PH joins Frankfurt book fair, gets ready for 2025 duties

THE National Book Development Board (NBDB) of the Philippines joins the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, which started on Wednesday, October 18, and is currently running until Sunday, October 22.

NBDB's participation is also in preparation for its duties in the annual book fair's 2025 edition, being the selected «Guest of Honor» for that year.

Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM) director Jürgen Boos said that the event «aims to enhance the dialogue and network of the guest country within the international publishing world.»

For this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, the NBDB's book selection included 10 books from the 8Letters boutique bookstore, including «Sino ang Dakila? Sino Ang Baliw?» by Lolakwentosera, «The Kindred Chronicles» by D.A. Chan and «Shards of Time» by Mitos Suson.

In addition, books by author-journalist Criselda Yabes are in the exhibit, with her works such as «Barcelona,» «Broken Islands» and «The Battle of Marawi.» She is expected to speak on Saturday with authors from Singapore and India.

Comic books are also included in the selection, with Paolo Herras of nonprofit organization Komiket, who discussed the role of independent comic books in the local markets.

With the delegation led by NBDB and Manila Times Chairman Dante «Klink» Ang 2nd, other authors included publishing veteran Karina Bolasco and chef Claude Tayag.

On the consulate's Facebook page, Tayag talked about his cookbook, «The Ultimate Filipino Adobo: Stories Through the Ages,» and also served six variations of the traditional Filipino dish to guests.

On Thursday, October 19, the Philippine delegation held a reception in collaboration with Publishers without Borders and the country's consulate in Frankfurt.

The Philippine delegation also hosted Books and Breakfast on Friday, October 20, that showed the Philippine book market and its translation program.

Last August 18, the country was named a Guest of Honor for the 2025 edition of the annual book fair, which is the largest and oldest trade fair for books, with a contract signed in Davao City.

The Philippines is the 2nd Southeast Asian country that achieved «honorable distinction» after Indonesia in 2015.

This year's Guest of Honor went to Slovenia.