Booksellers and bibliophiles converge on Manila Book Fair

If you love books — whether they're electronic texts collected in one small tablet, or actual physical books in their well-loved, traditional form — the 33rd Manila International Book Fair should be worth a visit. Thousands of people have made it to SMX Convention Center in Pasay, where the book fair is currently being held. Being there, it’s impossible to believe the accusation that Filipinos aren’t very fond of reading; it turns out that many of them can’t resist the lure of over 200 publishers, booksellers, and bookstores gathered under one roof. “Para ito sa karamihan. Napaka-convenient. Dito, makikita mo yung mga bagong titulo,” said Prime Trade Asia president Irene Lloren. Books in a different form are also represented at the event; in a separate interview, C&E Publishing acquisition manager Bloom Rule noted the benefits of ebooks. “Ang kagandahan dito siyempre hindi ka na magpri-print,” Rule said. “Di ba sinasabi natin, nahihirapan yung mga bata, nabibigatan sa mga libro. Ito isipin mo ilang libro na ’yan. Eight books na, nasa isang iPad lang,” she added. However, Anvil Publishing marketing manager Gwenn Galvez, said she still preferred actual books. “Part of the joy of reading is playing with the book itself. Kasama ’yun sa experience nung bata. Pati siyempre ’yung pagshashare ng libro sa mga kaibigan,” she said. The book fair also exhibited interactive learning applications and educational DVDs from GMA News and Public Affairs. “Pag nakikita ’yan ng mga Pilipino dito, nakaka-relate sila. Nalalaman nila kung ano ang nangyayari sa kasulok-sulokan ng parte ng Pilipinas,” said Juliet Gallardo of Felta Multimedia. The 33rd Manila International Book Fair opened on Sept.12 and concludes on Sept. 16. It is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. — BM, GMA News