ARTS / CULTURE
Celebrity authors and diverse titles draw readers to Ateneo booth at MIBF
Stories, scholarship, and encounters with authors drew readers to Ateneo de Manila University’s booth at the 2026 Manila International Book Fair, where diverse books and journals offered fresh discoveries and brought writers and readers together.
Books brought readers together at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) booth during the 2026 Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), where literary discoveries and encounters with authors drew visitors throughout the five-day event.
The Ateneo de Manila University Press (AUP) and ADMU welcomed a steady stream of readers browsing familiar titles and discovering new works. Hundreds of books and journals were sold, reflecting the varied interests of visitors — from fiction and poetry to history, philosophy and contemporary social issues.
Among the AUP titles readers took home were Versus: Mga Kuwento by DJ Ellamil and Epistolaryo ng Bagamundo at ang Tugon ng Multo by Mikael de Lara Co.
Readers also explored issues of the Journal of Management for Global Sustainability and Budhi, along with Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints. The journal offerings covered subjects ranging from the Marcos years and disaster justice to colonial history, Bicol and Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Philippines under imperial Japan, and workers’ struggles.
Book-signing sessions gave visitors the chance to meet the writers behind the works. Featured authors at the AUP booth included Ines Bautista-Yao, Mikael de Lara Co, Vida Cruz-Borja, DJ Ellamil, Don Jaucian, Alfonso Manalastas, Trish Shishikura, Felice Prudente Santa Maria, and Julian Tiongson Jr. Ateneo faculty members Edgar Calabia Samar and Ambeth Ocampo also launched their latest books on José Rizal.
These encounters added a personal dimension to the reading experience, bringing authors and readers into conversation about the stories, research, and ideas they had encountered on the page.
Beyond sales and signings, the booth offered a glimpse of the breadth of work produced by Ateneo’s authors, scholars, researchers and editors. Literary works stood alongside scholarly publications, inviting visitors to explore subjects beyond their usual reading interests.
For Ateneo, participation in the MIBF extends the reach of its publications beyond the University, making them accessible to a wider reading public. The fair also provides a meeting place for the people who write, publish and read them.
As the fair drew to a close, its value could be measured in more than books sold. Readers left with new titles to explore, memories of conversations with authors and, perhaps, a reason to return to the shelves.