The Premio Zóbel is a Philippine literary award conferred on Filipino writers in the Spanish language. It was established to revivify the Spanish language and to promote the best writing created by Filipino authors in the language. Founded in 1920, it is the only literary prize in Asia that promotes Spanish-language literature, and is also the oldest literary award in the country.
Mechanics The primary objective of the Premio Zóbel is to give recognition Filipino writers in and advocates for Spanish language. The candidate must possess Spanish fluency. Awardees are judged members of the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language. In recent years, the criteria in selecting the winners had broadened. They may or may not need to have written a body of work, as the recognition can be given to anyone who champion the Spanish language. Alt URL
History The Premio Zóbel was founded by businessman and philanthropist Enrique Zóbel de Ayala in 1920, considered to be the oldest literary award in the Philippines and the only literary prize in Asia dedicated to promoting the Spanish language. Zóbel advocated for the preservation of linkage between the Philippines and Spain through culture and the cultivation of Philippine literature in Spanish. He established the award amidst the American colonization in the first few decades of the 20th century, the rise of the English language as medium of instruction in schools, and the waning of the use of the Spanish language as lingua franca in government and the elite. He was quoted to have said, "No quiero que el español muera en Filipinas. ("I don’t want Spanish to die in the Philippines.")" The award was continued by his daughter, Gloria Zóbel de Padilla, after his demise.
The awarding ceremony had been previously held at the Casino Español de Manila. It was later moved to the InterContinental Manila hotel. At its height, it was a literary and social event covered extensively in the media.
Present Currently, the award is organized under the leadership of the children of Gloria Zóbel de Padilla - Georgina Z. Padilla de Mac-Crohon and Alejandro Z. Padilla.
The history of Spanish language in the Philippines, history of the Zóbel de Ayala family, history of the Premio Zóbel, and short biographies of past winners as well as excerpts of their work are contained in the book, "81 Years of Premio Zóbel: A Legacy of Philippine Literature in Spanish". Written by the 1998 awardee professor Lourdes Brillantes, it was supported by Spanish Ambassador Delfín Colomé Pujol and the Fundacion Santiago for the Philippine Centennial.
List of winners Below is the list of awardees through the years. +YearAwardeeWorks2000Lina Obieta De SevillaFounder of Fundacion de la Lengua Hispanica en Filipinas1999Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo1998Lourdes C. Brillantes1997Isabel Caro Wilson1996Francisco C. Delgado1995José S. Arcilla1994Jaime Sin1993Blas F. Ople1992Napoleon G. Rama1991Dom Gabriel Casal1990Alejandro R. Roces1989Rosalinda Orosa1988Miguel Ma. Varela1987Juan José Rocha1986Raúl S. Manglapus1985Antonio M. Molina Historia de Filipinas1984Lelilia Cortés FernándezCarlos De La Rosa1983Bartolomé BrionesDiosdado Talamayan1982Belén S. ArgüellesSeverina Luna de Orosa1981 Enrique CenteneraEdmundo FarolánTercera Primavera1980Rosario Valdés LamugDelfín G. Gumbán1979Arturo R. CalsadoLuis Garchitorena1978Federico Espino LicsiLuis Garchitorena1977Lourdes J. CustodioEnrique O. Muñoz1976Amado YuzonFrancisco C. Palisoc1975Guillermo Gómez RiveraEl Caserón1974Bienvenido De La Paz1966Benito Valdéz VaccaniLatidos (Vibrations)1965José Ma. del MarPerfiles (Profiles)1964Nilda Guerrero Barranco Nostalgias1963León Ma. GuerreroEl Sí y El No (Yes and No)1962Vicente Padriga Vino Viejo en Odres Nuevos (Old Wine in New Bottles)Alejo Arce El Bicolano y su Ambiente (The Bicolano and His Environment)1961Juan Martínez Cucullú FlaquezasFrancisco Zaragoza Castalia Intima1960Antonio L. Serrano Orgullo de RazaFernando De La Concepción Cumbre Y Abismo1959Emeterio Barcelón Y Barceló SorianoSoriano Un Tagalo Escribe En EspañolVicente Guzmán RivasEn España Son AsíCésar T. MataModismos CastellanosSixto Y. OrosaEl Patriotismo en Las Poesías de Rizal1957Esperanza Lázaro De BaxterRomancero Sentimental (Romances)1955José P. Bantug Bosquejo Histórico de la MedicinaAdelina Gurrea MonasterioA Lo Largo del Camino1954Enrique Fernández LumbaHispanofilia Filipina1953Joaquín Lim Jaramillo Las Figuras Y La Crítica LiterariaVicente De Jesús Apolíneas1941Francisco Rodríguez Cuentos y Ensayos1940Luis Guzmán RivasPigmeos1939Rafael S. RipollEsbozos1938Francisco VaronaNegrosManuel De Los ReyesProntuario de Palabras Y Frances Mal Empleadas en Filipinas1937Antonio Fernández Salmos de Oro (Psalms of Gold)Vicente Zacarías Arévalo Facetas (Facets)1936Ramón Escoda El Canto del Solitario (The Song of the Lonely)Benigno Del RíoEl Hjo de Madame Butterfly (The Son of Madam Butterfly)Antonio Ma. Cavanna EscarceosLiterarios (Literary Attempts)1935Evengelina Guerrero ZacaríasKaleidoscopio EspiritualJosé ReyesEn Aras del Ideal1934Pedro AunarioEn el Yunque CotidianoAlejo Valdés PicaDe La VidaPacífico VictorianoArpegiosFrancisco VillanuevaTrabajo literario1933Buenaventura L. VaronaEl Nieto de Cabesang Tales1932Dra. Inés Villa Filipinas en el Camino de Cultura 1931Jose R. TeoticoDel Momento HispánicoRomán JovenCrónicas e Interviews1930Leoncio González LiqueteRepertorio Histórico, BiográficoMaría Paz Mendoza GuázonNotas de Viaje1929Antonio AbadLa Oveja de Nathan (Nathan's Sheep), novelFlavio Zaragoza CanoMis escudo de Nobleza/ Cruz Espada y flor1928Antonio AbadEl Ultimo Romantico, novelManuel RávagoPeregrinando (On a Pilgrimage)1927Joaquín Ramírez de ArellanoMrs. MortonJosé Hernandez GaviraLo Que Vimos En Joló y Zamboanga; Sus1926Jesús BalmoriHombre y mujerManuel Bernabé1925Enrique K. LaygoCaretas1924Manuel BernabéRubaiyat1923Buenaventura RodríguezLa Pugna1922Guillermo Gómez WindhamLa Carrera de Candida
Further reading Brillantes, Lourdes Castrillo. 81 Years of Premio Zóbel: A Legacy of Philippine Literature in Spanish, Filipinas Heritage Library (2006)
References