As part of its commitment to celebrating the enterprising creative labor involved in book publishing, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) announce the finalists of the 40th National Book Awards.

An annual prize that honors the most prestigious book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines, the National Book Awards is crucial in a craft that is as significant as it is undersupported. Books and the people who make them are at the frontlines of our fight against disinformation and historical distortion — the National Book Awards reinvigorates Philippine publishing, spotlighting local voices and attracting a wider readership.

Of course this is only one step. Strengthening local literature also means supporting authors, artists, and creative workers before they win awards; championing independent publishers and small bookstores; building more free libraries and stocking relevant titles; and fostering a culture of reading that begins with an empowering education system.

It also means debunking the myth that local books are hard to find. While we call for popular bookstores to carry more Filipino titles, local publishers have been servicing readers nationwide since they transitioned to digital. Most finalist presses — including the University of the Philippines Press, leading with 24 finalists, are available on all major e-commerce platforms.

This cycle of the National Book Awards received 213 title nominations across 29 categories consisting of three languages: English, Filipino, and Ilocano. The categories are grouped into Literary, Non-Literary, and Design, honoring not only authors but also cover designers and layout artists. The awarding ceremony, the first to be held onsite after the pandemic, will be on May 13, 2023 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

Below is the full list of finalists for the 40th National Book Awards.

LITERARY DIVISION

NOVEL (ENGLISH)

"Snakes in the Grass" - Patrick Everard, UP Press
"The Secret of Derek Guerrero" - Mark Manalang, HS Grafik Print
"The Small-but-Terrible Gina" - Weldon M. McCarty, UP Press
"White Lady, Black Christ" - Charlson Ong, Milflores Publishing, Inc.

NOVEL (FILIPINO)

"Isang Dekadang Resty" - Jov Ortua Almero, University of the Philippines Press
"Asinkrono: Isang Nobela" - Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles, De La Salle University Publishing House
"Aswanglaut" - Allan N. Derain, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"The Rain in España" - 4REUMINCT, Precious Pages Corporation
"Kilapsaw" - Ellen Sicat, University of the Philippines Press

SHORT FICTION (ENGLISH)

"Selected Short Stories" - Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
"Brown Hole" - Israfel Fagela, University of the Philippines Press
"Flowers for Thursday" - Mia Tijam, Ateneo de Naga University Press

SHORT FICTION (FILIPINO)

"Ang Huling Emotero" - Mark Angeles, University of the Philippines Press
"Ang Itim na Orkidyas ng Isla Boracay" - Genevieve L. Asenjo, University of the Philippines Press
"Tinagong Dagat" - Riza G. Babaran, University of the Philippines Press
"Solo Flight" - Rita dela Cruz, Isang Balangay Media Productions
"Eksamen at Iba Pang Kuwento ng Pag-ibig" - U Z. Eliserio, University of the Philippines Press

NONFICTION PROSE (ENGLISH)

"Is There Sex in Heaven?" - Simeon Dumdum, Jr., Ateneo de Manila University Press
"What I Wanted to be When I Grew Up" - Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, University of the Philippines Press
"Departures" - Priscilla Supnet Macansantos, University of the Philippines Press
"Ascending the Fourth Mountain" - Maria Virginia Y. Morales, Ateneo de Manila University
"In The Line of Fire" - Joel Pablo Salud, San Anselmo Publications, Inc.

NONFICTION PROSE (FILIPINO)

"Aishite imasu" - R P. Baquiran, Jr., University of the Philippines Press
"Suóng" - Gerome Nicolas Dela Peña, 8Letters Bookstore and Publishing
"#Pasahero" - Joselito D. Delos Reyes, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
"Sa Yakap ng Gubat at Dagat ng Palawan" - John Iremil Teodoro, Pawikan Press

ANTHOLOGY

"Tingle" - Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz (Ed.), Anvil Publishing, Inc.
"This Season of Grief"- Joanna Nicolas-Na, OMF Literature, Inc.
"Lamyos" - J. Neil C. Garcia (Ed.), University of the Philippines Press
"Harvest Moon" - Padmapani L. Perez, Rehana Rossouw, Alexandra Walter & Renato Redentor Constantino, Milflores Publishing, Inc. 
"Tinubdan" - Arlene J. Yandug, Maria Elena L. Paulma & Lilia A. Cotejar (Eds.), Xavier University Press

