u.s.t. ustetika awards for literature

hours ago, the university of santo tomas hosted its annual ustetika awards for literature. the affair was held at the university's fabulous quadricentennial park. being one of this year's fiction judges, i had to be there. it was a great opportunity for me to meet old school friends and writing colleagues. i also got to meet many of those who took my place after i left school. hurray to poet and critic j. neil garcia (a poetry judge) for bringing his camera. he had a ball taking pictures. amazing when neil took photos of me outside u.s.t. high school. this used to be my playground, i thought. returning to ustetika meant returning to the place i once called home.

prizewinning poet vim nadera, ustetika founder

with prizewinning writer cirilo f. bautista and wife rosemary (seated), writers francesca kwe, j. neil garcia, genevieve asenjo, shirley lua and lito zulueta

with prizewinning writers marra pl lanot, jose f. lacaba and j. neil garcia

with this year's ustetika fiction winners and judges francesca kwe and ferdie lopez

ustetika essay winners with judges oscar campomanes, marra pl lanot and jose victor torres


where it all started