Taipei celebrated the winners of the migrant literature award yesterday at Taipei Main Station. The event recognized foreign writers’ contributions to Taiwan’s literary scene. It also highlighted both gratitude for Taiwan’s support and frustrations over ongoing limitations faced by migrant workers.
Filipino writer Marvin Joaquin Alamag, 38, won one of three Choice Awards for his story “Ang Pagbabalik.” He earned NT$20,000 for the Tagalog tale about a worker navigating discrimination, exploitation, and personal loss. Alamag based the story on his 12 years working in an electronics-testing factory in Taiwan.
Alamag said Taiwan has treated foreign workers with respect and care. “We feel seen, heard, and valued here,” he explained. Despite winning the award, he said he feels “sad” about leaving Taiwan in mid-December after reaching the 12-year legal limit for migrant workers.
He earns about NT$35,000 monthly, including overtime, and has already sent most belongings back home. Alamag plans to rest before seeking work opportunities in Europe. He added, “If I could stay longer, I would love to,” showing the strong bonds migrants form with Taiwan.
The ceremony also honored Vietnamese student Nguy?n Th? Hi?n, 23, who won the First Prize with her story “The Rooftop Barber Shop.” She received NT$150,000, and judges praised her work for portraying the everyday lives of migrants in Taiwan.
Chang Cheng, the award founder, emphasized that the prize honors immigrants who contribute to both Taiwan’s history and their own stories. “They are carrying Taiwan’s history forward while writing a different kind of history,” he said.
Organizers also said the migrant literature award raises awareness about social and legal challenges faced by foreign workers. The event encourages dialogue about integration, recognition, and cultural diversity in Taiwan.
