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Christmas 2025: 12 exciting new books by Filipino authors for your bookworm friends
Oh, the holiday season. It's been a crazy time in the Philippines lately, from the mall rush to the endless holiday traffic. With that said, cozying up with a book in a quiet space sounds like paradise.
Here are 12 books to enjoy this holiday season, to give as gifts to your loved ones or to yourself.
1. ‘A Chain is a House to Sleep In’ by Deirdre Z. Camba
“A Chain is a House to Sleep In” is a new collection of poems by Deirdre Z. Camba. It tackles a variety of topics from “Brunch with Jesus” to “Mr. Pogi 1996.”
“I hate to be tender, but writing this book meant an awful lot to me and I often considered publishing it impossible. It hasn't sunk in yet that she's finally real,” Camba said in an Instagram post.
Camba is a Filipina poet and creative.
“A Chain is a House to Sleep In” is available at Everything’s Fine.
2. ‘A View from the Ground’ by Atom Araullo
“A View from the Ground” is Atom Araullo’s first collection of narrative journalism. It also features photos taken by Atom himself.
Atom said the book took him eight years to complete. The award-winning Kapuso journalist told GMA News Online that the motivation to publish the book came from years of emotional toll as well as the depth of experience that comes with covering various human stories.
"Isa itong paraan para ma-capture 'yung napakaraming emotions na nararamdaman natin bilang mga mamamahayag habang gumagawa tayo ng mga kwento na tingin ko marami pang puwedeng i-share at kailangan pang mag-amplify 'yung karanasan at boses ng mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan," he told GMA News Online during his book launching at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) in September.
“A View from the Ground” is available on Shopee.
3. ‘Agaw-Tingin’ by Ricky Lee
“Agaw-Tingin” by Ricky Lee is a collection of articles from his time as a journalist. With pieces ranging from the Martial Law days in 1976 to contemporary 2009, the non-fiction collection follows the theme “inagaw na tingin.”
“Agaw-Tingin” was one of the books Lee released during the MIBF, along with “Pinilakang Tabing.”
He told GMA News Online that he hopes the books will encourage more Filipinos to read.
“Sana ugaliin natin ang magbasa. Kasi lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng social media at iba’t ibang platforms, ang dami-daming paraan ng panonood, minsan nakakalimutan natin ang pagbabasa,” Lee said. “Mahalaga ang pagbabasa, iba ang ginagawa ng pagbabasa sa panonood."
“Agaw-Tingin” is available on Shopee.
4. ‘Ashura’ by Quintin Jose V. Pastrana
‘Ashura: A Filipino Reckoning’ by Quintin Jose V. Pastrana is a thrilling novel that combines a political thriller and historical fiction, and delves into human rights, state impunity, and murder.
The book follows three characters, unlikely companions who risk everything to find a little girl with a secret that can bring down murderers. The characters come together amidst the extrajudicial killings in modern-day Philippines.
Readers will also be brought to Metro Manila, Mindanao, Washington, DC, Barcelona, and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands.
“Ashura” is available on Amazon.
5. ‘Daddy’ by Chuckberry Pascual
“Daddy” by Chuckberry Pascual is not your typical queer novella.
It follows Ryan, a 44-year-old queer man who is stuck in difficult situations concerning his family, work, and relationships.
Ryan meets someone at the MRT restroom, which leads into a journey of self-reflection and identity.
“Daddy” is available on Shopee.
6. ‘Factory of Alleged Virtues’ by Alfonso Manalastas
“Factory of Alleged Virtues” is a collection of poems by poet and visual artist Alfonso Manalastas.
The collection tackles “survival and its inherent contradictions” given a life of colonialism, capitalism, and climate collapse, according to the Ateneo De Manila University Press.
It is part dreamlike and realistic, and showcases how the self “endures, resists, and remakes itself within a world on fire.”
“Factory of Alleged Virtues” is available on the Ateneo De Manila University Press website, and Lazada and Shopee pages.
7. ‘Kwentoys’ written by Budjette Tan and art by Brandie Tan
“Kwentoys” is a whimsical book by the man behind “Trese,” Budjette Tan.
It is a compilation of eight short stories, each featuring what seems like a regular toy, but has some extraordinary powers. The book also features art by Brandie Tan.
“Kwentoys” is available on Shopee.
