His novels Sa Kasunod ng 909, Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon and Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal-Mambabarang all won the Philippine National Book Awards for Best Novel in a Philippine Language in 2012, 2015, and 2016, respectively.

His children's story Uuwi na ang Nanay Kong si Darna has been adapted into a play and was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of the Virgin Labfest in July 2008.

The plot was described by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People as "Popoy counts the day to his mother’s homecoming from her overseas job and fantasizes the Darna powers his supermom has".

He received his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, which awarded him the Gawad Antonio Abad for Best Dissertation in 2011.

He directed the 7th Ateneo National Writers' Workshop held in October 2007 at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Quezon City.