LITERARY CRITICISM/CULTURAL STUDIES (ENGLISH)

"Partial Views" - Conchitina Cruz, De La Salle University Publishing House 
"Campaigns of Knowledge" - Malini Johar Schueller, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"What Kapitan Tiago Served and Padre Damaso Ate" - Jose Victor Z. Torres, Ateneo de Manila University Press

LITERARY CRITICISM/CULTURAL STUDIES (FILIPINO)

"Digmaan ng mga Alaala" - Laurence Marvin S. Castillo, University of the Philippines Press
"Buklat/Mulat" - Eugene Y. Evasco, University of the Philippines Press
"Halagahan" - Patrick Flores, Ateneo de Naga University Press
"Musika ng Pananakop" - Raul Casantusan Navarro, University of the Philippines Press

MEDIA STUDIES

“Hindi Nangyari Dahil Wala sa Social Media” - Rolando B. Tolentino, Vladimeir B. Gonzales, & Laurence Marvin S. Castillo, Ateneo de Manila University Press

POETRY (ENGLISH)

"Tangere" - Rodrigo V. Dela Peña, Jr., University of the Philippines Press
"Thorn Grass" - Luis H. Francia, University of the Philippines Press
"College Boy" - Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Tokhang Nation" - Arvin Abejo Mangohig, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
"Poems from Ground Z" - Victor N. Sugbo, University of the Philippines Press

POETRY (FILIPINO)

"Indi Natun Kinahanglan kang Duro nga Tinaga sa Atun Tunga" - Genevieve L. Asenjo, University of the Philippines Press
"Sa Aking Pagkadestiyero" - Joi Barrios, University of the Philippines Press
"Pasakalye" - Lean Borlongan, self-published
"Lunas sa Nabubuong Lubos" - Paul Alcoseba Castillo, University of Santo Tomas Publishing
"Panaghoy/Pagtutol (Weeping, Resisting)" - Jun Cruz Reyes, University of the Philippines Press
"Tuwing Nag-Iisa sa Mapa ng Buntong-hininga" - Paolo Miguel G. Tiausas, University of the Philippines Press

GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS (ENGLISH)

"Alandal" - Author: J. Philip Ignacio; Illustrator: Alex Niño, Komiket, Inc.
"Twinkle, Twinkle" - Author/Illustrator: Tori Tadiar, Komiket, Inc.

GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS (FILIPINO)

"Li'l Bertong Badtrip!" - Author/Illustrator: Manix Abrera, Self-published
"Tarantadong Kalbo 2" - Author/Illustrator: Kevin Eric Raymundo, Komiket, Inc.
"Ang Mga Alitaptap ng Pulang Buhangin" - Author/Illustrator: RH Quilantang, Komiket, Inc.
 

TRANSLATION

"Mga Himutok sa Palikuran at Iba Pang Kuwento" - Translator: Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III; Author: Eka Kurniawan, Savage Mind: Arts, Books, Cinema
"Three Nights, Three Days" - Translator: David T. Ong; Author: Eros S. Atalia, 19th Avenida Publishing House
"Catch A Falling Star" - Translator: Chuckberry J. Pascual; Author: Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, Lampara Publishing House
"The Bamboo Stalk" - Translator: Jen Recato-Daño; Author: Saud Alsanousi, Anvil Publishing, Inc.
"Avenge Me!" - Translator: Soledad S. Reyes; Author: Precioso Palma, De La Salle University Publishing House

ILOCANO (FICTION-NOVEL)

"Dagiti Pundador (The Founders)" - Prescillano N. Bermudez, Saniata Publications
"Matayakon, Rosing! (I Am Dying, Rosing!)"- Dionisio S. Bulong, Saniata Publications

ILOCANO (SHORT FICTION)

"Kulukol iti Kilikili (Drill for the Armpit)" Efren A. Inocencio, Saniata Publications
"Villa Ken Dadduma Pay a Sarita" - Ariel Sotelo Tabág, Saniata Publications

ILOCANO (ANTHOLOGY)

"Panaglantip (Union)" - Dionisio S. Bulong & Eden L. Cachola-Bulong, Saniata Publications
"Apit (Harvest)" - Oswald A. Valente & Ariel Sotelo Tabág, Saniata Publications

