It is the well-awaited Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) season again this year at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City—now adorning two levels of the venue with even more magnificent displays and heaps of titles to offer for literary enthusiasts!
The largest and longest book fair in the Philippines commenced on Sept. 11 and will carry on until today, Sept. 15, giving attendees a chance to marvel at all the local and foreign exhibitors, attend numerous seminars and awarding ceremonies, purchase a boundless range of goods, meet publishers, authors, and spend quality time with loved ones.
A sight-to-behold exhibit
This year's MIBF is lined up with a broad selection of books and publishers to browse through, with awaited household names, such as National Book Store and 8Letters Publishing, and newcomers making their debut in the event. Multiple stalls fill up two whole floors, with exhibitors and authors from both abroad and the local scene—ranging from world-renowned companies to indie publishers.
The ground floor is lined with local publishers and big-name bookstores, while the second floor houses indie authors and komikeros. Thanks to the expanded floor plan, more space is provided, allowing for more elaborate set pieces from each exhibitor. Installments, such as a spaceship from Phoenix Publishing and a tree-shaped bookshelf from Chapter House, decorate the area.
Food stalls also are situated at the far end of the two floors, giving MIBF-goers a chance to take a short break.
Behind the scenes
In an interview with The Benildean, Project Coordinator Melanie Desor expressed the joy of coming back from the pandemic—that made the fair go virtual for two years—is still there. Grateful for the adequate weather on the opening day, Desor expects more people to file in and indulge in their love for reading. “‘Yan ang hindi nawawala sa mga Pilipino, ‘di ba?” Desor remarked.
The same sentiment is shared by Irene Lloren, President of MIBF’s organizer, Primetrade Asia, Inc., who said she did not anticipate the fair to evolve from a selling fair into a sustenance for the culture of reading in the nation. “When you read, you become more literate, and when you have knowledge, you’re empowered,” she told The Benildean, in hopes that people continue the habit of reading.
Bridging the book gap
The organizers take pride in the amount of exhibitors from all over the world intermingling with the local scene. When approached by The Benildean, The Royal Norwegian Embassy was thrilled to exhibit their crime fiction picks. Norwegian author Roar Sørensen was ecstatic to share his book, Silent Repentance, a suspense novel set in Angeles City. Having been a reporter during the EDSA Revolution before living in the country, Sørensen says the Philippines served as a treasure trove of material for his specialty: crime fiction. He expressed, “In the Philippines, everything is much more extreme.”
The academe is also present at MIBF, with schools such as Far Eastern University and Ateneo de Manila University taking their respective spots at the fair. In an interview with The Benildean, Marketing Head Camille Abaya of Ateneo de Manila University Press expressed eagerness to reach out more to the community of readers, mentioning that the book fair bridges the gap between publishers and customers. “MIBF gives us an opportunity to be more accessible to those who may not follow us.”
Aside from books, one of the unique things you may find from the MIBF is educational games. Over on the second floor, Kawangis Publishing sells comics and Filipino-based card games. Visitors who are curious enough are free to play a round or two of “Anyare?”—which is a game of UNO mixed with Philippine history. In an exclusive interview with The Benildean, Aria Chelabian, the co-founder of Kawangis and the creator of “Anyare?” shared the inspiration behind the deck.
“The main inspiration behind this [Anyare?]—[is] actually very funny—ako tsaka ‘yung college buddy ko, si Lawrence … Kami ‘yung tipo na estudyanteng nakakatulog sa history class. So parang, we can memorize, but we find it boring … So we tried to come up [with]—recently na—how could we make it more fun? … When we became older, parang d’on namin nakita na may value pala ‘yung history, learning about history, kasi otherwise, we’ll keep repeating the same mistake.”
He also shared his thoughts about the importance of book fairs, highlighting that they are a means for people to discover new titles and connect with different authors. “It’s a great avenue to bring all the book lovers to appreciate and discover new titles from various publishers … That’s what the value of book fairs [is]: to bring the publishers, and their books, and their products to the mass market … At the same time, even those who are not really book lovers or not really bookworms, when they see people flocking, nacu-curious din sila.”
For the newcomers and returnees
What keeps people coming back to MIBF is the vast range of books and stationery to choose from. First-time attendees Julia and Sam, who are Communication Arts students, shared with The Benildean their experiences coming to the book fair so far. “There’s so much to look at. Kulang ang isang araw.”
The MIBF continues to cultivate a culture of love and enthusiasm for literature. With a bigger area this year, visitors may be introduced to more books and authors, whether foreign or local. The entrance is free as long as you have a printed-out ticket, which can be obtained from participating exhibitors. If you find yourself empty-handed at the gates, the entrance fee for students is ₱35.
Catch the last day this Sunday and don’t miss the wonders this book fair always brings to the scene!