8. ‘Kuwentong Butsero’ by J.L. Chua
“Kuwentong Butsero” is a compilation of thrilling short stories. But be warned, these are not for everyone, with author J.L. Chua even saying in the foreword, “Hindi madaling basahin ang librong ito.”
There is more to the collection than meets the eye.
Although it does fall under the thriller genre, it poses a more important question: “What should we really be afraid of?”
It tackles the theme of inequalities, which is to say, a kind of horror.
“Minsan nasa sukdulan na ang tao eh. What if you are in that position, that you are abused? That you are in need? Ano kaya magagawa mo? I like to write about those things, ‘yung hangganan ng tao. Saan ba ‘yung hangganan ng tao?" Chua told GMA News Online.
“’Butsero’ is like that. If you read the characters, in one way or another, baka maka-relate ka eh kasi may nakikita tayong ganon sa mga tao sa paligid natin.”
“Kuwentong Butsero” is available in Fully Booked.
9. ‘Lipad’ by Mika Salamanca
Mika Salamanca is more than just a singer and actress, she is also a children’s book writer.
The “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition” Big Winner launched “Lipad” at the MIBF in September. It was illustrated by Jewelle Villarisco.
“Lipad” tells the story of a diwata named Mahika, who is insecure because her wings are different from the rest.
Mika hopes that the book would encourage people to embrace what makes them unique.
“Mas malungkot kayo kung ‘di kayo iba. Lahat ng tao may pagkakaiba. Kahit sa strand ng buhok mo, kahit sa nunal mo, magkakaiba ang mga tao,” she told GMA News Online.
“Lipad” is available at Fully Booked.
10. ‘Misericordia’ by A.A. Patawaran
“Misericordia” is veteran journalist and author A.A. Patawaran’s debut novel.
“’Misericordia’ is the Philippines, from the Manila Polo Club to Lake Caliraya to a remote outpost in the mountains of Tigmarabo where revolution brews, all told from the inside, where comfort is a birthright until it isn’t, where the air turns charged and choices suddenly matter,” Patawaran said in an Instagram post.
It follows Patxi, who was “pulled into a country on edge” by student leader Armand. There, he meets Lito who is dealing with loss, and Halika who is a reminder of the past. When Lito disappears, their loyalty and secrets are tested, with each step pulling them into betrayal and desire.
“Misericordia” is available on Shopee.
11. ‘Son of a Dead '80s Bold Star’ by Chuck D. Smith
“Son of a Dead ‘80s Bold Star” follows the alleged son of Pepsi Paloma. Yes, you read that right.
Chuck D. Smith reflects on his experiences growing up, about how he was told he was the son of one of the country’s most controversial figures in this essay collection.
“May inkling naman ako that the story told to me by my adoptive parents was not true," he admitted to GMA News Online.
"So when it was told to me, medyo may konting acceptance. Pero eventually as the months passed by, medyo weird kasi ano gagawin ko sa feelings ko?" He said. “That forced me or that compelled me to start writing the essays that I wrote.”
For Chuck, writing was a "way of trying to make sense of it."
"Kasi it’s a weird feeling,” he said.
“Son of a Dead ‘80s Bold Star” is available at the UST Publishing House Bookstore, and the UST Publishing House Shopee and Lazada pages.
12. ‘Stigma: Mga Batang Poz 2’ by Segundo Matias Jr.
“Stigma: Mga Batang Poz 2” is the sequel to the award-winning young adult novel “Mga Batang Poz” by Segundo Matias Jr.
"Mga Batang Poz" follows Luis, Enzo, Kenneth, and Chuchay — how they got diagnosed with HIV and their worries about living with the virus.
“Stigma: Mga Batang Poz 2,” shines more light on Melody, a pregnant 15-year-old living with HIV, who is afraid that her baby may also get infected.
Melody is a way to break the misconception that it is mostly males who have the virus.
“Mayroon akong na-encounter na 15 years old na magpapa-test ng baby niya kasi may HIV siya, so that inspired me to write about her,” Matias answered GMA News Online at the book launch.
In the new book, Melody joins the group chat Pete’s Corner, comprised of teenagers who are HIV positive, or poz. As Melody’s pregnancy becomes more visible, she must face the burden of the stigma while finding strength in the stories of Luis, Enzo, Kenneth, and Chuchay.
“Stigma: Mga Batang Poz 2” is available via Lampara Books.
—CDC, GMA Integrated News
