The National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) are calling upon all NBDB-registered publishers to submit their nominations for the National Book Awards 2015.

This year, Language Studies, a special category, is the latest addition in the National Book Awards (NBA) Guidelines. As the revised rules state, “Language Studies includes dictionaries, grammars, and essays on translation, linguistics, and other language-related areas. This special category is given by Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF). The KWF is responsible for the screening process and determination of winner and awarding of the prize for the winner.”

Also, in the Literary Division, the categories are open to books in any language (published in the last calendar year), but there are special categories this year for books in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a (published within the last three calendar years—2012-2014).

As announced earlier, initial changes in the NBA 2015 rules are the addition of the Essays Category in the Literary Division and the splitting of History and Journalism into two separate categories in the Non-Literary Division. Translation, a new category added last year, covers “a book translated from one language into a Philippine language, English, or Spanish; or from one Philippine language to another Philippine language.”

To view/download a copy of the final version of the NBA 2015 rules, visit nbdb.gov.ph or click on this link: http://nbdb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=59&Itemid=95

Again, deadline of submission of entries is May 30, 2015. Books mailed from outside Manila will be accepted if postmarked May 30, 2015.

For queries/concerns, please send an email to Ms. Debbie Nieto at [email protected] or call (02)929-3887 local 804.