The National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the ManilaCritics Circle (MCC) are now accepting nominations for the 30th National Book Awards for books published in 2010.
NOMINATION/SELECTION CRITERIA
General Guidelines and Definitions
1.Book: A printed and bound volume. At this time, the awards do not cover electronic books. Textbooks or books with exercises meant for classroom use are not considered books for purposes of the awards.
2.Eligible Book: A book copyrighted and published in the Philippines in the calendar year immediately preceding the year of the award is eligible. Except for books authored by members of the MCC and the BOJ, there are no restrictions as regards authorship; authors may be Filipinos or non-Filipinos, individuals or groups, dead or alive. Books published earlier or in the same year outside the country but published independently by a Philippine publisher in the calendar year preceding the year of the award are also eligible.
3. Ineligible Book: A reprint of a book already considered during a previous award year, a second or later edition (even if revised or enlarged), a book with plagiarized passages, a book that infringes on copyright, a book by a publisher not duly registered with the NBDB, a book authored by an NBDB-appointed judge in the category s/he is judging, a book written by a National Artist for Literature, and any title authored by any member of the MCC are automatically disqualified from competing for the awards. Likewise, a book without an international serial book number (ISBN) is disqualified.
4.Nominated Book: A book may be nominated if it is better written and more significant than other books in its category. Writing includes mechanics or grammar, typographical errors, copy editing, structure of thought and ideas, and style. Significance includes original contribution to its field of study or interest, accuracy of data, and reader impact. The reputation of the publisher, distribution, and actual sales figures are irrelevant to the awards.
5.Design: Except for the award for Best Design, the design of a book is secondary to content in the selection of the finalists and winners, unless the design seriously hampers the delivery of the content.
6.Divisions: There shall be two divisions: Literary and Non-Literary with specific categories within each Division further described in these rules.
7. Publisher: A registered NBDB publisher, foundation or association or ongoing business engaged in publishing, developing and distributing printed material, or has published a book for a special purpose may nominate a book.
Small and independent publishers who are unable to register with the NBDB for lack of the required documents and/or ISBNs may still submit nominations to any of the categories in any of the divisions; however, they may only be awarded a citation and not the National Book Award.
Professional organizations and ongoing businesses that submit titles for consideration must also submit a copy of their SEC registration to the NBDB.
I. LITERARY DIVISION
1. Literary Categories
Literary Awards are given to books that include or are about creative writing. These include the following: Fiction, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry, Literary Criticism and Graphic Literature.
Regional Language – For this year’s awards, the NBDB and the MCC are now accepting works in Cebuano for any of the categories of the Literary Division. A nominated book can be a translation of a work, or originally written in the Cebuano language.
Books published in Cebuano within the last three calendar years (2008-2010) will be accepted for this year’s awards.
1.1. Fiction (Novel and Short Fiction) – a book that contains a full-length story (i.e., a novel) of at least 50,000 words, or a collection of two or more short stories, or stories not long enough to be novels.
A nominated book offers a narrative that follows the conventions of the writing of long literary fiction, such as plurisignification, logical structure, consistency of characterization, and precision in the use of language and literary devices. The book may deliberately challenge these conventions, but there should be clear evidence that the novelist has done so not out of ignorance but out of deep knowledge of the tradition of the novel.
A winning book both delights and instructs, offering breadth and depth comparable to the Philippine novels earlier given National Book Awards. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that is better written in terms of literary quality is declared the winner.
Just in case there is a novel and a collection of stories competing for the award, and they are both deserving of the award, both will be given the National Book Award.
1.2. Nonfiction Prose– A full-length literary nonfictional work or collection of short literary nonfictional works, including personal essays, autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, and other genres included in the broad category of creative nonfiction.
If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that is better written in terms of literary quality is declared the winner.
Just in case there is a full length and a collection of essays competing for the award, and they are both deserving of the award, both will be given the National Book Award.
1.3. Literary Criticism / Literary History – a book that contains either a continuous work or several articles in the field of literary criticism, literary theory, or literary history.
