBY-Salanga Prize 2010

PBBY is still accepting entries for the 2010 PBBY-Salanga Prize. Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat c/o Adarna House, Inc., 2nd Floor, FSS Building, 20 Scout Tuason Street, Quezon City no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 26, 2009. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library.

There will be two winners, one for Poetry in English and another for Poetry in Filipino. Each winner will receive P20,000 in cash, a gold medal, as well as an opportunity to be published.

For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, through telefax (372-3548) or e-mail (pbby@adarna.com.ph). Visit www.pbby.org.ph for more details.

The 1st PBBY Poetry Contest

It will still be known as the Salanga Prize. But next year, PBBY is opening up the contest for children's poetry to fly and soar. Bring out the poet in you! Contest rules are in the PBBY website.

Salanga Prize Winners 2009

The winners of the 2009 Salanga Prize are the following:

Grand Prize:
Raymund Garlitos (Ang Higante sa Loob ng Aming Bahay)

Honorable Mention:
Perry Mangilaya (Di Ko Man Kamukha sina Inay at Itay)
Victoria Bravo (Lola-Lola)

Congratulations!

'Tis the Season To Book Launching

And yet another book will be launched.

The Salanga 2008 winner, Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! by Nanoy Rafael will be presented to the public on Friday, November 21, 2008. Illustrations were done by Serge Bumatay III who bagged this year's Alcala.