ALL ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE BOOK FESTIVAL
The Philippine Book Festival (PBF) is the country's premier all-Filipino book festival. Powered by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the PBF is the only book festival of its kind in the Philippines, showcasing thousands of Filipino books and educational materials for sale, while offering an inclusive, family-friendly space where authors, creatives, and avid readers can gather for a weekend of workshops, talks, events, performances, and exhibits.
Since its first run in 2023, the PBF has been reinventing the traditional book festival, bringing together over 75,000 festival-goers and hundreds of exhibitors for a unique celebration of the best of Philippine books and content.
The PBF 2025 is set to be even more expansive. Scheduled to run from 13 to 16 March 2025 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, this year will follow a Filipino festival theme and will continue to highlight Filipino-authored and published books, all while offering an even bigger lineup of events and activities for the entire family.
What to bring to PBF 2025:
Bottled water
Cash
Tote bag
Pens
The PBF will also return with the same four thematic realms it has become known for, each designed by renowned Filipino artists, reflecting the diversity of Philippine literature while catering to distinct audiences:
● Kid Lit (inspired by the Dinagyang Festival, and designed by Juno Abreu) is an engaging space designed to immerse young readers in the magic of children's literature. This area is devoted to picture books, chapter books, and young adult novels.
● Komiks (inspired by the Tuna Festival, and designed by Paul Eric Roca) is a showcase of the unique world of Filipino comics, celebrating the rich tradition and evolution of Philippine graphic storytelling.
● Booktopia (inspired by the Panagbënga Festival, and designed by Danielle Florendo) is a diverse collection that spans fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more. It caters to various literary tastes, offering a rich palette of voices that tell universal and uniquely Filipino stories.
● Aral Aklat (inspired by the Pahiyas Festival, and designed by Pepot Atienza) is a space focused on educational materials, from textbooks to teachers’ manuals. This realm underscores the PBF’s commitment to supporting learning.
Who are the exhibitors?
The PBF has always been more than just a book sale. Over the course of the 2023 and 2024 festivals, it hosted a total of 280 events, including capacity-building trainings, book signings, meet-and-greets, school tours, and book launchings.
In 2023 and 2024, the PBF brought together over 225 exhibitors, 90% of which are local publishers and 10% of which are foreign book distributors. This setup has proven invaluable for both exhibitors and institutional stakeholders—such as the Department of Education (DepEd) buyers and procurement officers—who found the festival a cost-effective platform for procurement and collaboration.
With all exhibitors gathered in a single venue, the event minimized travel, training, and marketing costs, making it easier for publishers and distributors to connect with key decision-makers in the education sector.
What are the exhibits?
One of the PBF's most anticipated features is its wide range of exhibitions, such as the facsimile of the Noli Me Tangere. The exhibits serve as an educational and cultural showcase, offering fairgoers the chance to discover new works and engage with historical and literary content.
There were a total of 13 exhibitions in PBF Manila and Davao in 2023, and 3 exhibitions in PBF Manila in 2024, which included notable displays such as:
● PBF Manila 2023: The Rare Book Collection of the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), Ang Ink Art Exhibit, History of Komiks by Randy Valiente, Book Nook and the DepEd Matatag Curriculum, and the winners of the Teodora Alonzo Story-Writing Contest
● PBF Davao 2023: Book Nook, DepEd's Matatag Curriculum and the winners of the Teodora Alonzo Story-Writing Contest, Ang Ink Art Exhibit, Sining Biswal by Randy Valiente, Mundo ng Trese by Kajo Baldisimo, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) School of Living Traditions, and the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) Rare Book Exhibition
● PBF Manila 2024: Rare Books Collection from the NLP (including Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, and children’s books) and NCCA’s School of Living Traditions
How many visitors?
The PBF continues to attract a large and diverse audience, having drawn over 75,000 visitors in 2023 and 2024. This level of engagement highlights the festival's success in promoting Philippine literature and culture while providing valuable educational opportunities for both teachers and the general public.
The PBF has also proven to be a success in generating institutional sales for exhibitors and publishers. Since its first run in 2023, sales have exceeded PHP 925 million.
What is the PBF’s impact?
The PBF is dedicated to making a positive impact on young learners and families by offering a wide range of educational resources. In 2023, DepEd recognized several titles, from fiction to reference materials, that support the diverse learning needs of Filipino children. These carefully chosen books aim to foster a love of reading while promoting academic growth, creativity, and critical thinking.
Beyond books, the PBF empowers families by providing tools that enrich learning at home and beyond. By encouraging families to explore these materials, the festival strengthens the bond between parents and children, helping to build a lifelong passion for learning.
Why was the PBF set up?
With partners from both public and private sectors, the NBDB set up the PBF as a concerted effort to improve access to and distribution of quality, affordable Filipino-authored books. As a marketplace for both retail and institutional purchases, the PBF is one of the book agency’s endeavors to address gaps in access to quality books, ensuring that relevant and accessible Philippine-authored books saturate the market and schools across the country.
What should we expect at the PBF 2025?
The first day of the PBF 2025, happening on March 13 will be dedicated to institutional buyers who will review and evaluate local titles for inclusion in DepEd’s Supplementary Learning Resources program under DO 24 S. 2023.
The opening day will begin with welcome remarks from the NBDB Executive Director, Charisse Aquino-Tugade, followed by a message of support from DepEd. Another highlight will be the announcement of the book titles selected to represent the Philippines as the Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair. This focused day will allow for impactful discussions that will shape the future of educational resources in the country.
The PBF 2025 promises to be a landmark event in celebration of Filipino literature, education, and culture, featuring live murals, film screenings, a poetry slam contest, book launchings, and writing workshops. Besides attending hundreds of events and choosing from thousands of books for sale, festival-goers can also look forward to meeting authors such as Ricky Lee, Manix Abrera, and Ambeth Ocampo.
Comments
Post a Comment