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City of Manila honors La Salle poet

Dr. Cirilo Bautista, full professor of the Department of Literature and Philippine Languages, has been unanimously chosen as the awardee for the field of literature on the occasion of the 430th Araw ng Maynila celebration.

The award, known as the Diwa ng Lahi, Gawad Antonio Villegas at Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan, is given by the City of Manila to outstanding Manila artists who have contributed to the advancement of arts and culture.

Led by Mayor Jose Atienza, Jr., the awarding ceremonies was held on June 22, 6 p.m., at the Bulwagang Villegas, Manila City Hall.

Bautista has published 10 books of poetry and prose, culminating with his masterwork, The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus, an epic history of the Philippines. He has won the Palanca Prize, the Free Press Short Story Award, and the Centennial Literary Prize sponsored by the Philippine government in 1998. In 1995, he was installed as a member of the Palanca Hall of Fame.