A nominated book shows evidence of the author's having taken into account the latest books in literary theory, both local and foreign. The book must apply tools derived from contemporary theory to texts created by Philippine writers, though it could also contain analyses of works by non-Philippine writers.
A winning book is at the cutting-edge of literary theory, criticism, or history, exploring new areas of scholarship or reading that goes beyond what is already available in academic circles. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that offers a new literary theory or a new component of an existing literary theory or that presents a new reading of texts is declared the winner.
1.4. Poetry – a book that contains either a continuous poem or several poems.
A nominated book offers poems that follow the conventions of poetry, whether of traditional, modern, or avant-garde poetry, including but not limited to the interaction of sound and sense, profound sensibility, and awareness of poetic genres.
A winning book offers fresh insights into the human condition, particularly the condition of Filipinos inside or outside the country.
1.5. Graphic Literature – a book that contains autobiography, creative nonfiction, fiction, or other literary genre, but in graphic or illustrated, rather than purely verbal form.
A nominated book offers a narrative or anthology of narratives that follows the conventions of the writing of literary graphic fiction, such as congruence of verbal and illustrated content, logical structure, consistency of characterization, and precision in the use of visual and literary devices.
A winning book both delights and instructs, offering breadth and depth comparable to the Philippine graphic novels, anthologies, or comic books earlier given National Book Awards. If the book is a collection of separate texts, there should be a unifying theme or motif among these texts. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that is better written in terms of literary quality is declared the winner.
2. Nomination
Any publisher defined in the General Guidelines and Definitions registered with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) may nominate a literary title as defined above, published in the previous year (except for those books published in Cebuano), by sending a letter of nomination and by submitting an initial six (6) copies of that title for consideration of a chosen literary organization in the above categories, in English, Filipino, or any other language. The publisher must clearly state in the letter of nomination under which category he wants his title considered.
The 6 initial copies shall go to the following:
a. each member of the Prescreening Committee;
b. the NBDB library; and
c. the NBDB-chosen design outfit/book designer.
3. Prescreening Committee
There will be four (4) persons who shall be designated to prescreen the nominated books in the whole Literary Division, who shall be:
3.1 A nominee from a literary organization or a person who is an expert in the field -The NBDB shall select a literary organization, which shall be asked to nominate one (1) member to serve in the prescreening committee of the NBA, or a known expert in the field to prescreen the nominations. In the case of a literary organization, it shall be given five (5) days from receipt of the letter asking them to nominate a member, after which the NBDB reserves the right to select another literary organization;
3.2 A nominee of the NBDB- The NBDB shall nominate one (1) person of competent expertise, who shall also be the NBDB’s permanent judge for this division; and
3.3. Two members of the MCC- The MCC shall elect two (2) members from its ranks to be part of the prescreening committee, who shall not necessarily be the same members of the prescreening committee in the other division but must be part of the BOJ.
Prescreening of books in Cebuano-The NBDB and the MCC shall nominate one (1) judge each who shall prescreen all the books in all the categories for the Literary Division. These judges must also necessarily be part of the BOJ for the Literary Division.
They shall choose no more than five (5) finalists for each category which shall be elevated to the BOJ.
The Prescreening Committee shall choose no more than five (5) nominees by a majority vote to become finalists, which titles shall be elevated to the BOJ for the final determination of the winner.
All meetings by the Prescreening Committee shall be scheduled beforehand by the NBDB and shall be documented by a member of the NBDB Secretariat.
4. Finalists
The Prescreening Committee shall select no more than five (5) titles per category, which 5 titles shall automatically be considered finalists from which a winner for that particular category shall be chosen. The choice of finalists by the Prescreening Committee shall be by majority vote of the members of the Prescreening Committee, and all decisions of the Prescreening Committee shall be final.
5. Notice to Finalists
Publishers of titles chosen as finalists by the Prescreening Committee shall be informed in writing by the NBDB that their titles have been chosen as finalists in the specific categories indicated, and shall be required to submit an additional five (5) copies of the books to the NBDB. Non-submission of the required copies will disqualify the title from consideration by the BOJ.
The NBDB shall inform the BOJ no later than August 15, 2011, that the books to be the subject of final judging are ready for pick up at the NBDB office.
