BY JORGE VILLA
THE 46-year-old Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the Philippines’ largest and longest-running book fair, is back at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from Sept. 10 to 14. This year has the theme, “Stories in every form,” which celebrates rich and evolving storytelling. More than print, the storytelling that MIBF offers this year comes in the form of comics and graphic novels, digital platforms, audiobooks, and others.
Currently, MIBF occupies two floors of the SMX Convention Center, where a vast marketplace of books and other media are waiting for readers. There are also special events such as seminars as well as meet-and-greet events with publishers, authors, educators, and readers of all ages.
“We have more engaging activities as compared to when we were starting out. It’s different now. Everything is experiential. People are no longer content with buying the book. They have to meet the author. They want to take pictures [with them]. So, the authors here are the rock stars,” explains Tinette Capistrano, vice president of Primetrade Asia, organizer of the MIBF. ““Our national artist, Ricky Lee, every time he launches a book, he brings in [talent] to do book readings. So, this year, he will bring in Judy Ann Santos [and] Jericho Rosales. You can meet and greet them.”
Capistrano further explains what’s new with MIBF 2025.
“When you go out, there’s this panel, a guest of honor wall. The Philippines this year is the guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The MIBF supports the efforts of the National Book Development Board [officials] since they’re the main convenors [of the MIBF] along with [the] National Commission for Culture and the Arts. This is really important for Philippine publishing,” she says.
Capistrano adds that there is a special section for independent authors for whom the MIBF wants to show support.
“We want to be very supportive [in order that] we have the indie collective,” she shares. “This is a project we have with the National Book Development Board. These are the budding publishers. They have less than 10 books to their name. They cannot afford to join us on their own. So, they are now in the collective booth. We also bring seminars with us,” she adds.
MIBF 2025 has over 100 local and international exhibitors. Famous Filipino bookstores Fully Booked and National Bookstore return with their own sprawling booths. Education houses — such as Abiva Publishing House Inc., Adarna House Inc., and Anvil Publishing Inc. — are also back while universities, such as the Ateneo de Manila University Press and the University of the Philippines Press, also return.
Religious book companies — such as Catholic Book Center, Christian Literature Crusade Inc., Church Strengthening Ministry, Jesuit Communications Foundation Inc., St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s Publishing, and St. Matthew’s Publishing Corp. — are also present.
For comic lovers and hobbyists, Komiket Studios Inc., KPUB Book Publishing, Lampara Publishing House Inc., Leavitt Peak Press, Legisperit Publications Inc., Linar International Book Resources Inc., Lolakwentosera Book Publishing, Lyric Piano & Organ Corp., Mindwerks the Toyshoppe, Tankobonbon Manga Book Store, and The Aquarian Books & Novelties are also part of the lineup.
For those who want nationalistic reads, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Ricky Lee PH have their booths. Magazine publishing house Summit Publishing Co. Inc. also sells romance books and its own original titles at its booth.
Meanwhile, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines brings a feel of Seoul with its booth, named “The Bookshop,” which can be found inside National Bookstore’s section. MIBF attendees can take photos, read Korean novels, get free coffee, and even write their favorite book quotes at the booth.
Filipino authors also have their work on display at booths such as The Indie Publishers Collab PH/Tambayang Pambata and Boox That Leave a Mark. Alina R. Co, one of the writers who has joined the latter, is the writer of poetry collection, “Strange Weather in Manila.” She shares why she joins MIBF for the first time this year.
“Since 2023, I’ve been selling my zines at small press events; most notably BLTX,” she explains. “I met a lot of like-minded people through these events, and I was invited to join a group of poets, called Alagwa. This is an active eight-member group [whose representatives] write poetry and critique each other to refine their work. We decided to join this year’s MIBF to be with our community of artists, writers, and self-publishers, [and] to claim our own space. We may not be in the big leagues, but the quality of our work speaks for [itself]. And this is the perfect opportunity to connect with our readers or find readers who haven’t found us yet,” she says.
“Our advocacy is to promote readership in the Philippines, to promote Philippine authors, and [to] bring international publications,” says Capistrano. “Come to the book fair. Whatever your interest is, we have something for you; regardless of [your] age [or] demographic. We also have nonbooks [such as] crafts, materials [and] pens.”
