The Gawad Teodora Alonso 2025 is not just another literary competition—it's a cultural movement. It recognizes and uplifts Filipino storytellers who capture the heart of the nation through words, images, and imagination. While past editions have centered on individual creativity, this year’s edition broadens its horizon by encouraging a community-based storytelling spirit that highlights inclusivity, heritage, and youth empowerment. It’s no longer just about who writes—but why we write, who we write for, and what we preserve through our stories.
ππ A Legacy of Literature: What Makes GTA 2025 Unique?
Unlike generic writing contests, Gawad Teodora Alonso 2025 focuses on nation-building through narrative. This award, named after the mother of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, aims to recognize original Filipino works that reflect the values, struggles, dreams, and identity of the Filipino people. According to the Department of Education (DepEd) guidelines, this year's competition expands into three powerful dimensions: Main Categories, Seasonal Categories, and Special Recognitions.
What sets GTA apart is its commitment to authenticity. As stated in the official mechanics, all submissions must be original, unpublished, and free of AI-generated content or stock visuals. This emphasis on cultural respect and creative originality echoes the principle of Kuwento ng Bayan Ko—our stories, our voice.
π✒️ Chapter Books & Comics: Fueling the Imagination of Young Readers
In the Main Categories, the spotlight turns to illustrated chapter books and comics for Grades 7 to 10. Whether it's a coming-of-age chapter book or a comic exploring teenage issues, each entry must include minimum word counts and a cohesive narrative arc across four chapters. These categories are not limited to writers alone. Options include:
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A writer-illustrator tandem, or
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A solo creator who manages both writing and illustrating.
There's even an opportunity to pay homage to classics from the DepEd Canon—from Ibong Adarna to Noli Me Tangere—by weaving their essence into modern comics. According to GTA mechanics, such adaptations are encouraged as long as they are culturally sensitive and not merely retellings, but reimaginings that breathe new life into familiar tales.
ππ§ Seasonal Categories: A Celebration of Inclusion, Gender, and Culture
This year’s Seasonal Categories take an educational leap forward. These aren't static—they change based on current advocacies, making them reflective of real-time societal needs. Categories include:
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Wordless Storybooks on Inclusion for Kindergarten learners
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Illustrated Thematic Storybooks focusing on Gender and Development
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Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) stories for Grades 4–6
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Storybooks on Local Tangibles, highlighting natural and man-made local heritage
As noted in the guidelines, creators for the wordless storybooks must be both writer and illustrator, showing a new level of storytelling discipline—communicating without words. This approach builds visual literacy and encourages diverse interpretations, especially for pre-readers.
π€π₯ From the Page to the Stage: Embracing Multimedia Storytelling
Recognizing the importance of oral traditions and community participation, GTA 2025 also introduces recorded storytelling categories:
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Lolay Storytelling Sessions by members of the Parent-Teacher Association
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Teacher-led Recorded Storytelling Videos, aligned with DRRM themes
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Live Storytelling Exhibits using materials from ReadEx Picks
These categories promote intergenerational storytelling, bridging classroom learning with home-grown experiences. According to DepEd, such storytelling sessions foster empathy, cultural pride, and listening comprehension—all vital in today’s digitally distracted world.
ππ©π« For and By the Learners: Stories from Within the Community
GTA 2025 isn't exclusive to adults. It also champions young storytellers through:
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Kuwentong Pambata ng mga Bata – for Grades 4–6 learners
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Tulang Pambata ng mga Bata – poetry collections by Grades 7–12 students
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Kuwentong Guro – narratives by teachers that showcase real experiences
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Untold Legends and Folklore – a non-competitive category for third-level DepEd leaders, shedding light on local myths and forgotten tales
These subcategories reflect DepEd's drive to democratize literature, empowering every sector of the academic community—from students to school heads—to tell their own stories.
ππ️ Timelines & Ethics: Upholding Integrity Through the Process
Transparency remains central. Entries must be submitted based on the official calendar:
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Division level deadline: July 31, 2025
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Regional screening: August 7, 2025
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National judging: September 1, 2025
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Final exhibit and rites: November 11–14, 2025
Every entry must be free of identifying details, reinforcing anonymity in judging. The Screening Committees, composed of reading specialists, educators, and literary enthusiasts, ensure fairness. The guidelines also emphasize using Ortograpiyang Pambansa and refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.) for technical accuracy—ensuring high-quality and globally aligned storytelling.
π₯π️ Honor Rolls and Special Citations: Recognizing Consistent Brilliance
Those who win three times in the main category are inducted into the Gawad Teodora Alonso Honor Roll. Meanwhile, the Fernando Amorsolo Honor Roll celebrates illustrators who consistently elevate visual storytelling. Another special mention is the Readers’ Choice Award, chosen directly by students, affirming that readers—not just judges—define impact.
π Conclusion: GTA 2025 as a Movement of Hope and Heritage
The Gawad Teodora Alonso 2025 is more than a literary contest—it is a national celebration of Filipino creativity, rooted in the values of authenticity, education, culture, and identity. By participating, writers, illustrators, teachers, and students join a broader mission to preserve the soul of the Filipino story for generations to come.
As DepEd underscores in its forthcoming memorandum, “Stories shape learners; stories build nations.” This year's GTA aims to do just that—by empowering voices across all corners of the Philippines to be heard, honored, and remembered.