MANILA, Aug. 26, 2106 – The Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards (CSCBA) marks a milestone this year as it celebrates ten years of recognizing the best Catholic books in the country, which it is set to do again at the 37th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) on Sept. 14, 3:00 p.m. at the Stage Area of the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
“This year’s CSCBA is special because it’s the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards. It’s a milestone for the organizers. We reached ten long years of serving the Catholic Church through the CSCBA by simply acknowledging authors and publishers for continually upholding Christian values in their published materials, which the good Cardinal Sin cherished in his lifetime,” explained Fr. John Klen Malificiar, SSP, incumbent president of the ACCI.
Organized by the Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc. (ACCI), comprising the Bayard Assumption Media Foundation, Catholic Book Center, Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., Communication Foundation for Asia, Institute of Spirituality in Asia, Jesuit Communications Foundation, Logos Publications, Paulines Publishing House, Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., ST. PAULS Publishing, and the Word & Life Publications, the annual awards acknowledges book titles which foster Christian formation and values.
2016 finalists
The following books and authors are the finalists for this year’s CSCBA, classified into seven different categories:
Family life
- How to Avoid Jerks and Jerkettes – Bo Sanchez (Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc.)
- A Smile of Hope – Ma. Victoria S. Perez, Zenaida Roy-Almario (ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.)
- The Happy Solo Kit – Lella Santiago (Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc.)
Homiletics
- Breaking the Bread of the Word – Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM (ST PAULS Publishing)
Inspirational
- Detox – Wilfredo M. Samson, SJ (Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.)
- Taken By Love – Elizabeth Melchor (Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc.)
- Touching Love – Patrick Vance S. Nogoy, SJ (Paulines Publishing House)
Liturgy
- Eukaristia Kapiling si Jesus sa Tuwina – Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, DD (Paulines Publishing House)
- On the Eucharist – Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco, Jr. (ST PAULS Publishing)
- Salve Regina – Michael P. Delos Reyes (Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.)
Ministry
- Dear Father Mike – Fr. Armand D. Robleza, SDB (Salesian Society of St. John Bosco)
- Indigenous Earth Wisdom – Judy Cariño-Fangloy, Merci Dulawan, Vicky Macay, Maria Elena Regpala, Lucia Ruiz (Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary)
- Poor Church for the Poor – Rev. Fr. Jude Mirasol Garceniego (Central Books Supply)
Spirituality
- Indigenous Earth Wisdom – Judy Cariño-Fangloy, Merci Dulawan, Vicky Macay, Maria Elena Regpala, Lucia Ruiz (Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary)
- Mary Mediatrix of All Grace – Rene C. De Jesus (Lipa Carmel Monastery Press, Inc.)
- Thirty Days With Lolo Kiko – Bro. Jess N. Matias, OFS (Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.)
Theology
- Light Which Dims the Stars – Colm McKeating (ST PAULS Publishing)
- Poverty and Ecology at the Crossroads – Reynaldo D. Raluto (Ateneo de Manila University Press)
- The Mystery of God – Fr. Fernando Preckler Guillen, Sch.P. (Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.)
Youth and Children
- A Young Man’s Manual to a Successful Life – J. Paul Hernandez (Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc.)
- Hugging the Trees – Russell Molina (The Bookmark, Inc.)
- Play – Javier T. Delfin (The Bookmark, Inc.)
‘Continuing contribution’
The CSCBA has also granted the Lifetime Achievement Award to Catholic writers whose lifework represents a continuing contribution to the propagation of the Christian Faith through the print media, in recognition of the exemplary Catholic life and apostolic zeal as reflected in the Christian values and ideals contained in their writings.
Previous awardees include:
- Fr. Nil Guillemette, SJ (2007)
- Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ (2008)
- Bishop Francisco Claver, SJ (2009)
- Fr. John Schumacher, SJ (2011)
- Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ (2014)
The awarding ceremony is set to coincide with the opening day of this year’s MIBF. It will also be the second time the MIBF will host the said awarding ceremonies. Previously, the CSCBA had been staged during the Judges’ Appreciation Night of the Catholic Mass Media Awards.
How everything started
Fr. Salvatore “Sal” Putzu, SDB, one of the pioneer members of the Asian Catholic Publishers (ACP), a publishers´ and booksellers´ group that was organized in 1988 under the inspiration and guidance of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, recalls the origin of the CSCBA.
“In 1989, the ACP organized the Catholic Authors Awards aimed to encourage Catholic writers and publishers to produce quality books, outstanding for their content and presentation”, he said.
In 2005 after the passing of Cardinal Sin, the ACP was relaunched into what is now known as Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc.
Fr. Aristotle “Ari” Dy, SJ, the first president of the ACCI, said all Church organizations are using various media to tell the story of Jesus, forming a “community of evangelizers.”
It is inspiring to see various Catholic social communicators come together as colleagues rather than competitors, he said.
The ACCI also revived the awarding of Catholic writers and publications. The annual award was named Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards in memory of Sin. (Gigi Pasaylo-on/CBCPNews)