II. Non-Literary Division
1. Non-Literary Categories
Non-Literary Awards are given to books that do not include nor are about creative writing, except that such creative writing techniques may be used occasionally to enhance the text.
1.1. Art – a book that focuses on any of the art forms (including photography, film, and television), except literature. A collection of essays on art by a single author or by several authors, provided the essays are not primarily literary or creative, is classified under this category. For purposes of the awards, photojournalism is considered an art form.
A nominated book offers fresh and original insights into the work/s of a visual, performing, electronic, or other type of artist/s. If the book is a collection of separate texts, each text must have the characteristic listed above. A book featuring mostly photographs of artworks may be nominated if the prose portion is substantial.
A winning book is itself a work of art, blending design with content, style with the style of the artist/s discussed. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that offers a more comprehensive account of the body of work of an artist or artists is declared the winner.
1.2. Professions - a book that focuses on law, medicine, accounting, engineering, or other professions requiring licensure examinations, and the application of these professions to daily life.
A nominated book is meant primarily for the general reading public and not for other professionals (such as lawyers, law students, doctors, medical students, engineers, and so on). It must offer accurate and useful advice based on existing laws, medical knowledge, or other professional practice. It must be well-written in terms of style, with a readability level as high or lower than that of educated non-professionals. If the book is a collection of separate texts, each text must have the characteristics listed above.
A winning book is a full-length text that does not falter in places but keeps a consistent tone. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that focuses on lesser known aspects of the profession is declared the winner.
1.3. Science – a book in the area of any of the natural or physical sciences.
A nominated book is meant primarily for the general reading public and not for scientists or science students. It must be well-written in terms of style, with a readability level as high or lower than that of educated adults without science degrees. If the book is a collection of separate texts, each text must have the characteristics listed above.
A winning book is a full-length text that does not falter in places but keeps a consistent tone. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that focuses on lesser known aspects of science is declared the winner.
1.4. Social Sciences – a book in the area of any of the social sciences, including history, religious studies, and interdisciplinary studies.
A nominated book offers a fresh and original insight into its subject, in an expository style that displays correct and precise use of language, accuracy of data, extensiveness of research, and awareness of audience impact. If the book is a collection of separate texts, each text must have the characteristics listed above.
A winning book is a full-length text that does not falter in places but keeps a consistent tone. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that focuses on less explored aspects of the social sciences is declared the winner.
1.5. Leisure – a book about travel, tourism, sports, sports management, food, fashion and other such areas.
A nominated book offers a fresh and original insight into its subject, in an expository style that displays correct and precise use of language, accuracy of data, extensiveness of research, and awareness of audience impact. If the book is a collection of separate texts, each text must have the characteristics listed above. A book featuring mostly photographs may be nominated if the prose portion is substantial.
A winning book is a full-length text that does not falter in places but keeps a consistent tone. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that inspires more readers to take up a leisure activity or that offers newer or more information on leisure activity matters is declared the winner.
2. Nomination
Any publisher as defined in the Guidelines and Definitions may nominate a title published in the previous year, by submitting a letter of nomination for the above categories. Publisher who nominates their titles must also submit six (6) initial copies of that title for consideration of the judges. The publisher must clearly state in the letter of nomination under which category he wants his title considered.
Submissions by university departments must contain the signature of the head of the department, or an authorized department representative as designated by the dean of the college or the university president.
The 6 copies shall go to the following:
a. Each member of the Prescreening Committee;
b. The NBDB library; and
c. the NBDB-chosen design outfit or book designer.
3. Prescreening Committee
There will be four (4) persons who shall be designated to prescreen the nominated books in the whole Non-Literary Division, who shall be:
3.1 A nominee from a non-literary organization selected by the NBDB-The NBDB shall select a professional organization, university department, or an an expert from the specific field to be part of the prescreening committee. In case of a professional organization or university department, it shall be asked to nominate one (1) member to serve in the prescreening committee of the NBA. The chosen professional organization or university department shall be given five (5) days from receipt of the letter asking them to nominate a member, after which the NBDB reserves the right to select another professional organization, university department, or an individual who is a known expert in the field;
3.2 A nominee of the NBDB- The NBDB shall nominate one (1) person of competent expertise, who shall also be the NBDB’s permanent judge for this division; and
3.3. Two members of the MCC- The MCC shall elect two (2) members from its ranks to be part of the prescreening committee, who shall not necessarily be the same members of the prescreening committee in the other division.
