3rd place, 10th Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award (2012)

My family and friends always get a kick out of seeing my name or face on newsprint or glossies. My parents, especially, would see to it that a copy of the issue is kept safe in their homes. It is not a common occurrence, after all, because I am not a regular contributor to any of the local titles, and the trade publication I work for does not publish the names of its copy editors in any of the magazines' print, electronic, Web and iPad app versions.

Today is no different as Philippine Daily Inquirer publishes Micky Fenix’s article announcing the 2012 winners of the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award with my name--spelled correctly!--and photo. Granted, my essay “Perfecting Leche Flan” didn’t win top prize, but placing third already is a huge honor and makes me happier than a 5-year-old toting a bag of candies. I am truly lucky to win anything on my first writing competition, and perhaps I will join more contests in the future.

To make things even more special, the DGF Food Writing Award is celebrating its 10th year and DGF's 10th death anniversary with a book to be launched in September. “Savor the Word” will compile all of the winning essays in the competition’s decade-long run. This year’s winners--the three placers and two honorable mentions--will fill the last chapter, which is to aptly cover panghimagas or dessert.

The awarding ceremony for this year's winners will be held together with the book launch. That means I have several months to keep in my excitement. I. Can't. Wait.

2012 has been very generous to me so far. A series of fortunate events, indeed, and so I'm taking very good care of my luck, grateful for everything, hoping to sustain it for as long as I can.

I know Doreen Fernandez's life and work will continue to inspire writers and food lovers to keep Filipino cuisine and culture's fire burning for many decades to come. Congratulations to all the winners!

(Read the full PDI article here.)