IBBY-Philippines announces 2026 Honour List Selections

FRANKFURT, Germany (Oct. 17, 2025)—The International Board on Books for Young People Philippines (IBBY-Ph), the Philippine national section of the international non-profit IBBY, has officially announced the Philippine nominees to the 2026 IBBY Honour List.

Every two years, IBBY national sections select the best books from their respective countries and submit them to the IBBY Honour List—one of the most prestigious children’s book awards in the world. Three books are chosen for their excellent and outstanding writing, illustrations, and translation. The books that will make the list will be formally presented at the IBBY World Congress in 2026 and will be exhibited at international book fairs and conferences.

The 2026 Philippine honorees are Sayaw ng mga Ilaw, by Cheeno Marlo Sayuno for writing; Sa Iisang Batya, by Rommel Joson for illustration; and Zona Cero, by Christine Faye Villanueva-Chelabian, for translation.

Sayaw ng mga Ilaw (Dance of the Lights) tells the story of two sisters whose lives are forever changed when their father disappears in the tragic 1981 Manila Film Center collapse—forcing their family to confront grief, rebellion, and hope amid the shadows of Martial Law. Its author, Sayuno, is an educator, cultural dance performer, and writer of storybooks for children. He is currently an Associate Professor of Communication, Research, and Children’s Literature at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, as well as a postdoctoral research associate at the School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sa Iisang Batya (In the Same Basin) meanwhile tells the inspiring story of Migs, a boy who braves a devastating flood in a makeshift basin-boat, while he learns the true meaning of hope, sacrifice, and shared humanity amidst disaster. The picture book is brought to life by Joson, who is an award-winning painter, illustrator, sculptor, and college instructor. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1999, where he was awarded the Dean’s Awards for Visual Arts. In 2006, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines, College of Fine Arts where he currently serves as a lecturer while completing his Masteral Degree. 

Zona Cero is a steampunk alternate-history novel that follows Antonio Malik, a young soldier of the revived Hidalgo unit, as he uncovers betrayal and hidden ambitions amidst a brutal war between Intramuros and the island of Manuvu, forcing him to question the true cost of loyalty and empire. The author herself also served as English translator of the book. Villanueva-Chelabian is a published illustrator, editor, and writer of several books in the Philippines. Before venturing into graphic novels, she fulfilled her dream of publishing her first novel, which later evolved into the graphic series Incognito—a story she began writing at the age of fourteen. She graduated with a degree in Mass Communications and has built over ten years of professional experience, ranging from content production to serving as a marketing manager at a local publishing house.

This year’s selection committee is composed of esteemed names in the Philippine children’s book scene: award-winning author Zarah Gagatiga, Dr. Will Ortiz from the University of the Philippines’ Filipino Department, and multi-awarded illustrator Ms. Beth Parrocha. 

Parrocha stated: “The illustrations (of all submitted entries) are beautiful, but only one book truly captured what a picture book should be—visual storytelling—where the story can be clearly understood even without reading the text.”

For the winning translation, Ortiz noted: “Villanueva’s translation of Zona Cero is truly outstanding. There’s no awkward dialogue or sentence—the author/translator has a perfect grasp of the language, diction, and tone.”

Gagatiga shared her criteria in selecting the winning entry for writing: “Sayaw ng mga Ilaw has strong historical and socio-cultural resonance. Being a story set after Martial Law during the Marcos era, Sayuno honors the fallen and the forgotten by crafting a narrative of hope and remembrance. The story demonstrates the child character’s sense of agency as she carves her own space in dance, culture, and the arts. It is a powerful reminder that acts of resistance and subversion can be gentle, tender, and healing.”

IBBY Philippines is mandated to fulfill IBBY’s commitment to bring books and children together. It supports literacy initiatives to promote the love for reading and children’s books in schools, communities, and among the general public. Its flagship projects are opening a research library on children’s literature, publishing and funding a professional journal review of children’s books, and organizing seminars, workshops, and conferences on children’s literature for authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, teachers, parents, and readers.

To learn more about IBBY Philippines, please email ibbyph@gmail.com.