I DON’T normally like to extend deadlines.
I put a great thought about how I schedule things.
But some things are beyond my control.
Or, I want people to avail as many opportunities as they can.
***
Before the Palanca Awards announced their deadline this year, I have announced that the 2023 Peter’s Prize deadline is on May 31.
That’s for all the three contests:
Hiligaynon love poetry.
Chapbook of pandemic literature.
Three-minute silent film.
***
Later, Palanca set its deadline on May 31.
A few friends also sent me a list deadlines of writing contests.
Well, two of my contests are writing contests.
Do I really want to crowd with other contest deadlines?
And so it is with great thought and consideration that I am extending the Peter’s Prize deadline by a month.
The new deadline is June 30, midnight, Philippine time.
***
All entries to the Peter’s Prize contests are to be submitted online.
Read again all the guidelines as I have previously outlined.
The guidelines remain the same, only the deadline is moved to a later date.
***
But short recap:
The love poetry contest is in Hiligaynon language only; a suite or a collection of seven poems.
Hiligaynon may be mixed with other languages, but it must keep about 80% of Hiligaynon vocabulary.
***
Chapbook of pandemic literature must translate to 18-24 pages of size 8.5” x 5.5” (like an A4 or short bond paper folded crosswise) containing writings about the pandemic.
It can be poetry, or essay, or short fiction, even short plays, or a combination of two or more, or all of the genres mentioned above.
It can be in Hiligaynon, or English, or Filipino, or a combination of two or all of these languages.
***
The film has an open theme; even open genre.
Three-minute long (160-180 seconds), silent.
Silent means no spoken dialogue; filmmakers may use inter-titles, ambient sounds, lyrics-free music, sound effects, but no spoken lines.
The prize goes to the winning director (singular).
***
The cash prizes are modest: P5,000 for the first prize; P3,000 for the second prize; P2,000 for the third prize.
What one should aim for is the specially crafted medallion that is only awarded to the top winner.
The top prize winners also get a commission as Ambassadors of Literature, and Ambassador for Film.
***
For complete guidelines, find online the following articles archived by Panay News:
“Hiligaynon love poems” – March 24, 2023
“Chapbook of pandemic literature” – March 20, 2023
“2023 Peter’s Prize for film” – March 22, 2023.
***
If you want to get encouraged, see what the first prize medallions look like.
Read the story of “Peter’s Prize 2023” published by Panay News on March 11.
***
Some Peter’s Prize winners have gone on to become Palanca winners.
Many have become published authors.
And some, by the sheer title of “Peter’s Prize winner” have become more confident writers, filmmakers, and strong culture and arts advocates.
***
It is for these reasons that I am extending the deadline to June 30:
That people may still participate in many other national film, and literary writing, contests in addition to our Peter’s Prize contest.
That they may have more time to craft their works, and therefore increase their chances of winning.
And even perhaps to encourage people who learned of our contests this late in the year.
Announcing the contest in mid-March, reconsidering a deadline extension in the beginning of May, and setting the new deadline for June 30 is a most human action.
That’s why I’m doing it!/PN
