INQUIRER.net columnist wins Palanca

MANILA, Philippines—INQUIRER.net columnist Benjamin Pimentel is among the winners of the 61^st Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

Maria Victoria Soliven Blanco won the grand prize for her novel “In the Service of SecretsM.”

California-based Pimentel, who writes the regular column Kuwento in the Global Nation section, bagged the third prize in the Short Story for Children division. His winning piece is titled “Gagamba, the Spider from the Islands.”

Georgina Veronica G. Alfar won the first prize for her “Tom Yum” entry in the same category, while Georgianna R. de Vera got the second prize for her entry “Tatay, Through Wind and Waves.”

See complete list of winners