The Carlos Palanca Foundation announces the opening of the 56th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Entries will be accepted until 12 midnight of April 30, 2006.

The theme for this year's Kabataan Essay category is "Why I Would Want to Stay in the Philippines" for the English division, and "Kung Bakit Nais Ko'ng Manatili sa Pilipinas" for the Filipino division. The Kabataan Informal Essay is a special category open to persons below 18 years of age. Palanca awardees who have won four (4) first prizes in this category are bestowed with the Kabataan Award of Distinction.

The Short Story category is open in English, Filipino, and the Regional Languages (Hiligaynon, Iluko, Cebuano). The Futuristic Fiction, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, One-act Play, and Full-length Play categories are open in the English and Filipino divisions. The Teleplay and Screenplay categories are open only in the Filipino division.

Entries may be submitted in person at or sent by courier service to Carlos Palanca Foundation, 6th Floor, CPJ Bldg., 105 C. Palanca Jr., St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. All entries submitted via e-mail should be transmitted not later than midnight of April 30, 2006. E-mailed entries should be in RTF (Rich Text Format) or a Word document file and should be sent as an attachment, together with the author's bio-data and a scanned copy of the notarized authorization form.

Complete contest rules and official entry forms are available at the Carlos Palanca Foundation office or through e-mail cpawards@info.com.ph or palancaawards@yahoo.com. For inquiries, please call +63 2 818-36-81 local 31.