I can’t believe the 30th Manila International Book Fair is finally over, and that I have to count twelve whole months until the next one. I love this year’s book fair loot, and while a couple of specialty book stores sat this book fair out, I think it served well to highlight local publishers and smaller booksellers.
While I’ve been to the book fair almost every day of the event for five consecutive years, I must say that getting to share it with the readers of this blog has made this year’s book fair extra-special. I hope my posts were helpful to those attending the book fair, and to those away from Manila, I hope you got a peek into the book fair experience.
Here is one last post, with photos of other highlights of the five days of the MIBF.
In case you’re wondering how I got the aerial photos, I had to get special permission to go up to the control room to take them. I’ve been wanting to do this for so long, and finally I was able to this year. It’s a great feeling, getting a panoramic view of this paramount event.
I had to move through different control rooms to take the shots, one portion at a time, but it still wasn’t possible to take photos of the entire floor. I took these on Thursday, but just imagine the weekend attendance– readers browsing through shelves and shelves of books, people spilling out over the booths, mascots dancing, cosplayers parading their garb, shoppers maneuvering their purchases (some brought their own shopping carts!) through the aisles, and exhibitors pushing cartloads of boxes to restock their booths!
Here are some more aerial shots:
Here is the opening ceremony:
And I could not resist having my photo taken with someone I really admire:
Sen. Pangilinan gets caught reading:
He says his daughter Frankie loves Nancy Drew!
Of course, what’s the book fair without books, books and more books?
I also like seeing old classics getting a new life. Aside from Francisco Coching’s El Indio, look what else is back in circulation:
The Potter fan in me couldn’t resist taking a photo of the Harry Potter stacks
And on to a new fandom
Bargain bins are always the best!
Mascots are always fun, whatever age you may be…
… and so is storytelling!
I love getting books signed!
Here’s another photo of Siege Malvar for the fangirls (andami pala nila) out there:
And it was a pleasure to meet illustrator May Ann Licudine! I am in awe of her talent!
Am planning to interview both for a feature, so watch out for that.
And to those (like me) who were salivating over AklatEklat’s leather book implements (book cover and bookmarks)
Here is aklateklat’s contact info: Aya Cabardo, 918.919.3913, 922.833.0033, kalayaanquilala@yahoo.com. Website is down at the moment, though.
Phew. That’s it for the 30th Manila International Book Fair. Will be back to regular blogging soon… until next year’s MIBF!
I just realized I forgot the Hunger Games LARP and the Book Repair seminar.
Will post separate features on those.
great, great aerial shots.
thanks for the eklat details. will surely get myself one.
got a bunch of those postcards as well. should have gotten more.
Thanks Ihop
I want to get one too. Still thinking about the design I want on it.
Great post Blooey! I saw the book fair featured on TV last Thursday on Umagang Kay Ganda. They showed the Hunger Games booth IIRC. Will wait for your Hunger Games LARP post. :D
P.S. I thought the first aerial shot was perfect until I saw the stack of books on the lower right. Hehe!
Yeah, I was there on the actual shoot of UKG, actually (hehe).
Aww maaan, I didn’t see that… Now I see another stack on the upper right. Haha.
Hello, Blooey! These shots are fabulous! Too bad we didn’t bump into each other when I went there during the weekend. Thanks for these pictures though.
Hi Peter. Onga, I wanted to see you in action while shopping. Hehe.
See you soon!
Hey, Blooey, can we link to your LARP post when it’s up? :)
BTW, great shot with Nanay Socorro, matching outfit pa kayo. Hehe.
Sure Meann. It’ll be up by tonight… (hopefully)
Onga noh, matching outfits! Idol!
Thanks for all these pics! The top-view photos were great! Wow, all those books! Not one to be missed next year. Would you say that the fair would fit World Trade Convention Center or is it too big for that venue? Have not been to the SMX.
I like your photo with “Nanay” Ramos. Finally, I see THE person behind National Bookstore. And I see you, very clearly of course, and would know who are if I bump into you in a bookstore, perhaps. If you see a creepy woman staring at you, that would be me….Whahahaha!
@Jo- It used to be at WTC until last year. SMX has a bigger floor area (I think) despite the lower ceilings. And more room for special events. Plus the mall’s right across if you need to run other errands or if you get hungry.
Heehee, I’ve had people (strangers) come up to me at the book fair to let me know they read my blog. Let me know if it is you, ayt? :)
Hiyee! just want to tenk u for posting about MIBF!!! i went there the last day and i’m so happy!!! I got most of my dream buks in so affordable prices!!! sayang lang ndi me nakakita ng hardbound el fili for 200 nevertheless, i bought noli & el fili softbound as u have suggested here. u’re hints were so helpful! tenks again!
Blooey, I think I should get those hardbound Noli and Fili books someday. After all, if they saved my life in Panitikan, I should have some sense of responsibility in owning them. Haha. Seriously.
So let me know if they happen to be out there once again, cheaper. (You know me, willing to pay anyway.) Same goes with the INK book about the Pinoy creepers. I think I’d pass that to my future kids. Haha.
@Jaja- Glad to help. Last year I got the softbound Noli and Fili at awesome prices and I enjoyed reading them so much that I got the hardbound copies.
@Myx- the hb Noli and Fili are available at Powerbooks and NBS as far as I know
Hey Blooey! (glad I remember your name kasi unique ang name mo hehehe!) I lost your mini business card so I can’t remember your site. I tried to search my name on Google and luckily, I found your site, hooray! Awwwwww… thanks for posting! Nice picture! :D Sayang, andun pala si Joel so i haven’t met him yet. It was greatly nice to meet you! ;-)
nyahahaha…. kainggit naman, i only got to make the rounds on the last day. By then, napagpilian na mga books. :( awww.
Siege- Sayang! Challenging to shop on the last day, it’s always chaotic. At least you can plan ahead for next year!
Thanks Blooey for taking a pic of The Hunger Games display. I just realized I haven’t uploaded the pics from my cellphone. Hehehe.
Augh, I took a photo of the UK edition of HG at Borders but all my photos for the first half of my trip got wiped out!!!!