New titles from local indie publishers that are worth checking out in MIBF
Looking to read books that are out of the ordinary? The upcoming Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) is your place to be as the much-anticipated book bazaar is launching over 30 new titles from The Indie Publishers Collab PH (TIPC).
Set to run from Sept. 14 to 17 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, this year's MIBF will feature self-published authors and TIPC participating publications including 7 Eyes Productions, Aklat Alamid, Aklat Mirasol, Aklat Ulagad, and others.
Participating publishers will unveil their latest children’s literature, non-fiction, fiction, and poetry, in addition to the "Premium Shelves" which will comprise the group's group's best-selling pieces of literature as well as finalists in the National Book Awards and Gintong Aklat Awards.
If you are into poetry, expect to enjoy some of that during the fair with Librong LIRA’s Arawan, Sa Antipolo Pa rin ang Antipolo, and Ang Aming Lungkot ay Amin; 7 Eyes Productions’ Mga Tibo ng Taludtod; San Anselmo Publications’ Kafka in the Tropics, Aklat Ulagad’s Signap Chapbook Series 5, Awit ng Mortal, Ang Bigat ng Hangin, Volto Santo, Unang Krimen, and Walang Paalam.
Meanwhile, Books of Essays can also be seen in the fair such as Panaglagip: The North Remembers and Dear Meg: Advice on Life, Love and The Struggle from Gantala Press; Artfully Speaking and Other Essays and Conversations with Mommy from San Anselmo; It’s a Men’s World and Pasasaan from Isang Balangay Media Productions; As Well in Our Estrangement and Tao sa Prowa: Mga Tala, Mga Taon from Aklat Ulagad; and The Person with This Ability: Rehabilitation from Prehabilitation from Alubat Publishing.
For history-related books, you can enjoy A Death Foretold: The Ninoy Aquino Assassination Remembered from Good Intentions Publishing, and Radical: Readings in Rizal and History from San Anselmo.
Moreover, some of the new works of fiction from the collab can also be read at the fair such as Alubat’s Route 55, 7 Eyes’ Sa Likod ng Eksena, Southern Voices’ Ang Propeta which is a Filipino translation of Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet.
Aside from that, book lovers can also enjoy children's literature from the TIPC booth. This includes Ako si Mudjat, Isang Dumagat from Aklat Mirasol, Isang Himala sa Gubat Kamanyang and Ako si Talagbangan from Southern Voices Printing Press; Samson at Iba Pang Akda from 7 Eyes Productions, Ang Buhok nga Naglimpyo kang Suba and Gustong Maglupad ni Bangsi from Aklat Alamid, as well as Sinta from Streettales Publishing House.
Meanwhile, Mindanao-based company Pawikan Press will be introducing Mga Buhay na Apoy, the book of celebrated filmmaker Kanakan Balintagos, on Sept. 17, 2 p.m., at the MIBF main stage.
Veteran actresses Irma Adlawan and Mhalouh Crisologo will be gracing the event as the two will be reading excerpts from the book. A book signing event follows afterward.
MIBF is the largest and longest-running book fair in the Philippines. According to its website, it is a platform where more than 200 local and international exhibitors showcase their work to over 160,000 visitors for the last three years.