The Prescreening Committee shall choose no more than five (5) nominees by a majority vote to become finalists, which titles shall be elevated to the BOJ for consideration.
All meetings by the Prescreening Committee shall be scheduled beforehand by the NBDB and shall be documented by a member of the NBDB Secretariat.
III. Design
1. Design – the overall design of a book, including but not limited to the cover design, the choice of typefaces, the dimensions of the page, the lay-out, the type of paper, the binding, and the printing.
1.1. The award for Best Design is not intended to be limited to coffee table books; an inexpensive book without pictures or illustrations can be better designed than an expensive one with pictures or illustrations.
1.2. A nominated book combines all the elements of design into a coherent whole, supplementing but not supplanting the content of the book.
1.3. A winning book entices the reader to read the contents carefully while admiring the way the book looks. If two or more books are tied for the award, the one that offers a more innovative way to use the elements of design is declared the winner.
2. Prescreening by NBDB-chosen Design Outfit/Book Designer
All nominations shall be eligible for this category, the finalists of which shall be chosen by the nominee of the NBDB-chosen design outfit or book designer, who shall choose no more than five (5) finalists for the Best Book in Design. The nominee of the NBDB-chosen design outfit shall automatically be part of the BOJ for this category.
The Board of Judges
1. Composition
Every year, each Division of the National Book Awards shall be composed of a Board of Judges (BOJ) composed of:
Five (5) members of the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) to be designated by the MCC, two of whom shall be the members of the Prescreening Committee of each division; and
Two (2) judges nominated by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), each of whom shall be the NBDB-nominated members of the Prescreening Committee for each Division, who shall also be designated as the NBDB’s permanent judge in the BOJ for a particular division.
The MCC may designate among themselves the member of the BOJ for each category of both the literary and non-literary divisions; however, the MCC-designated members of the Prescreening Committee shall always be part of the BOJ for the particular divisions they screened.
The NBDB reserves the right to nominate a different judge for each category within any division, depending on the expertise of the chosen judge, who may or may not be the same judge nominated by the NBDB-chosen prescreening organization.
Books of members of the MCC and the NBDB-appointed member of the Prescreening Committee are disqualified from winning any award for any category in any division. Likewise, the books of the NBDB-chosen prescreening organization’s nominee shall be disqualified for the category s/he is judging.
2. Voting
Each member of the BOJ is entitled to one (1) vote. A vote must be explained verbally during the voting process, taking into consideration factors that determine the quality of the title. A title in all categories of both divisions must be voted upon by the majority of the BOJ to win. All decisions of the BOJ are final.
3. Meetings
Meetings of the BOJ shall be held at the NBDB Conference Room or at any designated place agreed upon beforehand by the members of the BOJ with the agreement of the NBDB.
Minutes of every meeting by the BOJ shall be taken by a member of the NBDB Secretariat, who shall keep the minutes in a confidential file within the premises of the NBDB.
4. Deadline for Winners
A winner for each category must be determined by October 30, 2011. The winner of each category, except Publisher of the Year, will receive a cash prize of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P15,000.00), which will be awarded to the author or book designer, as the case may be, and not to the publisher. Citations do not win cash prizes.
There will be Special Awards; such as Juan C. Laya Prize, Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Prize, and Isagani R. Cruz Prize, which will be chosen from among the winners of the National Book Awards.
Please address submissions to:
The Executive Director
c/o the Accreditation and Incentives Division
National Book Development Board
2/F National Printing Office Building
EDSA corner NIA Northside Road
Diliman, Quezon City 1100
The deadline for submissions is on April 30, 2011. Books mailed from outside Manila shall be accepted if the copies and forms are postmarked April 30, 2011.
