Banreservas Short Story Prize winners announced, dedicated to merengue

Santo Domingo.- The Banreservas Cultural Center, in coordination with Luna Insomne Editores and the Lado B Cultural Foundation, announced the winners of the second version of the “Banreservas Short Story Award,” this time dedicated to merengue. Under the pseudonym Guardia sin arsenal, Víctor Estrella Sánchez won first place, by creating a text that effectively merges science fiction with merengue as an emotional axis, while under the pseudonym Yoni Desventura, Jonathan Estrella conquered second place by achieving an organic connection of merengue with a plot of identity and secret love. You may be interested in: Banreservas supports the "Plastics for School Supplies" initiative Under the pseudonym Ciguapa azul, Jimmy Feliz took third place, by writing an original text that personifies the musical instrument in a trial, taking advantage of the metaphorical and cultural connection with merengue. These three winners will receive RD$60,000, RD$40,000 and RD$30,000, plus a diploma, respectively. In addition, Ricardo Antonio González, Génesis Ramos, Aquiles Julián, Carla del Mar Barinas, and Nathalie García won honorable mentions, so they will receive RD$10,000, plus a diploma.

They will edit a book

The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, October 3rd, at the Bar of the National Theater, within the framework of the twenty-seventh Santo Domingo International Book Fair 2025, with the release of a book of short stories entitled Banreservas Short Story Award, with merengue as its focus.

This contest seeks to revive the literary essence in young writers, as well as highlight the Dominican musical identity. The jury, composed of the authors Pedro Antonio Valdez, Alejandro Aguilar and Rossy Díaz, had to deliberate among the more than 70 stories received that focused on merengue, the national musical rhythm and one of the pillars of Dominican cultural identity.

This is the second version of the Banreservas Short Story Award. It is recalled that the first version focused on Jazz. With this literary event, Banco de Reservas, through its Cultural Center, fulfills the promotion of art, culture, and literature in Dominican society.