MTAT Gathers 487 Entries for Its Third Poetry Writing Competition
Mga Tala at Tula has officially concluded its Ikatlong Paligsahan sa Pagsulat ng Tula, marking a major milestone with 487 poetry entries submitted from across the country and beyond.
Rigorous multi-stage screening defined the selection process. From the initial 487 entries, the pool was carefully narrowed down to 100 outstanding poems, then to 50 semi-finalists, followed by 20 finalists, and ultimately to the Top 10 poems that best exemplified literary excellence, originality, and thematic depth.
Esteemed Board of Judges
A distinguished panel of literary figures served as judges for the competition, including Paolo Tiausas, a Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature awardee; Edbert Darwin Casten, Managing Director of Sierbosten; Ron Canimo, Founder and Director-General of Mga Tala at Tula Community (MTAT); Regina Amit, writer and spoken word artist; and Marvin Tom Porras, Managing Editor of Blossoms Journal International Magazine.
Top 10 Winners
Through multiple rounds of blind evaluation and deliberation, the judges selected the following Top 10 winners:
1st Place – Gulgul by Eugene Geibrielle A. Nacino
2nd Place – Paglikas by Justice Aspiras
3rd Place – Suot-hantungan by Eugene Geibrielle A. Nacino
4th Place – Pag-ibig ay Kapitalismo by Jayden Moresby M. Bermudo
5th Place – Pawis by Cris Gacosta
6th Place – Urban Planning by Jonalyn Sumalde Arnaiz
7th Place – Instruksyon sa Pagbukas ng Alaala by Mark Daniel Contaoi
8th Place – Sapagkat Tayo’y Arsonista by Jian Mark F. Pugal
9th Place – Kanibalismo by Lailanie Villas
10th Place – Mga Kuwentong Barbero by Jan Nikko Murillo Aguilar
Organizers emphasized that reaching the Top 100 from 487 entries is already a remarkable achievement, reflecting not only technical mastery but also emotional resonance and relevance to contemporary Filipino experience. The 10 winners will receive medals, certificates, and books as prizes in recognition of their outstanding work and contribution to contemporary poetry.
With its third successful run, MTAT continues to strengthen its role as a platform for emerging and established poets alike, proving that poetry remains a powerful and living art form in today’s literary landscape.
28 February 2026
