Three Thomasian writers won awards in the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards 2025 (NJLA) on August 28, 2025, at the Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.
Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) resident fellow and Mr. Joel M. Toledo, MA, was named the “Poet of the Year” for his poem, “Saint Paul de Mausole: Sonnet.” Toledo is a faculty member of the Department of Literature and Department of Creative Writing.
The three-time Carlos Palanca awardee is the author of Planet Nine (Poems), published by the UST Publishing House.
In the fiction category, BA-Literature alumnus George Deoso claimed the first prize for his work entitled “Dial ‘D’ for Desire.” Deoso was a Varsitarian Scholar for Creative Writing in the UST Graduate School. He was a writing fellow of the UST National Writers’ Workshop.
Deoso is the author of “The Horseman’s Revolt and Other Stories,” published by the UST Publishing House.
Lastly, College of Education and UST Graduate School alumnus Dr. Paulino Lim, Jr. won the third place for his story, “The X-Ray Tech’s Love Story.”
He is a Professor Emeritus of English at California State University. In 2016 he was feted with Philippine Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Individuals Overseas. Lim received the Lifetime Achievement Award from University of Santo Tomas.
Organized by the Graphic Philippines, NJLA recognizes the finest works of fiction and celebrates the power of storytelling, where writers, readers, and cultural icons gather to celebrate literary excellence and the vigor of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin.
Watch NJLA 2025 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/16aEOKt29CM