CALL FOR ENTRIES

The contest is open to all individuals aged 18 and above and currently residing in the Philippines. Participants are challenged to break away from a clinical, straightforward, and sanitized presentation of health, and to mold it in a form that is enjoyable and of interest for its young audience. We highly encourage participants to explore different writing methods, literary forms (prose or poetry), genres (i.e. comedy, horror, science fiction, fantasy) and approaches in presenting an otherwise serious and scientific topic. Entries should be easy to read by children aged five to ten (5-10) years old, and can be easily relayed to them even by poorly literate adults (parents or guardians).

SUBMISSION MECHANICS

Entries must be limited to five hundred (500) words and must be written in English, for eventual translation into Filipino. The stories must be able to sustain a 24-page picture book. Entries must be typewritten or a computer print-out in black ink on white paper, double-spaced on 81/2 x 11 inches bond paper (letter-sized) with one-inch margins on all sides. If computerized, the font should be Arial or Times New Roman, with font size 12. An official entry shall consist of an original and 5 copies of the story, placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear. This should be submitted together with a fully-accomplished application form, available on www.gawadpanitikan.com. All entries must be sent through snail mail to P.O. Box 608, Philippine Postal Corporation, CPO Manila, Philippines, 1099.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS

Deadline for submissions is on 15 May 2010. Winners will be announced on July 2010.

THEME

“Tabi-tabi po”: Exploring Philippine Health Myths

Entries must tackle health myths corresponding to any one of seven categories, namely: Lungs (i.e. TB, Pneumonia, cough, colds); Stomach (i.e. diarrhea, intestinal worms/”bulate”); Skin/Bones (i.e. wounds, lice, warts, scabies, fracture/“pilay”); Brain/Behavior (i.e. epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, child development); Fever; Vaccination; and Nutrition (i.e. childhood obesity/”malusog” vs “mataba”, food supplements). Reference materials are available at www.gawadpanitikan.com.

PRIZES

There will be a total of seven winning entries, one for each category. The judges, however, reserve the right to declare that there are no winners in some or all categories. Each winner will receive Php 25,000 in cash, a medal, and an opportunity to be published as a full-color picture book in a 7-volume storybook series. Published books will be donated to Klase sa Kariton* and other beneficiaries.

VISIT www.gawadpanitikan.com or email info@gawadpanitikan.com for details and inquiries.

CONTEST RULES

1. The contest will be open to all individuals aged 18 and above, and working or living in the Philippines.

2. All entries must be original works written in English, for eventual translation in Filipino.

3. Entries should be directed at readers aged 5-10 years old. Stories should be easy to read and transmit to children even by poorly literate adults (parents or guardians).

4. Writers are free to explore different writing methods, literary forms (prose or poetry), genres (i.e. comedy, horror, science fiction, fantasy) and approaches in presenting an otherwise serious and scientific topic.

5. Entries must be no more than 500 words and must be capable of sustaining a 24-page illustrated book.

6. Writers must address Philippine health myths in any of the following categories: Lungs (i.e. TB, pneumonia, cough/colds); Stomach (i.e. diarrhea, intestinal worms/”bulate”); Skin/bones (i.e. wounds, lice, warts, scabies, fracture/”pilay”); Brain/behavior (i.e. epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, child development); Fever; Vaccination; and Nutrition (i.e. Childhood obesity/”malusog” vs “mataba”, food supplements). Reference materials are available at www.gawadpanitikan.com.

7. A contestant may send in more than one entry.

8. Entries must be typewritten or a computer printout in black ink on white paper, double-spaced on 8 ½ x 11 inches bond paper, with one-inch margin on all sides. If computerized, the font should be Arial or Times New Roman and the font size should be 12.

9. Entries shall consist of an original and five (5) copies, placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.

10. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a fully-accomplished application form.

11. All entries must be sent through snail mail to P.O. Box 608, Philippine Postal Corporation, CPO Manila, Philippines, 1099.

12. All entries must be received by the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority no later than 5:00 p.m., 15 May 2010.

13. There will be one winner per category. The judges also reserve the right to declare that there are no winners in some or all categories. Each winner will receive P25,000.00 in cash, a gold medal, as well as an opportunity to be published. Winners will be announced no later than July 2010. The decision of the judges will be final. Non-winning entries may be claimed from the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority through Ms. Diana Malbas. All unclaimed entries will be destroyed.

14. Winning entries shall remain with, and become property of the Mu Sigma Phi Sorority, Inc.

(From http://panitikan.com)