It was a night of celebration of Filipino talent at the Philippine International Convention Center for the 72nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature awarding ceremony.
The Palanca Awards—named after the businessman and philanthropist Carlos Palanca, Sr. and sponsored by the Carlos Palanca Foundation, Inc.—is the longest-running literary competition in the country. Highly coveted by many Filipino writers both here and abroad, it incentivizes them to help enrich Philippine Literature and acts as a treasury of our literary gems.
An immense part of the annual revelry is the hard work and dedication of the authors, poets, academics, and other literary luminaries who helped determine the entries well-deserving to be part of the illustrious Palanca Awards roster.
The 72nd Palanca Awards judges for each division and category are as follows:
| ENGLISH DIVISION | ||
| NOVEL | Chairman | Prof. Danton Remoto, Ph.D. |
| Member | Ms. Maria L.M. Fres-Felix | |
| Member | Prof. Ralph Semino Galan | |
| SHORT STORY | Chairman | Mr. Dean Francis Alfar |
| Member | Prof. Augusto Antonio A. Aguila, Ph.D. | |
| Member | Prof. Clarissa V. Militante, Ph.D. | |
| SHORT STORY FOR CHILDREN | Chairman | Ms. Tarie Sabido |
| Member | Prof. Rolando S. Dela Cruz | |
| Member | Prof. Marissa Syquia Felix, MA. Ed. | |
| ESSAY | Chairman | Atty. Nicolas B. Pichay |
| Member | Ms. Emily A. Abrera | |
| Member | Prof. Dinah T. Roma, Ph.D. | |
| POETRY | Chairman | Mr. Ruel S. De Vera |
| Member | Mr. Juaniyo Arcellana | |
| Member | Cesar R. Aquino, Ph.D. | |
| POETRY WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN | Chairman | Ms. Feny de los Angeles-Bautista |
| Member | Mr. Kris Lanot Lacaba | |
| Member | Mr. Ramon C. Sunico | |
| ONE-ACT PLAY | Chairman | Mr. Dennis N. Marasigan |
| Member | Joi Barrios-Leblanc, Ph.D. | |
| Member | Mr. Edward D. Cabagnot | |
| FULL-LENGTH PLAY | Chairman | Mr. Bart Guingona |
| Member | Mr. Frank G. Rivera | |
| Member | Jose Victor Z. Torres, Ph.D. | |
| FILIPINO DIVISION | ||
| NOBELA | Tagapangulo | Allan Alberto N. Derain, Ph.D. |
| Kagawad | Genevieve L. Asenjo, Ph.D. | |
| Kagawad | Prof. Vim Nadera, Ph.D. | |
| MAIKLING KUWENTO | Tagapangulo | Prof. Ma. Milagros C. Laurel, Ph.D. |
| Kagawad | Dr. Isabel D. Sebullen | |
| Kagawad | Ms. Beverly Wico Siy | |
| MAIKLING KUWENTONG PAMBATA | Tagapangulo | Ms. Glenda C. Oris |
| Kagawad | Mr. Augie Rivera | |
| Kagawad | Prof. Lalaine F. Yanilla-Aquino, Ph.D. | |
| SANAYSAY | Tagapangulo | Prof. Jose Wendell P. Capili, Ph.D. |
| Kagawad | Prof. Adelaida F. Lucero, Ph.D. | |
| Kagawad | Prof. Marco A. V. Lopez | |
| TULA | Tagapangulo | Mr. Niles Jordan Breis |
| Kagawad | Allan C. Popa, Ph.D. | |
| Kagawad | Mesandel V. Arguelles, Ph.D. | |
| TULA PARA SA MGA BATA | Tagapangulo | Joselito D. De los Reyes, Ph.D. |
| Kagawad | Ms. Yna S. Reyes | |
| Kagawad | Mr. Vijae O. Alquisola | |
| DULANG MAY ISANG YUGTO | Tagapangulo | Reuel Molina Aguila, Ph.D. |
| Kagawad | Alexander C. Cortez, Ph.D. | |
| Kagawad | Mr. Elmer L. Gatchalian | |
| DULANG GANAP ANG HABA | Tagapangulo | Mr. Dexter M. Santos |
| Kagawad | Ms. Banaue C. Miclat-Janssen | |
| Kagawad | Layeta P. Bucoy, Ph.D. | |
| DULANG PAMPELIKULA | Tagapangulo | Mr. Mark Meily |
| Kagawad | Mr. Adolfo B. Alix, Jr. | |
| Kagawad | Mr. Chris Martinez | |
| KABATAAN DIVISION | ||
| ESSAY/SANAYSAY | Chairman | Prof. Lilibeth Oblena-Quiore |
| Member | Ms. Miro Frances D. Capili | |
| Member | Prof. Joachim Emilio B. Antonio, Ph.D. | |
| REGIONAL LANGUAGES DIVISION | ||
| SHORT STORY – CEBUANO | Chairman | Christine F. Godinez-Ortega, Ph.D. |
| Member | Prof. Lilia Tio | |
| Member | Sylvelyn Jo A. Almanzor, LPT, MA. | |
| SHORT STORY – HILIGAYNON | Chairman | Prof. John Iremil E. Teodoro, Ph.D. |
| Member | Prof. Corazon D. Villareal, Ph.D. | |
| Member | Prof. John E. Barrios, Ph.D. | |
| SHORT STORY – ILOKANO | Chairman | Mr. Joel B. Manuel |
| Member | Prof. Romulo P. Baquiran, Ph.D. | |
| Member | Mr. Ariel Sotelo Tabag | |
