Philippines’ best children’s books feted at Severino Reyes Medal 2025

MANILA, May 21, 2025 – The International Board on Books for Young People – Philippines (IBBY-PH) formally awarded today the winners of this year’s The Severino Reyes Medal, during a ceremony held at the National Library of the Philippines in Kalaw Avenue, City of Manila.

Nakikisilong by author Eljay Castro Deldoc, illustrated by Richard Red C. Elli, and published by Southern Voices Printing Press, was named “Best Storybook”, while Sa Iisang Batya by Christopher Rosales and illustrator Rommel Joson, published by Brilliant Creations Publishing, won “Best Picture Book.”

Author Krie R. Lopez’s Oha: A Story Told in One Eternal Second, with illustrations by Mikke Gallardo under Milflores Publishing, meanwhile won in the “Young Adult Literature” category. A “Special Citation” was also awarded to author Mon Sy, illustrator Ara Villena, and their publisher Adarna House for Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Lupang Ninuno for its moving tribute to the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines and their deep ties to the land, culture, and language.

The Severino Reyes Medal, now on its second year, is organized by IBBY-Philippines in collaboration with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and professional librarian organizations: Philippine Librarians Association Inc. (PLAI), Association of Librarians in the Public Sector (ALPS), and Philippine Association of School Librarians Inc. (PASLI). As custodians of knowledge and champions of literacy, librarians play a pivotal role in shaping young readers’ literary experiences.

The annual event honors creative excellence in Filipino children’s and young adult literature, being named after the beloved playwright and storyteller Severino Reyes, the creator of “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang.” The heirs of Severino Reyes also provided guidance and support to this award, which recognizes the best picture books, storybooks, and young adult books published in the Philippines.

A selection committee was tapped to choose an “Honor List” from hundreds of entries submitted by local publishers. This year’s panel was headed by Dr. Dolores Carungui from NLP. Other committee members were Jose Tomas Fernando and Melody Madrid from NLP; Carol Tapia from NBDB, Maria Victoria dela Cruz and Charito Basagre from PASLI; Easter Wahayna-Pablo and Lucila Raquino from ALPS; and Elisa Garcia and Kevin Conrad Tansiongco from PLAI.

Honor List

Making it the Honor List of selected titles for this year’s “Best Storybook” category are:

• Pretty Peach by author Reni Roxas and illustrator Adrian Panadero, published by Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing
• 𝘚𝘪 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘈𝘵𝘴𝘢 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘶 (𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘱) by author Vanessa Mae Empasis Segura and illustrator Octopus & Whale, published by 8 Letters Bookstore and Publishing
• 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘚𝘪𝘣𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘢 (𝘈 𝘖𝘯𝘦-𝘰𝘧-𝘢-𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴) by author Mark Norman Boquiren and illustrator Kata Alamon, published by Lampara Books
• 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯: 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢 𝘐𝘣𝘰𝘯 (𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯 : 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥) by author Neil Omar B. Gamos and illustrator Rhea Kristine U. Elnar, published by Johnny and Hansel Publications

For the “Best Picture Book” category, the following were named to the Honor List:

• 𝘚𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘴 (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰), by author Mary Ann A. Ordinario and
  illustrator Danielle Florendo, published by ABC Educational Developmental Center Children’s Book, Inc.
• 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘪 𝘓𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘢 (𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵) by author Jacqueline V. Franquelli and illustrator Aldy C. Aguirre, published by OMF Literature Inc.
• 𝘈 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 by author Mary Ann A. Ordinario and illustrator Danielle Florendo, published by ABC Educational Developmental Center Children’s Book, Inc.
• 𝘒𝘢𝘶𝘣-𝘰𝘧𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘵𝘢𝘩: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘵𝘢𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘷𝘦 by the indigenous people of Balbalan, Kalinga and author Danielle Florendo, who also illustrated the book, published by Alamid Publishing House

The following were named to the Honor List for the Young Adult Book category:

• 𝘐 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘕𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 by author and illustrator E. Manawari, published by Manawari / Mariel C. Mantilla
• 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 by publisher, author and illustrator Joan D. Saga-oc
• 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 by author Johnny Boneo (self-published) and illustrator James Irwin Esparas
• 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 by author Ronald Molmisa and illustrator Nixon Na, published by OMF Literature Inc.

About IBBY Philippines

IBBY Philippines is the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People, a global network of professionals and organizations dedicated to promoting children’s literature and literacy worldwide. IBBY-PH strives to enrich the lives of Filipino children through books, storytelling, and literacy initiatives. The IBBY-PH secretariat is led by Vibal Foundation, Inc.

In a statement, IBBY Philippines’ Rio Lim commended the awardees: “I am incredibly proud of our immensely talented authors, illustrators, and publishers who continue to uplift excellence in Philippine children’s literature. As part of IBBY Philippines’ mission, we are always committed to supporting initiatives that bring books and children together and promote love for reading and children’s books. We are also honored with the trust given us by the heirs of Severino Reyes, so that through this event, we may reach a wider audience, especially the younger generation whose engagement is vital to preserving our cultural narrative and the legacy of Lola Basyang.”