No pandemic can stop it.
It actually took a break and waited till it's safe. On 15 September, the annual Manila International Book Fair reopens to welcome everyone thirsty for knowledge.
Daily Tribune had an email chat with Tinette Capistrano, vice president of Primetrade, organizer of MIBF, to find out what's in store for bookworm

Daily Tribune (DT): Tell us about the history of the MIBF and why it was organized.

Tinette Capistrano (TC): In the late 1970s, the Philippine Center for International Trade and Expositions or Philcite was built. The venue was meant to start the trade fair industry in the Philippines and the task was given to Mr. Jose Luis Yulo Jr. He gathered different industry leaders to come up with industry events, one of which was the Manila International Book Fair. The fair, which lasted for a month, was a festival of books with many foreign publishers from all over the world eager to explore the Philippine market.

It was on hiatus until 1987 when it was relaunched as Bookfair Manila. Philcite closed in 1990 and became Star City.

In 1990, the Philippine Book Fair was mounted by Primetrade Asia with the Philippine Booksellers Association, Book Development Association of the Philippines, Overseas Publishers Representatives Association of the Philippines, and the Asian Catholic Booksellers, now known as the Asian Catholic Communicators Inc.
The Manila International Book Fair started to be held at the SMX Convention Center from 2008 to the present.

DT: What makes MIBF 2022 different from the previous years?

TC: This is the first in-person MIBF after two years of not being allowed to stage exhibitions. We have a more compact show this year still brimming with activities. While we brought the MIBF to an online platform in 2021, nothing compares to the in-person experience. If you observe the buyers, after they make a purchase, they open the pouches and smell the books.

DT: What are the exciting things to expect this year?

TC: MIBF joins the Metrobank Foundation to celebrate Teachers' Month. We dedicated Friday to celebrate teachers with activities just for them. The first 100 teachers who come to the fair get a free prize. No need to buy anything, just show their current school ID to the secretariat and they get a prize.