The upcoming Philippine Book Festival promises to be the biggest one yet.
If you’re planning to go to the World Trade Center Manila this June 2 to 4, here’s a quick game plan.
#1 See the original "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" manuscripts
The upcoming book festival promises to be the biggest one yet, so before getting lost in the myriad of festivities, why not first get to the heart of the matter, the main reason why the festival is happening in the first place? In collaboration with the National Library of the Philippines, the NBDB has curated some of the rarest Philippine books to tell the story of Philippine literature.
The exhibit is all about firsts: the first novel ever written by a Filipino, the first book printed in the Philippines, and the first editions of Jose Rizal’s novels. The exhibit is one of the first things you’ll see once you get to the World Trade Center – a deliberate design choice meant to answer the basic questions before you immerse yourself in book chaos: it charts the evolution of Philippine narrative-making, in the process making us understand why and how the book (the Philippine book in particular) has endured all these years.
#2 Watch a tribute to one of our country’s foremost novelists
Through piercing realism and adroit social commentary, Lualhati Bautista chronicled the struggle and power of the Filipina in novels such as "Dekada '70," "Bata, Bata...Pa'no Ka Ginawa?," and "Gapố," All of which were both very much of and ahead of its time. A tribute for the late great author will take the festival’s main stage on June 2, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., presented by fellow luminaries in Philippine art and culture: National Artist for Film Nora Aunor, actress Sue Prado, and novelists Genevieve Asenjo and Luna Sicat Cleto.
#3 Have your favorite books signed
The Philippine Book Festival’s lineup of featured authors spans multiple genres, from children’s literature to komiks, poetry to self-help, you’re likely to find your favorite writers and artists at the three-day fair where they will be having book signings and meet-and-greet sessions. Don’t forget to bring your favorite books by the historian Ambeth Ocampo, and "The Rain in España" author Gwy Saludes, who will be taking the main festival’s stage on June 3 and June 4, respectively.
Other authors to watch out for include the National Book Award-winning fictionist Jose Dalisay Jr., the children’s book author Luis Gatmaitan, the food writer and book designer Ige Ramos, the YA author Mae Coyiuto, award winning fictionist Eros Atalia, and the economist JC Punongbayan (who will also be having a talk titled "Fact or Fiction: Nurturing Critical Thinking in Students"). Head to philippinebookfest.com to see the complete schedule of book signings and meet-and-greet sessions.
#4 Learn Filipino sign language
The festival is home to many workshops, which, as one would expect looking at the lineup of events and participating publishers at the festival, cover a vast range of topics that isn’t necessarily limited to writing and illustrating for books. On June 2, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., you can learn FSL or Filipino Sign Language for free with artist and deaf advocate Caldwell Jones “CJ” Reynaldo, whose beloved online komiks series “Whatcha Say?” captures the everyday experiences of those in the deaf community in the Philippines.
There’s no need to spell out the benefits of learning a new language, and FSL in particular may well be worth everyone’s time. In our efforts to break communication barriers to create more inclusive spaces, it’s worth understanding the value of FSL: as the official national sign language of the Filipino Deaf, it is a beautifully unique language that is highly visual and reflective of Filipino culture and ideas.
#5 Buy books—and then read them in the Book Nook
With thousands of books for purchase, the Philippine Book Festival is the best place to do your (bulk) book shopping. You can even look for that one obscure Filipino poetry title you’ve been meaning to read, as the festival has invited publishers from all over the country. Once you get your hands on the books you’ve been looking for, it’s time to read them! And you can do that during the festival, too, as its organizers have dedicated a reading space for anyone who might want to take a break from the festivities.
Called the Book Nook, this space is named after the reading sites the NBDB has set up in indigenous, remote, and highly populated areas around the Philippines. The Book Nook in the festival is designed to look like the actual Book Nooks, with curated Filipiniana titles and decor reflective of the country’s many different regional cultures.
Entrance is FREE for all. Most of the workshops and programs are free of charge. Register now at www.philippinebookfest.com. To stay updated on the latest news and announcements, follow the National Book Development Board on Facebook and @bookfestph on Instagram and TikTok.
