MANILA — The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) is kicking off 2019 by formally recognizing the newest recipient of the agency’s annual Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda award for excellence in dissertation-writing using Filipino, the country’s national language.
KWF will grant the award to University of Sto. Tomas professor Dr. Wennielyn Fajilan on Jan. 28 in Manila, according to Greg Granada, coordinator of the event.
“Among entries, her dissertation stood out for its excellent content and use of Filipino,” he said.
The dissertation ‘Pananalig sa Bata: Kasaysayan at Panunuri sa Muling Pagsasalaysay at Pagsasaling Pambata sa Filipino’ was for her University of the Philippines doctoral degree, he noted.
She will receive from KWF a plaque of recognition and PHP100,000 in cash, he said.
“KWF may also publish her dissertation under this agency’s Aklat ng Bayan project,” he added.
Granada said KWF published 2018 Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda awardee Dr. Emmanuel de Leon’s dissertation, “Ang Intelektuwal na Pamana ng mga Pangunahing Tomasino Pilosoper sa Kasaysayan ng Pamimilosopiyang Filipino: Quito, Mercado, Hornedo, Timbreza, Abullad at Co”.
KWF plans to launch such publication this month during the Gawad Julian Cruz Balmaseda recognition program.
Named in honor of Filipino writer Julian Cruz Balmaseda, the award is KWF’s highest recognition for outstanding dissertations and theses written in Filipino for doctoral and masteral degrees, respectively.
According to KWF, such award aims to further promote Filipino language not only for daily conversation but can be also used in science and other fields.
KWF said the award’s previous recipients were Marlon S. Delupio (2015), Gilbert Macarandang (2016), Lovela Velasco (2017) and de Leon in the dissertation category as well as Roman Sarmiento Jr. (2016) and Christian Javier Fajardo (2017) in the thesis category.
There can be one winner only in each category, but Granada clarified that “it’s possible to have no winner in any of the categories.”
He added there’s no 2019 winner in the thesis category.