A PUBLICATION from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines was among the finalists in the 41st National Book Awards.

“Sining at Kamalayang Pilipino na Maka-Tao” will compete against four other works under the Literary Criticism/Cultural Studies Category.

The book was edited by University of the Philippines Professor-Emeritus Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson and published under PUP Research Institute for Culture and Language-Center for Philippine Studies.

“The anthology of academic essays was the culminating output of the three-year Masterclass on Philippine Arts at PUP: Desk and TP Seminar-Workshop organized since 2021 until this year,” PUP said.

“The Masterclass is a joint project of the University Center for Culture and Arts headed by Prof. Bely Ygot, College of Arts and Letters headed by Dr. Romeo Pena, and RICL headed by Prof. Joseph Reylan Viray, while CPS is led by Prof. Jomar Adaya,” it added.

Sining at Kamalayang Pilipino na Maka-tao is the first publication facilitated by RICL-CPS.

This is also the first time a publication from the research center gained recognition from a national award-giving body.

The National Book Awards is sponsored by the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics’ Circle.

The winners will be announced in February 2024, in time for the Philippines’ participation as Guest of Honor in the world’s biggest book fair, Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025.