Celebrating connections and imagination at ‘Día del Libro 2025’

The Ayala Triangle Gardens at the heart of the business district of Makati City became livelier on 26 April despite the oppressive heat of the Philippine dry season as Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the government agency of Spain that promotes Spanish language and culture, once again brought the Spanish tradition of celebrating books and the written word, the Día del Libro or World Book Day, which has grown to become one of the anticipated cultural events in Metro Manila and is known for its very convivial atmosphere.

Formally opened by the Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, Miguel Utray, Día del Libro 2025 was held in collaboration with Ayala Land, Inc., Make It Makati, Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, and AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation) Philippines.

Women visitors were given roses as they arrived or when they purchased books, echoing the centuries-old tradition. The air was redolent with paella being cooked at the row of food stalls. While a cellist performed onstage, people enjoyed this quintessential Spanish dish with sangria as well as the several activities held on that day such as book launches, discussions, author signings, free Spanish classes, street art making, games, storytelling sessions, and musical performances.

The book fair was at the heart of Dia del Libro, participated in by several local publishers including the newest independent publisher, Sirena Books, established by writer John Iremil Teodoro. After debuting at the Iloilo Mega Book Fair in Iloilo City, Iloilo, it made its presence felt at Día del Libro. Manned by multi-awarded actress Sunshine Teodoro, its booth featured its first two books — the anthology Writing From Home: Endless Black Ink on Rice Paper, edited by Dr. Isidoro Cruz and Dr. Alice Sun-Cua, and Iloilo City on my Mind: Personal Essays by Sun-Cua. Sun-Cua was present to sign her book.

Anvil Publishing had one of the biggest booths, offering both classic and contemporary Philippine literatures and featuring Merlee Cruz-Jayme, Kenneth Yu, Anthony Shieh, Ninotchka Rosca, Yvette Tan, Laurel Flores Fantauzzo and Ambeth Ocampo, who met readers and signed books.

At the main stage and at its handsome booth, Vibal Foundation, Inc. (VFI) unveiled 12 new titles in an affair called “Cultura y Letras: A Celebration of Culture and Literature at Día del Libro,” led by Kristine E. Mandigma, president and chief executive officer of Vibal Group, Inc. and executive director of its corporate philanthropic arm, VFI. The event featured a panel discussion with Jerry B. Gracio, editor-at-large of VFI’s latest imprint, Paraluman; Mina Esguerra, editor-at-large of the imprint Vida New Adult; Randy Valiente, editor-at-large of the imprint Grafika; and authors Allan Derain, Andrea Tubig, Andyleen Feje, Carla de Guzman, L.L. Martinez and Aurelio Castro III.

The newly launched books were El Español en Filipinas: The History of the Spanish Language, the Academia Filipina, and Hispano-Filipino Culture, 1924-2024 by Gaspar Vibal; More Pinay Than We Admit 2: The Filipina Emerges from the Margins, edited by Dr. Maria Luisa T. Camagay; Emilio Aguinaldo: Politics and Remembrance (1901-1963) by Jose Victor Torres; Imperfect Tense and Times by Nicole Cu-Unjieng Aboitiz; Beauty Spectacle: Pageants, Fan Culture, and the Filipino Adoration for Queens by Gene Navera; If Serpents Could Soar and Other Stories by L.L. Martinez; Nagalit ang Aswang sa Mahal ng Bawang by Randy Valiente, illustrated by Aurelio Castro Ill; Blooming Love by Carla de Guzman; Panunumbalik sa Gomorrah by Harold John L. Fiesta; Pamimintana sa Pintong Roses Budget Hotel by Allan Derain; Magsimula Tayo sa Panghalip by Andyleen Fele; and Tonight We Slurp In Color by Andrea V. Tubig.

The Milflores Publishing booth featured Sanny Villafranca and his book Si Unay at ang Tamaraw, and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee and several of his books.

The Indie Publishers Collab PH showcased books from Isang Balangay Media Productions, Bookshelf PH, Gantala Press, Grana Books, San Anselmo Publications, Inc., Southern Voices Printing Press and Aklat Ulagad.

The National Book Development Board put up a makeshift version of its project, Book Nook, and held an arts workshop for kids, including accordion book-making, conducted by Fran Alvarez.

Other workshops, classes and demos included how to write cuneiform symbols on clay, hieroglyphs on papyrus, and the old Tagalog abugida or baybayin on palm leaves; street art making by Dibujo Makati; flamenco guitar master class by Tito Losada; and paella cooking by Spanish chef Nicolas Diaz of Barcino. Poetry readings and musical performances were held all day. The highlight was the performance of the flamenco. The night capped with performances by Yah Bles and DJ Chie Castaneda.

The Día del Libro traces its roots back to 1926 when Spanish writer Vicente Clavel Andrés proposed a day to honor Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. 23 April was chosen because it marks the death of Cervantes — as well as that of William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, making it a symbolic day for world literature. UNESCO later adopted the date for World Book and Copyright Day in 1995, giving it global recognition. In Spain, particularly in Catalonia, Día del Libro is traditionally celebrated alongside La Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day), when streets burst into life with bookstalls and flower vendors. People exchange books and roses, a symbolic pairing of beauty and wisdom.

Amid today’s global challenges and technological changes, Día del Libro serves as a reminder of literature’s enduring importance. In celebrating books, we also celebrate freedom of expression, creativity, and human resilience as well as imagination and connection — all immortal values.