What's a good read?
Missed the first stop of the first-ever traveling book festival in the country? No worries! The National Book Development Board is gearing up for the next stop of the Philippine Book Festival happening this August 18 to 20, 2023, at the SMX Davao from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Following its successful run in Manila, which garnered over 40,000 attendees in three days from June 2 to 4, nothing but MORE exciting activities await the Davao book festival goers. Besides being the perfect avenue to discover new titles, participate in literary discussions and debates, enjoy live performances and storytelling sessions, and shop, this is also an opportunity for attendees to meet well-loved and renowned local authors and artists.
Kajo Baldisimo, the artist best known for the widely popular komiks series Trese published by 19th Avenida and UK-based Filipina writer Candy Gourlay, journalist-turned-author of children’s books and young adult novels for which she has been shortlisted the prestigious Carnegie Medal and winner of the Crystal Kit Prize, are two of the many Filipino talents who will be joining the PBF DVO.
For those who missed the chance to meet award-winning author and historian Ambeth Ocampo and co-authors Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio and Joseph Bonifacio in Manila, don’t let this opportunity pass! They will also be attending the Davao leg and holding meet-and-greets and book signings for the attendees.
Mindanao’s Mary Ann Ordinario, children’s book author and winner of the 2016 Grand Prize in the Samsung KidsTime Award in Singapore for The Crying Trees (Ang Mga Punong Umiiyak), will also be at the book festival.
Just like the Manila stop, the PBF DVO will feature four realms that kids and families can look forward to: Kid Lit (a land just for kids), Komiks (Pinoy komiks), Booktopia (fiction and non-fiction titles), and Aral Aklat (educational textbook and materials). The realms are curated by the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), Komiket, the Philippine Educational Publishers Association (PEPA), and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) – all leading organizations in their respective sectors in book publishing, with whom the NBDB has partnered.
The Book Nook at the PBF: A quiet, comfortable place to immerse yourself in a story
The Philippine Book Festival is one of the many much-awaited events during the 38th Kadayawan Festival that welcomes anyone and everyone! All three days are filled with fun and exciting activities for the young and young-at-heart, especially for book lovers.
Another exhibit attendees can look forward to is the specially curated Book Nook with comfortable lounge areas, where they can relax and read a book of their choice. This time, the Book Nook will hold PANAGTAPOK: The Book Nook Conference 2023 at the PBF Davao. On the last day, NBDB will introduce 25 new sites where the Book Nook community centers will be established before the year ends.
Entrance is FREE for all. Visit https://www.philippinebookfest.com/ to register and stay updated on the schedule of events and programs. Follow the National Book Development Board on Facebook and @bookfestph on Instagram and TikTok for updates.
