25 books for 2025
It is always a welcome sign for readers, Philippine publishing, and literacy to see a variety of titles each year coming from established presses and self-published authors. These are 2024 published titles in no particular ranking, but do take note of the titles from the regions and the seeming popularity of New Adult/Romance books, thus the emergence of the Blush and Flutter imprints.
1. “Arasahas: Mga Tula” by Jaya Jacobo, 2nd edition, Savage Mind Publishing House.
London-based poet and world traveler Jacobo’s first book of poetry is permeated with the tropical heat of her homeland, heat from the environs, heat from the body, heat from the soul. The poems carry words in Tagalog, Bikol, Portuguese which convey the intensity of feelings. These were read and discussed by Jacobo at the Frankfurter Buchmesse in October.
2. “Sojourner, Settler, Seer: The Complete Stories of Charlson Ong,” Milflores Publishing.
A true gift to have Ong’s 34 stories in one volume, as he is considered a master of the short story, with special emphasis on his Chinoy experience. The stories are categorized as the book title indicates.
3. “Without a Brother (Walay Igsoon)” by Juan Villagonzalo, translated and edited by Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Dual Story Brand Strategy Inc.
This Cebuano novel is the story of two brothers, Marcos and Lucas Rivera, who belong to a wealthy Cebuano family, but their lives and their world change with the war in 1898. It is important to note that the author, an advocate of the Cebuano language, wrote this in 1912. His fiction documents the unfair labor practices experienced by Filipinos abroad and the importance of education in a person’s life.
4. “More Political Than We Admit: Theories and the Problematic of Philippine Politics,” ed. by Julio C. Teehankee, Vibal Foundation Inc.
A valuable resource on the complex and perplexing Philippine politics with essays from, among others, Onofre D. Corpuz, Amado Guerrero, Lisandro E. Claudio, Benedict Anderson, Nicole Curato, David Wurfel, Alfred W. McCoy, Dante C. Simbulan.
5. “Beyond Sugar: Tales, Artworks, and Anecdotes from Pastry Bin” by Penk Ching and Shen Ratilla, Chen’s Artworks Publishing House Inc.
Coming in a limited first edition of 1,000 copies, this is bound to have more editions as the two sister-authors share their stories with sugar, butter, and flour. Unlike their first 2006 book, “Caked in Sugar,” this tells many more stories about the fondant cake decor they have elevated to high art, including designs developed with artists and even fashion designers.
6. “Living Food: A Healing Journey” by Robert Alejandro and Jetro Rafael, Milflores Publishing.
This memoir of true friends who journey through life and art together documents Alejandro’s state of wellness during his illness, through a diet of natural foods, toward holistic healing. Twenty-seven recipes are included.
7. “The Ultimate Filipino Adobo: Stories + Recipes from the Heart” by Claude Tayag, 2nd edition, Anvil Publishing Inc.
It begins with “A Hymn to Adobo” by Rio Alma, “Oh, My Mother’s Adobo/Good for all seasons;/Like a heart that loves/Gets better when it lasts,” a song sang by Celeste Legaspi, composed by Nonoy Gallardo, and a foreword by food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria. Hard to read without drooling and savoring the adobo’s many varieties and stories.
8. “Pamahihiin” by Lyndon Gregorio, Beerkada Works Enterprises.
From the punned title with the inclusion of “hi hi” to the first Pinoy belief about staircases (“The number of steps must not be divisible by three… and has at least one upper case letter, one number and one special character”) to the timely “During floods, you should also step in the water with your right foot first. This is to avoid left toe spirosis,” one’s laughter is elicited. Description are in Filipino and English. Gregorio runs a daily Beerkada comic strip in a national daily, and this is the latest of 20+ books.
9. “Kapid/Twin” by Bryan Mari Argos, illus. by John Alaban, Kasingkasing Press.
This story of family and siblings in Hiligaynon/English takes us on a fantastical journey to the shores of Capiz, where deities come alive and pieces of the moon become the shell associated with the province. Take note that author Argos is a two-time Palanca Award winner, while illustrator Alaban is an artist-sculptor.
10. “Beginner’s Guide to Love and Other Chemical Reactions” by Six de los Reyes, Komiket, Blush Books.
Science grad student Kaya designs an evidence-based protocol to find the “perfect” boyfriend in time for her cousin’s wedding. Tattooed cafe-owner Nero proves all of her theories false. It is discovered that chemistry and love don’t always happen in a lab.
11. “Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger by IRSHWNDY,” Flutter Fic, an imprint of Anvil Publishing.
The genius engineer Xantiel Vouganville is only known to be nothing but danger and lives under three different lives. But here comes an uncontrollable wild child Feuille who is fearless about danger.
