By Pearl Gumapos
Paolo Miguel Tiausas was named the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) Poet of the Year 2021 for his poem, “Iláng Memorándum Mulâ sa Kágawarán ng Pag-iisá” during the agency’s annual ‘Talaang Ginto: Makata ng Taon’ contest.
Tiausas will receive P30,000, a plaque, and a medal.
He is a writer from Pasig who graduated with a degree in BFA Creative Writing from Ateneo de Manila University last 2013, and received the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts (Tulâ) and Joseph Mulry Award for Literary Excellence.
He became a fellow of the Ateneo National Writers Workshop (2012) and IYAS National Writers Workshop (2014).
Last 2015, Tiausas was included in the shortlist for Ateneo Art Awards, Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Prize for Art Criticism, while in 2016, he garnered third place in the short story category of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Other KWF Talaang Ginto winners include Francisco Arias Montesena who won second place for his poem, “Sulyáp, Pangárap sa Mundóng Natitilád.” He will receive 20,000 and a plaque.
Third place went to Ariel Sotelo Tabag for his poem, “Paubayà sa Lupà at ibá pang Tulâ,” and he will be receiving P15,000 and a plaque.
The honorable mentions are: Icon Matthew Cayso Monit for his poem, “Bákit Masaráp Magíng Aytá,” Philip Yerro Kimpo Jr. for “Sa Panlása,” and Paterno Buban Baloloy Jr. for his poem “Láging Kapós Ang Manggás ng Gunitâ.”
Talaang Ginto: Makata ng Taón is a contest initiated by the KWF focused on poetry writing. It aims to elevate the quality of Filipino poetry by recognizing seasoned and novice talents and voices in the art of poetry. – jlo
