The National Book Development Board (NBDB) sees the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) as a burgeoning marketplace for Filipino-authored books.

“We created a marketplace for Philippine books because it’s difficult for Filipinos to easily access them. We sat down with the Department of Education (DepEd) to address this problem, and now we have the PBF, which is this marketplace for Philippine books, but also a site for the DepEd to purchase quality education materials for schools across the country,” explains NBDB executive director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.

The Philippine Book Festival will be held from 13 to 16 March at the Megatrade Hall located on the fifth floor of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

“We talked to the Bureau of Learning Resources (BLR) headed by Atty. Aris Cawilan. We shifted the policy with him together with other DepEd officials so that they can start focusing on procuring Filipino-authored books,” Aquino-Tugade continued.

That is why for the first edition of the PBF, Aquino-Tugade said, the DepEd did what is called “scoping,” where they go to different marketplaces and do a comparative analysis in terms of pricing, quality, and other important aspects.

But after that, Aquino-Tugade gladly noted that since the first run of the PBF, the DepEd bought P925 million worth of Filipino-authored books, and these books will now be available in all regions in the country.

Aquino-Tugade likewise reported that for this year’s PBF, because the marketplace already exists, the DepEd, through Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, downloaded more funding to the tune of P2.4 billion to buy these books so that children can have access to them. “We’re very excited to work with the DepEd and they’re going to focus on our titles in this marketplace that we created.”

The Philippine Book Festival as a “third place”

As for this year’s PBF, Aquino-Tugade said that the event will not just be a marketplace but also a “third place,” even for just four days.

A “third place” is essentially a place that’s outside of the home or the workplace, where one can be free to hang out, have a conversation, and be part of the community, she said. “A book is like a product, a knowledge product, but a unique one, because for the younger generation to like a product, it has to be cool enough. That is why this year’s PBF is not just a marketplace but also a ‘third place,’ where they can actually read and enjoy books outside of an academic setting.”

At the PBF, she said kids can take part in programs like storytelling, participate in drawing sessions for those who may want to be a komikero, know more about queer literature, a genre that’s growing fast and recognized internationally, and more so the entire family and loved ones can come in.

Gratitude from a National Artist

National Artist for film and broadcast arts Ricky Lee narrated the struggles of Filipino-authored books that are often found at the most inconspicuous or hidden part of a bookstore compared to foreign ones that are located practically anywhere. Even his works, he lamented, are found covered by maps or tucked away at the bottom of a bookshelf.

With the majority of his works made into movies, Lee likened the works of Filipino authors to that of movie bit players who are hardly noticed at all. “I would like to thank the NBDB because through the PBF, Pinoy-authored books are not bit players or ‘extras’ anymore but main protagonists or ‘bida’ even for only four days in a year where all eyes will be on local authors like myself.”

Lee turned emotional when he said that through the PBF, the NBDB allows Filipino authors to meet face-to-face and connect with their readers, which doesn’t come by often because it happens only with foreign authors. “With the NBDB, they do everything to show to the world the undeniable fact that Filipino authors are outstanding and exceptional,” the award-winning author and scriptwriter exclaimed.

The magic of the Philippine Book Festival

Aquino-Tugade reiterated that it is the place where local authors have the opportunity to mingle and meet with each other and the readers, the various programs, and many different things found there, and that makes the PBF more exciting. “Bring a tote bag and money because there’s lots to buy with discounts. Bring a pen because you’ll probably run into your favorite authors and you can have your books signed. And wear good shoes because you have a lot of ground to cover.”