Dr. Cirilo F. Bautista
Awards/Honors/Distinctions Received
First Prize in Epic Writing, English Category, of the
National Centennial Commission’s Literary Contests, 1998, sponsored by
the Philippine Government. The judges in this prestigious contest,
held to commemorate the Centennial of our freedom, gave the prize to
Bautista’s Sunlight on Broken Stones, the last volume in his
The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus. This epic of 3,050 lines concludes
his monumental work on Philippine history.
In 1999, Sunlight on Broken Stones, published by De La Salle
University Press, garnered the National Book Award given by the
Manila Critics Circle and the Gintong Aklat Award given by the
Book Development Association of the Philippines.
Hall of Fame of the Palanca Awards Foundation for achievements
in the field of literature, 1995. This is given to Filipino writers who have
distinguished themselves by winning at least five First Prizes in the
Palanca Literary Contests.
Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature nine (9) times
for poetry, fiction and essay. His prize-winning works include: Philippine
Poetics: The Past Eight Years (essay), 1981; Crossworks (collected poems),
1979; Charts (collected poems), 1973; The Archipelago (epic poem), 1970;
Telex Moon (epic poem), 1975; The Cave and Other Poems (collected poems),
1968; and the short stories Ritual and The Man Who Made a Covenant
with the Wind.
National Book Award given by the Manila Critics Circle five (5) times,
for the The Archipelago, Sugat ng Salita, Sunlight on Broken Stones,
The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus and Tinik sa Dila. Diwa ng Lahi, Gawad
Antonio Villegas at Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan in the field of literature
by the City of Manila. This award is given to outstanding Manila artists
who have contributed to the advancement of arts and culture. 430th Araw
ng Maynila, June 22, 2001, Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall.
Gawad Balagtas in 1997 by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas
for Bautista’s achievements as a poet, fictionist, and critic.
Included in Who’s Who in the World, 1996, New Providence,
New Jersey, USA.
Makata ng Taon 1993, sponsored by the Surian ng Wikang Filipino,
with the poem Ulat Buhat Sa Bulkan. With this and his Palanca award
for Tagalog poetry and his winning the First Prize in the Poetry contest
sponsored by the Dyaryo Filipino with his poem, Ilang Aeta Mula
Sa Botolan, Bautista affirmed his importance as a bilingual writer.
Included in The Oxford Companion to the English Language, edited
by Tom MacArthur, Oxford University Press, 1992.
Included in The Traveller’s Guide to Asian Literature, 1993.
Knight Commander of Rizal by the Order of the Knights of Rizal,
December 1998, in recognition of Bautista’s literary works that helped
propagate the ideas and achievements of the national hero. His The Trilogy
of Saint Lazarus has the national hero as the main character and
focal point in the author’s poetic recreation of the development of the
Filipino soul from the beginning of our history to the present.
Adopted Son of Iligan City, 1997, by virtue of Executive Order #98
signed by Mayor Alejo Yanes, for his contribution “in the development
of creative writing in Mindanao, for serving as a role model among young
writers, as well as his tireless promotion of Iligan City as a center for
literary arts in the Philippines.” Bautista was instrumental in the founding of
the Iligan Writers Workshop and was its primary mover in attracting young
writers to congregate in Mindanao and learn the craft of writing.
The Iligan National Writers Workshop is now on its twelfth year.
Gawad Manuel L. Quezon in 1996 by the Quezon City Government
in connection with the Quezon Day Celebrations for Bautista’s outstanding
achievement as writer, editor and teacher. Certificate of appreciation from
the Benigno Aquino, Jr., Foundation for his literary works that
helped perpetuate the memory of the late senator.
St. Miguel Febres Cordero Research Award, SY2002-03 given by
De La Salle University, 2002. This award was given to Bautista in
recognition of his achievements in research and creative writing.
First Annual Dove Award by the College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle
University, February 14, 2001. An alumnus of the Graduate School of the
University, Bautista was honored for the contributions he had in energizing
the writing life in campus through his co-founding of the creative writing
programs in the University and activities as Writer-in-Residence
for fifteen years.
Most Outstanding Achievement Award in Literature by the
Philets-Artlets Centennial Alumni Association of the University of
Santo Tomas, 1996.
Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Literature, Mapa High School
Alumni Association, 1983.
“Excellence Award” from the Roman Foundation for his
Novel-in-Progress entitled Reconstruction, 1982.
Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Literature from the Alumni
Association of the College of Arts and Letters, University of Santo Tomas,
1982.
Fernando Ma. Guerrero Award for Literature, University of Santo Tomas
Alumni Association, 1980.
Most Outstanding Alumnus Award for Literature, Graduate School,
Saint Louis University, 1975.
Scholarships/Fellowships
Visiting Writer, Trinity College, Cambridge University, England, 1987.
Bautista was the first Filipino writer to be invited to attend the Cambridge
Seminar on Contemporary Literature, through the British Council.
Honorary Fellow in Creative Writing, State University of Iowa, U. S. A., 1969
