DAVAO CITY – The National Book Development Board (NBDB) targets more than 40,000 readers and visitors from the Davao region and other parts of Mindanao in the three-day Philippine Book Festival at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang here from August 18 to 20.
Speaking at the media conference during the Philippine Book Festival Media Launch at Poblacion Market Central on Friday, July 28, NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade said the board aims to promote the Philippines’ best product in Davao and Mindanao.
Tugade said that the NBDB has been organizing the country’s most extensive mobile book festival to spotlight Filipino literature, culture, and content. She added that this is a perfect chance for all the readers, authors, and illustrators to have a significant platform.
“We want to highlight the creativity of Mindanao. It is high time to showcase Mindanao. The book festival offers a great opportunity to share everything, including our local stories in the languages we speak. So, let us make the most of this moment,” Tugade said.
Following its successful event in Metro Manila, which garnered around 40,000 people in three days from June 2 to 4, Tugade said they expect more attendees in this event in celebration of the 38th Kadayawan Festival here.
“Kadayawan is the biggest festival nationwide. Davao City supports the book festival. We want to share what we have as our main objective is for people to return to the fun of reading books. Let’s have a party on the streets and the books, too, at SMX Lanang,” she added.
During the festival, there will be exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with renowned writers, including award-winning authors Ambeth Ocampo, Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, Mary Ann Ordinario, artist Kajo Baldisimo, and UK-based Filipina writer Candy Gourlay.
Ordinario, who is a children’s book author from Mindanao and winner of the 2016 Grand Prize in the Samsung Kids Time Award in Singapore for “The Crying Trees” (Ang Mga Punong Umiiyak), said this event creates a unique festivity of the Philippine literary heritage’s aspect.
“The Philippine Book Festival brings education, entertainment, and shopping. A decade ago, there were no books about Mindanao. Our stories were not shared. It is about time that we start loving our very own books. Let us promote the Philippine books,” Ordinario said.
Ordinario, who is also an educator, said that nine out of 10 children need help with literacy, both reading and writing. She added that she believes by supporting the writers and artists, promoting these Philippine books, everyone can help these children to read and write.
“I have my school, and I observed that most public-school children could hardly read even at five to six years of age. And that it’s time for us, Filipinos, to take action and address this pressing concern. I’m encouraging everyone to patronize Philippine books,” Ordinario said.
Elizabeth Joy Serrano-Quijano, a teacher and author from Davao del Sur, agreed with Ordinario’s opinion. She said that what inspires her in creating fictional stories depicting children, mothers, and individuals are those from marginalized sectors.
“I write about fiction concerning Lumads, indigenous youth, and their experiences because I came from the same background. These people are not well-represented in literature. Thus, this book festival is a big help for writers and creators and in telling our stories,” Quijano said.
All book enthusiasts can indulge in the booths of more than 140 publishers in the event featuring a diverse collection of books written by Filipino authors, Trese artist Baldisimo said. He added that they would be sitting and interacting with the attendees.
Tugade said the Philippine Book Festival is categorized into four realms: Kids Lit for children’s literature, Booktopia for fiction and non-fiction, Komiks Land for comics, and Aral Aklat for educational textbooks.
She added that this is also an avenue for institutions to start looking and scoping all the titles available in the book festival as they have thousands of books and comics beautifully written in the Filipino language in different dialects.
“We would like everyone to visit the Philippine Book Festival. It’s not just the book fair, it’s a book experience. We have thousands of books and programs available for everyone. The event is free of admission. You can shop, read, and create a community of readers,” Tugade said.