The 50th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held on September 1, 2000, at The Peninsula Manila in Makati to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. This year saw the inclusion of a new a new category, Future Fiction, open for short stories that deal with the future of the Philippines or the future of Philippine writing, in English and Filipino.

Roberto T. Añonuevo, Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., and Edgardo B. Maranan were this year's Palanca Hall of Fame awardees. Añonuevo clinched his fifth first prize for “Ang Resureksiyon” under the Sanaysay category. Dalisay clinched his fifth first prize for “The Woman in the Box” under the Short Story category. And Maranan clinched his fifth first prize for “Tabon and Other Poems” under the Poetry category. The award is given to writers who have won five first places in any category.

2000 Palanca Awards

The 2000 winners are divided into four categories:

2000 Palanca Awards

English Division

Short Story

First Prize: Jose Dalisay, Jr., "The Woman in the Box" Second Prize: Isolde Amante, "Dance" Third Prize: Faye Ilogon, "Drive"

2000 Palanca Awards

Future Fiction

First Prize: Luis Joaquin Katigbak, "Subterrania" Second Prize: Lakambini Sitoy, "Secret Notes on the Dead Stars" Third Prize: Adel Gabot, "The Field"

Short Story for Children

First Prize: Victoria Estrella C. Bravo, "Fish for Two" Second Prize: Mary Agnes Dizon, "The Hare Tells His Story" Third Prize: Lakambini Sitoy, "The Night Monkeys"

Poetry

First Prize: Edgar Maranan, "Tabon and Other Poems" Second Prize: Ramil Digal Gulle, "Afterhours, Afterlives" Third Prize: Raymund Magno Garlitos, "The Memory of Skin"

Essay

First Prize: Alexis Abola, "Many Mansions" Second Prize: Edgar Maranan, "The Way She Was: Memories of Lola Posta's Hundred Years" Third Prize: Lourd Ernest de Vera, "The Ghost of Bebop on Bignay Street"

One-Act Play

First Prize: No Winner

Second Prize: Lady Michelle Sering, "The Tuesday Club" Third Prize: Elma Famador, "Ghosts Don't Do That or Do They?"

Full-Length Play

First Prize: No Winner

Second Prize: No Winner

Third Prize: Reme Grefalda, "In the Matter of Willie Grayson"

Filipino Division

Maikling Kwento

First Prize: Placido Parcero Jr., "Alyas Juan de La Cruz" Second Prize: Norman Wilwayco, "Kung Paano Ko Inayos ang Buhok Ko Matapos ang Mahaba-haba Ring Paglalakbay" Third Prize: Fr. Arnel Vitor, "Logos sa Lotus"

Future Fiction [Filipino]

First Prize: Johannes Chua, "Kalinangan" Second Prize: George de Jesus III, "Cell Phone" Third Prize: Alwin Aguirre, "Desaparecidos"

Maikling Kwentong Pambata

First Prize: Eugene Evasco, "Hilong Talilong" Second Prize: Luis Gatmaitan, "May Mga Lihim Kami ni Ingkong" Third Prize: Eleanor Yu, "Kung Bakit Espesyal si Tatay"

Tula

First Prize: Eugene Evasco, "Ang Maisisilid sa Pandama" Second Prize: Alwynn C. Javier, "Ang Pasipiko sa Loob ng Aking Maleta" Third Prize: Rebecca T. Añonuevo, "Batubalani at Iba pang mga Tula"

Sanaysay

First Prize: Roberto T. Añonuevo, "Ang Resureksyon" Second Prize: Rebecca T. Añonuevo, "Talinhaga ng Gana" Third Prize: Eugene Evasco, "Kilometro Zero ni Isang Lagalag na Taong-bahay"

Dulang May Isang Yugto

First Prize: George de Jesus III, "Linggo ng Palaspas" Second Prize: Reynaldo A. Duque, "Kabsat" Third Prize: Allan Lopez, "Anino"

Dulang Ganap ang Haba

First Prize: No Winner

Second Prize: Alfred A. Yuson, "Luto, Linis Laba" Third Prize: Dominic D. Manrique, "Me Esep o Wala, Sa Pera'y Lahat Namangha"

Dulang Pantelebisyon

First Prize: Aurora Yumul, "Selyo at Kastilyo" Second Prize: Lazaro P. Torres Jr., "Gintong Ilawan" Third Prize: Leah C. Eriguel, "Ang May Bahay"

Dulang Pampelikula

First Prize: Floy Quintos, "Gabi ng Tinggiirin" Second Prize: Jose Dennis C. Teodosio, "Sirena" Third Prize: Joel V. Almazan, "Ang Bata sa Daan-Pari"

Regional Division

Short Story [Cebuano]

First Prize: Arturo G. Penaserada, "Saloma sa Dagat" Second Prize: Januar Yap, "Ang Suhito" Third Prize: Candido O. Wenceslao, "Ang Mga Langgam-langgam"

Short Story [Hiligaynon]

First Prize: Isabel D. Sebullen, "Aswang" Second Prize: Nerio E. Jedeliz Jr., "Baha" Third Prize: Peter Solis Nery, "Ang Pangayaw"

Short Story [Iluko]

First Prize: Jaime M. Agpalo Jr., "Tupa: Ladawan ni Pangalatok Idi Daan a Milenio" Second Prize: Maria L.M. Fres-Felix, "Uy-ayam Ti Gubat" Third Prize: Reynaldo A. Duque, "Apo Lakay"