MIBF 2014: Day One Report

Finally home from the first day of the 35th Manila International Book Fair, and I’ve got lots to show you! :)

 

I spent most of Day One on opening day duties:

The ribbon-cutting, led by Sen. Bam Aquino

Bam Aquino is a self-confessed book lover: at age 6, he had already read the novels “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” His favorite books include Paolo Coelho’s “Fifth Mountain,” John Carlin’s “Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation,” Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point,” J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Stephen King’s “The Shining,” Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods,” Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series, and Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather.”

The opening ceremonies also featured Sophia Lee, winner of the 2014 Scholastic Asian Book Award:

And look, my article about the SABA appears in the latest issue of NBDB’s Book Watch:

Because it’s the 35th anniversary of MIBF, there was an AVP about the book fair, featuring the book fair through the years and memories of the book fair. Um, haha, well, a few years back, the organizers found out my first book fair was when I was nine, on a field trip to the book fair which was then at Megamall. And that is how this came to happen (x_x):

Hooookay. Haha.

A few more photos from the opening:

Aki Aklat, the MIBF mascot

I also went to the press briefing for FILCOLS’ Copy and Repro conference (Sept. 19, also at the MIBF) and the discussion was quite interesting, covering intellectual property policies and copyright licensing for educational institutions, especially in light of Republic Act 10372, which introduces amendments to the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines:

Also managed a book launch (“Ang Kunehong Kaskasero at ang Pagong na Balagong”) that featured the winners of The Voice Kids:

So it was well past 6pm when I finally got to scope out the book fair, and not very thoroughly, at that (must do another trawl tomorrow!). Here are some interesting finds:

The Larousse Gastronomique is still P500 at Anvil.
And they have shelves and shelves of books at 20-80% off

I haven’t had the chance to go bargain bin hunting yet,
but spied these Lonely Planet guides at the NBS booth, all at P75.

Lovely children’s books and cookbooks from Philmont, from P50-P300
(my cousin and I wanted to get so many cookbooks!)

The cookbook selection is lovely this year.
Top: wine and cheese books from Asiatype,
Bottom: assorted cookbooks (all 50% off) at WS Pacific

Rex Bookstore had some interesting artifacts on display: the smallest book in the world,
a miniature Shakespearean library, and what is apparently the biggest book in the world.

I’m eyeing the F. Sionil Jose books at Tradewinds (because I just finished the Rosales Saga this year).
The book on Philippine textiles is so pretty it caught my eye.
And look, they still have the 5 for P100 sale, with GCF’s Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker.

Loaded up on stationery at Tahanan! Because you can never have too many chorva thingies.

Bookmark is worth rummaging into. Got wads of postcards, a lot of the titles in the Great Lives series,
Marivi Soliven’s early detective novels, and an NVM Gonzales anthology all for a little over P100.

Lots of interesting titles at the Komikon booth. Still undecided on what to get so I took home the catalog.
Noodle Boy looks real pretty and the print quality is superb!

PSICOM’s (not so secret anymore!) comic book stash

And I forgot the booth name, but there was a booth selling cloth toys
and this transforming Little Mermaid puppet is super adorable!

Penguin Drop Caps (at NBS, of course!). I have the B so far, thinking of what other letter I should get.

And I couldn’t resist this lovely, lovely book called “Flip Fashion.”
There was a promo for it and I though the Dali book was cool, too, so I got a nifty Dali/Warhol tote.

That’s it for now, because I’m turning in early — announcing the finalists for the Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards at 10 am tomorrow. Loot photos to follow!