14/10/2026
𝐁𝐢ñ𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭-𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞
A prominent poet and playwright from Biñan City, Laguna has made waves in the Philippines’ children’s-story writing scene after bagging one of the biggest awards in this genre.
The Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) recently announced in a press statement that it will award the 41st Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition grand prize to Biñanense writer Wilfredo Alipala.
Alipala’s work, “Hotel ng mga Huni” (illustrated by Abril Valdemoro), was chosen among the 226 entries submitted for this award.
The recognition comes with a cash prize of P45,000.
Alipala, an Education graduate from Biñan City who was also an Iskolar ng Biñan, is recognized as a poet, playwright, and cultural worker.
As a member of the Biñan Youth Performance Council (YPC), the city’s official theater group, he has authored several stage plays and honed his craft through prominent literary fellowships, including the Virgin Labfest Writing Fellowship at the CCP, the 8th Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Writers Workshop for Poetry, and Palihang Rene O. Villanueva 4 for Children’s Plays.
Currently, Alipala is also the head of the Historical Conservation and Preservation Division of the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO).
Alipala’s entry in the Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition marks his official debut as a children’s story writer.
CANVAS holds the Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition at least twice a year, open to Filipinos worldwide.
The first and only of its kind, it invites writers to pen a children’s story inspired by a painting or sculpture by CANVAS’ chosen local Filipino artist.
That same artist will then bring the winning story to life through a series of around 20 new artworks.
These are finally showcased in a major solo exhibition and used as illustrations for the ultimate offspring of this unique collaboration: a full-color children’s book which could reach public schools and communities in the Philippines under CANVAS’ One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children.
(OpinYon News Team; photo courtesy of Center for Art, New Ventures, and Sustainable Development)
