‘Iba pa rin talaga ang physical books’
An audience member had a question for National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee. “Ano pong mas masakit? Dalhin ang pag-ibig na hindi naibibigay? O bitbitin ang pag-ibig na hindi tinanggap?” (What hurts more? Carrying love that you couldn’t give? Or love that wasn’t accepted?)
Welcome to the Philippine Book Festival (PBF), where you can get love advice from a national artist.
Lee responded, “All throughout life, lahat tayo dumadaan sa ganun (we all go through that)—’yung may dala kang pag-ibig na hindi nare-reciprocate or hindi na-reciprocate (carrying love that isn’t reciprocated or isn’t returned) in the manner or way that you want … But I think part of being in love, or loving, is carrying that pain. Because ‘pag nasasaktan ka (when you are hurting), it makes you more open as a person … Mahalagang masaktan sa buhay natin. (In life, it’s important to experience pain.) If it’s all joy, we’ll get blinded. Kailangan natin ang pain, lalo na kung gusto niyo magsulat. (We need pain especially if you want to write.)”
While answering another question, he compared his need to write to his need to breathe. “It’s just like breathing. If I stop creating, I stop breathing.”
These were the renowned screenwriter/journalist/novelist/playwright’s final words at the session “Trip to Quiapo: In Conversation with Ricky Lee,” which was hosted by Sam Oh. Afterward, the master storyteller stayed to meet fans and sign his books—the line snaked all the way behind the main stage and past it. The book signing lasted so long that they had to move the table from the stage to an area beside it because the next program had to start.
Literary greats
Lee is energized by book fairs. He finds joy and excitement in them, he told the crowd. “It feels good to be surrounded by book lovers, Filipinos buying Filipino books. It’s a chance to see writers na pangalan lang ang nakikita natin. And for us writers, it’s a chance to see our readers and thank them.”He was just one of the many literary greats, publishing rock stars and famous personalities that people got to see and meet at the 2024 Philippine Book Festival, held at the World Trade Center on April 25 to April 28. Ambeth Ocampo, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, Manix Abrera, Paolo Herras, Tarantadong Kalbo, Yvette Tan, Ronaldo S. Vivo Jr., Jose Dalisay Jr.—they were all there, along with so many other brilliant Filipinos.
The festival, a project of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), brought together authors, artists, performers, publishers, educators, students and families for a celebration of Philippine culture and literature.
“This interactive traveling book fair features the best of Philippine literature and art, and brings together large-scale institutional buyers of educational materials and the Philippine publishing industry in a single space,” said NBDB executive director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.
“We have called the PBF a ‘first-of-its-kind’ event, and it’s not just because of the lineup of activities… but mainly because of its insistence that Philippine books and Philippine authorship are worthy of being the center of a big celebration. I don’t think we have ever dedicated this much time and space to the celebration of Philippine content, and it’s about time that we start doing so.”
At the opening ceremony, Sen. Loren Legarda addressed the crowd. “It is said that there is no such thing as a child who hates to read. There are only children who have not found the right book. For our children and our students, find books worth reading. Those that stretch your imaginations, that help make sense of our own lives, those that encourage you to reach out towards people whose lives are very different from your own.”
There was an abundance of books worth reading at the festival from 170 exhibitors. They could be found in all four realms: KidLit, Komiks, Booktopia and Aral Aklat. Each realm was buzzing with excitement and bustling with activity throughout the four days.
Historian Xiao Chua was touring groups through the Rare Book Exhibit of the National Library of the Philippines. He explained the story behind each piece, including the works of Jose Rizal that were on display in glass cases. “Hawak-hawak ng National Library of the Philippines hindi lang ito kundi ang napakaraming kayamanang si Jose Rizal mismo ang sumulat sa kanya mismong mga kamay. (The National Library of the Philippines holds not just these but so many treasures that Jose Rizal wrote with his own hands.)”
Storytelling At his booth in the Komiks realm, Kevin Eric Raymundo, aka Tarantadong Kalbo, was signing a book for a fan who said, “TK, pa-sign, papamana ko pa yan sa mga anak ko. (Please sign. My kids are going to inherit this book.)”
At the Anvil Publishing booth in Booktopia, Anvil Publishing president Xandra Ramos-Padilla and chef and “The Ultimate FIlipino Adobo: Stories Through the Ages” author Claude Tayag were talking about adobo. Later that day, Tayag would do a lecture on the topic at the Creator’s Lab.
“Mga bata, handa na ba kayo?” Bibong Biboy asked the excited children in the Kid Lit area as he prepared to start a storytelling session.
In line for a book signing, a woman told her companions, “Iba pa rin talaga ang physical books. (Physical books are still something else.) I never got into ebooks.”
Avenida Books founder Nida Gatus-Ramirez, said, “It’s always a very welcome thing to be at the PBF. It’s a different atmosphere, and it’s a different feel than other book fairs. We have a lot of sitting spaces here so people tend to stay more, they tend to browse longer because they know they can sit somewhere in case they get tired. I think a lot more families come here as a group. It’s a lot of fun.”
Avenida Books launched two new titles at PBF. “We have the third volume of ‘Duty Ka Ba?’ by Tepai Pascual and it’s Boys Love-themed. Fans have been waiting for this. We also came out with the third Dreamland book from Ronaldo Vivo Jr. Not necessarily the sequel, but the third story after ‘Ang Bangin sa Ilalim ng mga Paa’ which is ‘Ang Suklam sa Ating Mga Naaagnas Na Balat.’ Of course, it promises a lot of crime, a lot of violence and gore and drugs and some sex. Both books are definitely not for children.”
First time
It was Kwentoon’s first time at the PBF. Kwentoon co-founder Isa Songco said, “It’s a good opportunity for indie comics to be exposed in this kind of environment.”
Songco hopes more Filipinos would give indie comics a try. “Support local content… Every day, we consume content—Netflix, books, most of them titles that are made outside of the country. Why not support the Filipino creatives?”
Kwentoon titles available at the PBF included “Plush Brigade” and “Kwentoon!,” which is “an anthology of our Manga Bootcamp graduates,” said Songco. Other indie comic titles were also available at the Kwentoon booth—“Hunghang Flashbacks” by D. Borja, “In His Universe” by Chocnut-san and more.
Also on the main stage was a poignant tribute to the late National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. “I’m proud to reveal that the next title we intend to bring to the readers is his beloved ‘Manila, My Manila,’ said Andrea Pasion-Flores, copyright lawyer, publisher at Milflores and president of the Book Development Association of the Philippines. Pasion-Flores, who has been serving as Joaquin’s agent representing the Nick Joaquin Foundation, unveiled the cover of the book.
Charo Joaquin Villegas, the niece of Joaquin and president of the Foundation, said, “On April 29, we commemorate Nick Joaquin’s 20th death anniversary. My promise to Tito Nick before he passed was we will do everything so that the future generations may continue to read and experience the works of our beloved National Artist. The Foundation’s mission is to preserve the memory and legacy of Nick Joaquin by ensuring accessibility and availability of his works through diverse media and platforms for the current and upcoming generations of Filipinos.”
It’s a promise they have kept. “At present, his works have been adapted for cinema, dance, theater, music, clothing, among other media. In addition, his works have been translated into various languages. The Foundation’s vision is on his 30th death anniversary, we can continue to say, ‘Nick Joaquin, he lives.’”
These are just snippets from a memorable festival that shone the spotlight on Filipino talent—old and new, mainstream and indie, established and emerging, all worthy of attention.
We can’t wait for next year’s PBF.