ILOCANO (POETRY)

"Baribari (Pardon Me)"- Roy V. Aragon, Saniata Publications
"Rabii (Night) 100 a #tweetniw" - Roy V. Aragon, Saniata Publications
"Anglem (Incense) - Daniel L. Nesperos, Saniata Publications

ILOCANO (TRANSLATION)

"Dagiti Sagrado a Tay-ak ti Isla Fuga (Fuga Island Sacred Scapes)" - Translator: Ariel Sotelo Tabág; Author: Ronel P. Dela Cruz, Saniata Publications
"Sirib ti Puli ni Ilokano (Ilokano Folklore) - Translator: Ariel Sotelo Tabág; Author: Isabelo Florentino delos Reyes, Saniata Publications

NON-LITERARY DIVISION

ART

"Endangered Splendor" - Fernando Zialcita & Erik Akpedonu, Ateneo de Manila University Press

SOCIAL SCIENCES

"More Tomboy, More Bakla Than We Admit" - Mark Blasius & Richard T. Chu, Vibal Foundation, Inc.
"The Water Defenders" - Robin Broad & John Cavanagh, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Bioethics" - Fausto B. Gomez, OP, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
"The Role of Shrines in View of the New Evangelization - Kendrick Ivan B. Panganiban, Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.

HISTORY

"Transpacific Engagements"- Florina H. Capistrano-Baker & Meha Priyadarshini (Eds.), Ayala Foundation, Inc. & Getty Research Institute & Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz
"Civilizational Imperatives" - Oliver Charbonneau, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Between Celebration and Critique" - José Mario C. Francisco, SJ, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Púgot" - Narciso C. Tan, Vibal Foundation, Inc.
"Specters of Germany" - Nathaniel Parker Weston, Ateneo de Manila University Press

HUMOR, SPORTS, LIFESTYLE, & BUSINESS

"A Kind (of) Business" - Elfren N. Cruz and Benito L. Teehankee, Anvil Publishing, Inc.
"The Business of Banking" - Deogracias N. Vistan, Anvil Publishing, Inc.

FOOD

"Notes From My Kitchen 2" - Chef Reggie Aspiras, Anvil Publishing, Inc.
"Appetite for Freedom" - Helena Orosa del Rosario, Ige Ramos Design Studios (iRDS)
"Baking Simpol" - Chef Tatung Sarthou, Vertikal Books
"Kitchen Secrets" - Chef Tatung Sarthou, Vertikal Books
"Gospel of Food" - Sharwin Tee, Anvil Publishing, Inc.

SCIENCE

"A Guide to Gingers of Sorsogon" - R. V. A. Docot, Far Eastern University Publications
"The Bicol River Basin Project" - Ricky P. Laureta, Ric Ryan H. Regalado & Diomerl Edward B. Baldo, Partido State University

SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY

"PagTuhan: The Tausug Spiritual Tradition" - Darwin J. Absari, University of the Philippines Press
"Sports in the Philippines" - Fr. Edgardo D. Alaurin, OP, SThD, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
"The Filipino Christ and the Historical Jesus Toward a Filipino Christology" - Michael Demetrius H. Asis, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Handumanan (Remembrance)" - Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR, Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.

PHILOSOPHY

"Thought-Pieces" - Paolo A. Bolaños, Aletheia Printing and Publishing House
"Repentance and Rebirth at the End of Life as We Know It" - Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Ateneo de Manila University Press

DESIGN

"Endangered Splendor" - Authors: Fernando Zialcita & Erik Akpedonu, Cover design, book design, and layout: Ali Figueroa, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"More Tomboy, More Bakla Than We Admit" - Authors: Mark Blasius and Richard T. Chu, Book Design: Francisco dC. Mendoza, Cover Design: Ryan T. dela Cruz, Layout: Patricia Ann G. Chan and Ryan T. dela Cruz, Vibal Foundation, Inc.
"Drugs and Philippine Society" - Gideon Lasco (Ed.), Book design: Nadine Legaspi, Cover design: Karl Fredrick M. Castro, Ateneo de Manila University Press
"Forth" - Author: Rosmon Tuazon, English translation: Ben Aguilar, Book Cover Design, Cover Art, and Interior Art: Carla Gamalinda, Book Layout: Ben Aguilar & Ronald Verzo II, Isang Balangay Media Productions