MIBF 2017: The only bookstore you’ll need
Catching the interest of bookworms for almost four decades now, Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) returned—bigger and better this year than any other at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City from September 13 to 17.
Readers of all ages gathered for the highly-anticipated book fair, making it the biggest and the longest book fair in the country—not to mention how the line extended beyond the venue under the scorching sun. Nevertheless, the entrance ticket of P20 made up for the hassle as fair goers even got a Pepero treat upon entering the fair.
Feeling the excitement bubbling as you walk through the halls, rows upon rows of stalls greeted audiences with books for both leisure and academic purposes, from well-known publishing companies to newly-rising ones.
A collection of international, local, and children’s books awaited to reel in book lovers into their worlds. Aside from that, there were also health and lifestyle magazines, graphic novels, and comics that would awaken either the inner tita or the artist in any person who walked by. Good news for students as well, as academic textbooks were the least of your problems as you could buy them at a cheaper rate. You name it, MIBF has it.
The Fully Booked stall was one of the stalls that people didn’t dare miss. There were even some old-school surprises in store as William Shakespeare’s translated soliloquies, oldies-but-goodies like Les Misérables, and modern classics like Shadow of the Wind graced bookshelves that were hard to resist for hardcore collectors of classics. There were also novels by Lang Leav, John Green, and other well-known international writers.
Other than the stalls of books galore, the fair was filled with deafening squeals and chatter from teens waiting for guest artists like Paulo Avelino, James Reid, Maris Racal, and others to come up on stage to perform.
MIBF was also the chance to get signed books published under Visprint, Inc. Filipino writers and illustrators such as Eros Atalia, Eliza Victoria, Mervin Malonzo, Gabriel Lee, and many others were available for both book signings and photo sessions at the Visprint booth.
Truly, MIBF has proven itself to be an open book that people don’t want to finish reading both now and for the years to come. Should you add MIBF to your bucket list—be it with your family, friends, partner, or for some alone time—make sure to save up because you’ll certainly want to buy an entire shelf. With the aim of spreading love for literature, MIBF has become the place where readers and writers alike share ideas and insights–proving that literature is never dead, but always evolving.
