Christian Andrei Laplap of the Psychology Program, College of Social Sciences received international recognition for his short story “The Oddity That Is Them” at the 2020 Hammond House International Literary Prize, sponsored by the University Centre Grimsby, United Kingdom. Laplap’s work, which centers on mental health, was among the winning entries chosen under the Editor’s Choice category.
Now in its fifth year, the annual writing competition attracts entries from 27 countries worldwide under three categories: Screenplay, Short Story, and Poetry, with writers given the liberty to interpret the competition theme as they wish.
This year’s theme, SURVIVAL, is ‘aimed to inspire, not restrict, suggesting anything from an environmental crisis, a zombie apocalypse, a broken relationship, or just a bad day at the office.’ From terrifying post-apocalyptic fantasies to rousing contemporary fiction, SURVIVAL gathered some of the best in modern writing from around the world.
The winners of the competition were announced through a special televised program that was broadcast in the December 2020 episode on Billboard TV. Their contributions will be published in the annual Hammond House anthologies due for release on 26 February 2021.
A multi-talented achiever
Laplap also participated and was named an Awardee of Excellence at the World Youth Essay Competition (WYEC) 2018 among the several thousand essays submitted across the world. Laplap is a steady contributor to the arts and has written for several local and international websites since 2013.
Aside from writing, Laplap also dabbles in photography. The Tale of Humankind, aan award-winning, youth-led organization engaging and empowering youth leaders to be part of the change, showcased his work “Kabog” (Millet) for SDG-8 at the World Photography Day 2020 under the category Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Our heartfelt congratulations, UP Cebu is proud of you!