Here, we announce the winner and the crowd fave (we’ll get in touch!). Thanks to the writers, beta readers and judges that have all been part of this year’s fic fest—we hope you enjoyed getting spooked! Congratulations!
Garnered an average of 3.5 out of 5 stars / Click here to read.
About the writer: Si Joel Donato Jacob ay isang mountaineer, volunteer emergency medical search and rescue respondent, at community-based HIV screening motivator. Kasalukuyan siyang nag-aaral ng Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Kolehiyo ng Arte at Panitikan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman. [Joel Donato Jacob is a mountaineer, volunteer emergency medical search and rescue respondent, and community-based HIV screening motivator. He is a Creative Writing major at the University of the Philippines Diliman.]
Comments from the judges:
“The different elements worked together to escalate the tension and pursue the overall narrative. The unraveling of what was happening kept me focused throughout, while still managing to convey a sadness under all the panic and fear.”—Kate Osias
“I love all the fact-finding and the science behind the outbreak, and I especially love how Filipino it all sounds (especially the part where the church announces without much foresight about conducting mass to pray for the afflicted, only for the government to tell people not to attend the mass for fear of becoming infected—you really can’t get more Filipino than that, haha!). I am in awe of the research put into this, and how believable it all sounds, so kudos!”—Rin Chupeco
With accumulated online reach and engagement of 2, 274 / Click here to read.
About the writer: Kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa BPO ang may akda. Walang asawa at hindi kumakain ng isda. [The writer works at a BPO. No wife, doesn’t eat fish.]
Comments from the judges:
“I like that the story was told in the past during the Marcos years as we get a glimpse of how life was back then. I also like that the story was told in the first person point of view of the main character Noy. Through his eyes, we could see the family’s desperation.”—G.M. Coronel
“Good characterization to setup the mood and tone.”—Charles A. Tan
For more of Fictory, click here. See you again next year!
2018 Judges:
Charles A. Tan’s fiction has appeared in publications such as The Digest of Philippine Genre Stories, Philippine Speculative Fiction and the anthology The Dragon and the Stars (ed. by Derwin Mak and Eric Choi). He has contributed nonfiction to websites such as The Shirley Jackson Awards, The World SF Blog, and SF Signal. In 2009, he won the Last Drink Bird Head Award for International Activism. He is also a 2011 World Fantasy nominee for the Special Award, Non-Professional category. You can visit his blog, Bibliophile Stalker (), the Philippine Speculative Fiction Sampler or Best of Philippine Speculative Fiction 2009. Check out his book here.
Kate Osias has won four Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Gig Book Contest, Canvas Story Writing Contest, and the 10th Romeo Forbes Children’s Storywriting Competition. Check out her books here.
G. M. Coronel is the author of Tragic Theater and Tomb Keeper, the two-part series set at the Manila Film Center. He is currently at work on his third book with a different storyline and setting. Check out his books here.
Despite an unsettling resemblance to Japanese revenants, Rin Chupeco always maintains her sense of hummus. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she keeps four pets: a dog, two birds, and a husband. Dances like the neighbors are watching. Check out her books here.
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BOOKBED 
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