AN ASSOCIATE Professor from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology won second place in the GAWAD Takos literary competition organized by the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

Lourd Greggory D. Crisol, from the Department of English, was recognized in the Tula category for his poem Halang-Halang, which was featured in Volumes 4 and 5 of TAKOS: An Anthology of Gendered Refereed Literary Genres.

Crisol noted that the competition’s selection process was thorough, starting with editorial screening and progressing to a panel of esteemed judges. The works were assessed based on a rigorous set of criteria.

The distinguished panel included Ferdinand Pisigan Jarin, Ernesto Villaluz Carandang II, Christine Bellen-Ang, Genaro R. Gozo-Cruz, and Marco Antonio R. Rodas, all respected figures in Philippine literature.

The awarding ceremony, held last week, saw winners from various regions of the Philippines, including Sorsogon, Butuan, Batangas, and Metro Manila.

TAKOS, the journal behind the competition, aims to promote gender equality through literature by providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.

In addition to this recognition, Crisol was also the 1st place winner of the 2024 Kinaiya: Kolektib ng mga LGBTQIA+ na Manunulat poetry contest, further solidifying his reputation as a notable literary figure in the Philippines.