12. “If the Dress Fits” by Carla de Guzman,” self-published.
The scenario seems so familiar—Carla is tired of being told to watch her weight. For a big family event, she brings a fake boyfriend who turns out to be no fake after all.
13. “Iris After the Incident” by Mina V. Esguerra, self-published.
Iris after the incident tries to live a life as normal as she can. She meets a boy who will not immediately reveal his name—so perhaps he too has had an “incident” like her? So what is the incident? Esguerra is credited for her Romance classes which have professionalized the New Adult/Romance genre which even the Frankfurter Buchmesse folks are fans of!
14. “Invisible Girl Part 1” by Jeneliza Recato-Daño a.k.a. TheCatWhoDoesn’tMeow, Flutter Fic, an imprint of Anvil Publishing.
This is one of the books that appeal to Wattpad readers, and thus invites a large following. To guide the reader and to lessen whatever confusion may arise, instructions are provided on how to follow the narrative via the screenshots of text messages and the cast of Trolls and BFFs, introduced. All about a better reading of an invisible girl, a popular boy, and the exchange of messages between them.
15. “You, Me, U.S.” by Brigitte Bautista, Komiket, Blush Books.
Best friends Jo and Liza make the painful decision to stay together when Liza’s American boyfriend enters the scene. Who has to give in?
16. “Felice, Noel, and the Christmas Disaster” by Didith T. Rodrigo, illus. by Jhucel A. del Rosario, Bookmark.
A near-Christmas disaster, a cancelled traditional family lunch is averted by Felice and Noel who save the day. It is not the holiday food, really, but the company of family.
17. “Flora Fara” by Victor Villanueva, illus. by Cha Gatchula, Lampara Publishing House Inc.
This is just one of 300 leveled reading books by Villanueva and Daisy Calado meant for beginning and early readers, using systematic phonics and the Marungko approach. Heaven knows our literacy skills for readers need help.
18. “Lin-ay: Ang Una nga Babaylan /Lin-ay:The First Babaylan” by Christian George Acevedo, illus. by Aaliaa Sharma, Kasingkasing Press.
The readers are taken to the mystic world of prehistoric Panay and the babaylanes, women revered for their wisdom and spiritual power. The narrative is in Hiligaynon and English.
19. “Pamilya Papel” by Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, illus. by Tin Javier, Consulate General of the Republic of San Marino and Bookmark Inc.
A boy creates a happy family through his paper cut-outs. It turns out it is an imagined dream family for him, an orphan. The story ends on a happy note with a family ready to make him part of theirs.
20. “The Puhung Monster Tree” by Gidget Jimenez, illus. by Gregg Louise, Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
A Philippine indigenous tree, the puhung aka bohol, talungud, or badhar bush, looks like a menacing monster that gives our child narrator nightmares. But Lola knows the value of the tree, healing the children’s bleeding wound and toothache. It is a helpful healing tree, after all.
21. “Si Kaps at Ang Lihim ng Puno ng Balete” by Kim Derla, self-published.
This is part of the Super Teen Kapre Book Collection and is the author’s attempt to make our rich Philippine mythology better known. Kaps, Lucky, and Stacey are half-mortal, half-kapre. Their adventures go beyond protecting Kinagabihan Kamp as many life’s lessons are learned.
22. “Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young” by Nick Joaquin, 3rd edition, The Nick Joaquin Foundation Foundation Inc., Milflores Publishing.
Get to know Joaquin’s beloved Manila, the city of his affections, through his memorable prose and storytelling.
23. “Disconnected Media and Other Essays” by Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr., De La Salle University Publishing House.
The title comes from the author’s belief that Pinoy media is disconnected from the public. Does media really connect with the needs and aspirations of Pinoys? And the more crucial question, is Philippine media doing what it is supposed to? Thought-provoking questions from a filmmaker steeped in media.
24. “Seer of Minds and Hearts: The Legacy of Fr. Jaime C. Bulatao, SJ,” edited by Mira Alexis P. Ofreneo & Maria Lourdes Rosita A. Mesa, De La Salle University Publishing House.
A volume that celebrates Father Bulatao’s contribution to Philippine psychology and his explorations of consciousness through essays of individuals who knew him and worked with him. Interesting comment from Dr. Liane Peña Alampay of the Ateneo Psychology Department: “Wouldn’t Father Bu get a kick out of his book being published by DLSU?”
25. “A Visual Guide to Philippine Ancient History,” edited by Vicente V. Villan, Vibal Group Inc.
Dig into the past of our ancestors and travel through this era via these pages. Young readers will enjoy the quizzes that follow each chapter.
