A MATHEMATICS teacher from the University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo won second prize in the Short Story for Children Category at the 71st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

Dr. Jonny Pornel wrote “The Legend of Ipot-Ipot,” a story about a beetle named Ipot-Ipot, who is being bullied by bigger animals.

UPV said that the story is about how Ipot-Ipot became instrumental in finding missing god Adlaw after it was swallowed by Bakunawa. Ipot-Ipot was essential in restoring light in the world despite its small size.

Pornel is also the author of the books “Mga Sugilanon ni Agurang Onyo sang Kataguman” and “The Sage of Katagman” published by Kasingkasing Press.

The awarding ceremony will take place on November 27, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Established in 1950, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature commemorates the memory of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr., a dedicated Chinese-Filipino businessman and philanthropist.

The Palanca Awards aims to develop Philippine literature “by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works, being a treasury of the Philippine’s literary gems from our gifted writers, and assist in their eventual dissemination to our people, particularly students.”