Manila's participation in Frankfurt Book Fair lauded

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the participation of the Philippines in the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair is a good opportunity to present the «unique landscape» and rich literary culture of the Philippine book industry.

«Our road to the Philippines as Guest of Honor in the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair is in the works!» the DFA said on Thursday in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

A group of German publishers visited Manila from November 14 to 15 «as part of their creative tour in Southeast Asia,» it added.

The DFA welcomed representatives of German publishers from Suhrkamp Verlag, Kiepenheuer und Witsch, Herder Verlag, Mairisch Verlag, Alexander Verlag, and Mohr Siebeck.

«They engaged in insightful sales pitches and one-on-one sessions with publishers and creatives,» the Foreign Affairs department said.

«These interactions sparked lively discussions about potential translation rights and international publication opportunities, paving the way for future collaborations that will enrich the literary landscape of both countries,» it said.

The DFA said Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina «Loren» Legarda is the «visionary and project principal» of the Philippine role as Guest of Honor country in the book fair.

The initiative is a collaborative undertaking of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), National Commission for Culture and the Arts, DFA and Legarda's office.

The NBDB has confirmed that local publishers from local academic and trade publishing houses met with German publishers «to explore possible publication and translation opportunities.»