Miguel Syjuco, 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize Winner, launches his winning novel, "Ilustrado"

Miguel Syjuco, Winner of the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize, launched his winning novel, Ilustrado, at the National Book Store Glorietta 5 in Makati City on April 10, 2010. His novel also won the grand prize in the 2008 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the highest award giving body for literary writing in the Philippines. This is the first book launch  held in the Philippines, followed by a book launch in National Book Store Ayala Cebu on April 11, 2010.

Ilustrado will also be launched in the United States and perhaps in other countries as well.

Syjuco, a Filipino, won the illustrious prize of US$10,000 over four (4) other finalists namely: Kavery Nambisan of India (The Story That Must Not Be Told), Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi of India (The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay), Yu Hua of China (Brothers), and another from the Philippines - Alfred Yuson (The Music Child).

Joining me to the book launch and book signing is my friend, Paul Marquez, a blogger/writer from Zamboanga City, who just graduated from college (Mass Communications) and had a short vacation in Manila.

Try to catch this special offer of National Book Store: Get 20% OFF (PhP 308) when you buy the book, Ilustrado from April 8-30, 2010. Original price: PhP 385.

What others say about Miguel Syjuco's Ilustrado:

"Brilliantly conceived and stylishly executed... It is also ceaselessly entertaining, frequently raunchy, and effervescent with humor."

- 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize panel of judges -

"Through virtuoso use of language and a dazzling array of fictional techniques, it achieves all of its lofty objectives... It deserves all the accolades it has won. It is among the finest novels written by a Filipino. Perhaps, even by any writer."

- Antonio A. Hidalgo, chairman of judges for the English Novel category,  

2008 Palanca Awards -

"This dizzying and ambitious novel marks an auspicious start to Syjuco's career... Though murky at times, this imaginative first novel shows considerable ingenuity in binding its divergent thread into a satisfying, meaningful story."

- Publishers Weekly -

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