Philippines to spotlight local authors, heritage at Frankfurt Book Fair 2024; named guest of honor for 2025

The Philippines has been selected as the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Frankfurter Burchmesse.  

The Frankfurter Burchmesse, also known as the Frankfurt Book Fair, is the largest and oldest book fair in the world. This is the first time it has chosen the Philippines as its guest of honor in its 500-year history.

Ahead of its Guest of Honor role in 2025, the Philippine delegation will present a program highlighting the rich literary history and cultural heritage of the country at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024 happening from October 16 to 20 at the Messe Frankfurt.

The Philippines' participation this year runs on the theme, "The imagination peoples the air," which is inspired by the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal. The national hero and author, after all, published his classic novel "Noli Me Tangere" in Germany.

Over 70 Filipino authors, publishers, and creatives will be featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024. About 700 titles spanning a diverse range of genres like children's literature, education, graphic novels, and more, will also be showcased at the Philippine stand and other areas at the event.

The Philippines' Guest of Honor role at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 was achieved through the collaborative efforts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.

According to Legarda, the Philippines' achievement as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025 is proof of what the nation can accomplish when Filipinos' talents are cultivated.

"We can make a difference and rally stronger support for the continuous advancement of our book industry and the creative industry through consistent and sustainable government initiatives," she said in a press release.

NCCA Chair Victorino Manalo also noted that the Guest of Honor role is an opportunity to "promote our stories forged by the diversity of our unique culture and its richness." Meanwhile, NBDB Chair Dante Francis Ang II said the role will help in bolstering the government's efforts to further promote the country's book industry and earn local and international support.

The Philippines' program at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024 will include talks by transfeminine thinker and artist Jaya Jacobo, esteemed author Jose "Butch" Dalisay, investigative journalist and "Some People Need Killing" author Patricia Evangelista, Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo, and many more.

The program is as follows:

Official launch

The Philippines will be officially presented as Frankfurt Book Fair 2025's Guest of Honor at a press conference on October 17 at the Frankfurt Pavilion.

Filipino art critic, curator, and professor Patrick Flores, who is also curator of the 2025 Philippine Pavilion, will present the delegation's theme for Frankfurt Book Fair 2025.

Karina Bolasco, head of the literary program and curator for books for the Philippines' Guest of Honor program, will then discuss the delegation's literary program at next year's fair, as well as the state of publishing and literature in the Philippines.

"Trese" creator Budjette Tan will also hold conversations at the press con with Jacobo.

Literary Program

Jacobo, Dalisay, Evangelista, and Ocampo will grace the International Stage for a series of talks on Philippine literature.

Tan and Evangelista will also feature in talks on the ART+ Stage alongside award-winning illustrators and Ang Ilustrator ng Kabataan members Isabel Roxas and Frances Alvares.

Mina Esguerra, on the other hand, will give a talk on the New Adult Stage. She is a publisher, an author of various romance books, and the founder of RomanceClass, a collective of Filipino romance authors.

Handover Ceremony

The handover of the Guest of Honor will be held on October 20 at the Italian Pavilion, which will see Italy officially pass the mantle to the Philippines.

The ceremony will also include a talk by Roxas and Italian illustrator Alessandro Sanna, as well as performances from indigenous musician and multidisciplinary artist Waway Saway and the award-winning choral group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers.

'In the Air' program

The Philippine delegation will also extend its cultural activities beyond Frankfurt Book Fair grounds.

From October 24 to 27, the Philippines will hold a four-day program, "In the Air," in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld.

The program will allow participants to learn more about Rizal as a hero, prolific writer, and thinker, with activities that also tackle themes like "home, exile, and international solidarity."

In Heidelberg, the historian Ocampo will "[retrace] Rizal's footsteps" in the city through an informative Walking Tour.

Other events in Heidelberg include a Filipino and German Writers Fellowship; the "Talking Heads: Art and Science Show" by Filipino artist Miljohn Ruperto and University of Heidelberg Professor Jonas Grethlein; the "With Spectres" talk by Joscha Steffens and Stephanie Misa; and a concert including Filipino artists.

Meanwhile, the "Pumpon ng mga Gunita (Bouquet of Reminiscences)" will be held in Wilhelmsfeld.

The program comprises two parts, "Lebendes Bild" and "Tertulia," and will feature conversations, discussions, and performances about Rizal's legacy.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News