Abreu’s Agaw Dilim receives Best First Book Award

Lualhati Abreu, CenPEG Fellow for special studies and culture, received this year’s Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award on December 10, 2010 at the UP Asian Center GT-Toyota Hall of Wisdom. Abreu received the award for her book, Agaw-Dilim, Agaw-Liwanag.

Published by the University of the Philippines Press, the book was also adjudged the UP Centennial Award for literature in 2009.

The Madrigal-Gonzalez book award was established by the UP Institute of Creative Writing in 2001, through the initiative and generosity of the Madrigal-Gonzalez family. Its aim, says the Institute, “is to encourage writers who have published a first work in English or Filipino to continue in the pursuit of excellence in the literary art…Nominations for the Award come from publishing houses and University presses, creative writing center, writers’ organizations, and other lovers of literature.”

Past awardees have included: Angelo R. Lacuesta, for “Life after X”; Ellen L. Sicat, “Paghuhunos”; Ma. Felisa H. Batacan, ”Smaller and Smaller Circles”; Luna Sicat-Cleto, “Makinilyang Altar”; Vicente Groyon for “The Sky Over Dimas”; Kristian Cordero; and Rica Bolipata Santos. Posted by CenPEG