The Manila International Book Fair is just around the corner! If you’re a bibliophile making up your book list, add in these signings you shouldn’t miss – after all, the MIBF is not just the biggest showcase of printed literature in the country; it’s also the best place to meet and greet authors, illustrators and comics creators, and get your books signed and dedicated.
Slated on Sept. 14-17 at the SMX Convention Center, the MIBF has lined up some star-studded author events that you should definitely pencil in your book fair calendar. The Indie Village, MIBF’s one stop shop for Philippine independent publishers, also showcases events in their pavilion at the fair.
Day 1, Thursday, Sept. 14
National Artists for Literature, 10 am, Hall 2 Entrance. Catch this rare sighting of three National Artists for Literature: Ricky Lee, Rio Alma and Gemino Abad who will officially open the Manila International Book Fair. Ricky Lee’s Meet and Greet follows at 1:30-2:30 pm at the Stage Area.
Queen of the Universe, 6-8 pm, Stage Area. Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach launches her debut novel, “Queen of the Universe” on Sept. 14, in an event hosted by MIBF, Fully Booked and Tuttle Publishing.
Day 2, Friday, Sept. 15
Happy Birthday Baby TK, 6:30 – 8 pm. Komiket Inc. hosts an event featuring cult comic creator Kevin Eric Raymundo, more popularly known as Tarantandong Kalbo, whose Baby TK comics features vignettes of growing up in the 90s.
Indie Village. 4-5 pm – book signing and Tiktok post contest with Erwin Mallari, by Aklat Mirasol; 6-7 pm – Spoken word poetry of Ang Propeta and raffle of paintings by Janine Dimaranan and Bryan Barrios by Southern Voice Printing Press, both at The Indie Publishers Collab PH booth.
Day 3, Saturday, Sept. 16
Getting the Dream: How These Homegrown Filipino Authors Got Published by the Largest US Publishers, 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 pm. MIBF and Penguin Random House bring together Filipina authors Mae Coyiuto (Chloe and the Kaishao Boys); Gail Villanueva (My Fate According to the Butterfly; Sugar and Spite; Lulu Sinagtala; Writing in Color); Caris Avendaño Cruz (Marikit and the Ocean of Stars); and Thea Guanzon (The Hurricane Wars; Star Wars Return of the Jedi: From a Certain Point of View) to talk about their experience being published by one or more of the Big 5 US publishers despite being based in the Philippines.
Masaya Magbasa ng Komiks, 1pm – 2pm. Komiket Inc. gathers comics creators Bambi Amago, Roland Amago, Al Santos, Jap Mikel, Macoy & Cy Vendivil and J. Philip Ignacio.
Living As Ourselves: A Talk With Kim Soo Hyun, 5 pm – 6pm. Kim Soo Hyun, author of bestselling titles I Decided to Live as MeandBeing Comfortable Without Effort for a talk and book signing together with translators Kyung Min Bae and Ma. Kristina Cara Rico.
Indie Village. The Indie Publishers Collab PH booth showcases the following: 11am-12 nn – Good Intentions book signing; 12-1 pm – Dialogue between Nap Arcilla and RM Topacio Aplaon by Balangay Books; 2-3 pm – Talagbangan Paint by Numbers Mural by Southern Voice Printing Press; 2-3 pm – book launch by Aklat Alamid; 4-5 pm – Poetry readings and book signings with Alfred Yuson, author of poetry book “Kafka in the Tropics” and (tentative) Virgilio Almario, editor of “Jose Corazon de Jesus: Mga Piling Tula” by Aklat Alamid; 5-6 pm – Meet the Essayists talk and book signings, with John Nery, author of “Radical : Readings in Rizal & History,” Rene de Jesus, author of “Conversations with Mommy,” and Prof. Jerry R. Yapo, author of “Artfully Speaking & Other Essays” by San Anselmo Press; 6-7pm – book signings featuring Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles, Abner Dormiendo, and Christian Rey Pilares by Librong Lira.
8Letters. Indie publisher 8letters showcases its roster of authors in a series of book signings: 10:30 am Daniel De Guzman and Shierney Reterta (Legends and Zodiacs); 11 am Kevin Llamas (Stressed Again???); 11:30 am Odyssa Abille (From Where I Stand); 1 pm Josue Mapagdalita (Mula Sa Kilometer Zero); 1:30 pm C.A. Marie (Tales from the Trail); 1:30 pm Aldrin Pentero (Hindi Ito Laro); 2 pm Sig C. Torr (Trigger Garett); 2:30 pm Axel Laigo (My Songs at Sunset); 3 pm Gerome Nicolas dela Peña (Suóng); 4 pm Nicole Marie (Soli Deo Gloria); 4:30 pm David Chan (The Kindred Chronicles); 5 pm Shiela M. Cancino (Pawn to Queen: Life’s Chess and Quest); 5:30 pm Mark Rana (Run Towards the Fire), Angelika Aquino (Para sa Pilipinas), Jahric Lago (Metamorphosis); and 7:30 pm Zandro Bautista (Ang Mga Luto ni Misis Tancia).
Day 4, Sunday, Sept. 17
Romance Novels that Make You BLUSH!, 6-8 pm. Komiket Inc. hosts a book talk and signing featuring Romance Class authors Jay E. Tria, Brigette Bautista, Danice Mae P. Sison, and Dawn Lanuza.
Indie Village. 12-1 pm – Balangay Books signing; 1-2 pm Alagwa Zine launch with Lean Borlongan, Allan Andres and Teddy Espela; 2-3 pm book signing with Joel Malabanan, Arlan Camba, Leo Domingo by 7 Eyes; 3-4 pm – Mga Buhay na Apoy book signing with Auraeus Solito by Pawikan Press; 4-5 pm – Alubat book signing; 5-6 pm book signings with authors Eljay Castro Deldoc, Ayer Arguelles, Amadeo Mangune Mendoza, Jayson Fajardo, Genevieve Asenjo by Balangay Books.
Catch these events and more at the stage area, exhibitors’ booths and meeting rooms at the biggest and longest-running book fair in the country.
Organized by Primetrade Asia Inc, in partnership with Asian Catholic Communicators,Inc. (ACCI), Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), Philippine Booksellers Association of the Philippines (PBAI) and Overseas Publishers Representatives Association of the Philippines (OPRAP), the MIBF is a celebration of the written word, with a host of special activities made especially for book lovers of all persuasions. For inquiries, call 8896-0682 or 8373-3301, e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com, or follow @ManilaBookFair on Facebook and Instagram.
arkadymac.com is proud to have been the media partner for MIBF since 2014, and we hope to see you there as we have a special coverage of the event.
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