The Green Spine Book Fair 2016: Book Talk Sessions

The 34th Manila International Book Fair

Here we go again. It is that time of year when we spend our hard earned cash on books. 

As usual, the events, book launches, talks and seminars are scheduled during the fair. For a comprehensive list here's the http://www.manilabookfair.com/schedule.html">link to the five day book fest

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Reading Choices

Browsing the books on display

My kids are now of the age when they can choose books and reading materials on their own. When we're at the mall, we drop by a bookstore to browse and buy books with in the allotted budget. When I bring them books I borrowed from the library, they choose the ones they like according to book cover (yes the adage Don't judge the book by its cover does not apply), title, genre and author. It will take time for their selection criteria to change and grow.

I am patient. What I can do for them now is to provide them with the reading materials and a literacy rich environment. This is not easy but, it is included in the word, parenting.

Their school had a book fair recently. What an opportune time to exercise this choice of reading, and yes, buying. So, after both kids asked of their book budget they set off to the rows and rows of books displayed by National Bookstore.

At the book fair, they met classmates and friends who were there for the book party. I also met my kids' high school librarian, Mr. Marlon Salinas, who invited me last week for a talk and mini-workshop on Creative Writing with grades 9 and 10. More on that next post.

With HS Librarian, Mr. Marlon Salinas

Nico picked up Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, while Zoe bought two activity books on puzzles. Last night, Nico told me, "Ma, the book is better than the movie."

Of course. It has always been that way.

The 33rd Manila International Book Fair

The 31st MIBF Schedule of Events

Like in previous years, there is something for everyone in the Manila International Book Fair. Here's the link for the schedule of activities.



A slew of library seminars and fora are in place, book launch and storytelling contests. It's the same book fair fodder one might think nonetheless, the need for learning something new, relearning and unlearning and replenishing is endless.

The 31st MIBF

It's book fair season again!

The Manila International Book Fair opens on 15 September 2010. More information on the website. The Filipinas Heritage Library has the list of activities during the five day book fair.

Buklat Bulilit 2009 Opening Ceremony

Buklat Bulilit opened in TriNoma Mall today with a simple program for kids invited from a local school. The four day long book fair drums up the importance of books and reading as it offers reading materials for children and young adults. The activities during the book fair are as follows -

July 29 - 10:30 am - Opening Ceremony

July 30 - 10:00 am - Storytelling Session

July31 - 2:00 pm - Storytelling
11:00 am & 3:30 pm - Oishi Mascot Dance

August 1 - 10:30 am - Hand Puppet Making
1:00 pm - Cooking Demo
3:30 pm - Lecture on the Novel for Young Adults

For details of the activities, contact the TriNoma Concierge or call 892-1801 loc. 21. This event is brought to the public by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, Filipinas Heritage Library, TriNoma, the National Book Development Board, Jolibee and Oishi.

Buklat Bulilit 2009

Should you miss the week long book fair in Marikina City's Convention Center, you can catch it up at the TriNoma on July 29 - August 1.

The National Book Development Board (NBDB), Filipinas Heritage Library, and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) invite kids and kids-at-heart to take part in Buklat Bulilit, a children’s book festival showcasing the best of Philippine children’s literature at the TriNoma Mall from July 29 to August 1.

Buklat Bulilit features a series of events that promote the love of reading and books among the young. Storytelling, cooking demos, book fairs, and mascot appearance await kids of all ages at the Cinema Lobby, 4th Level of the TriNoma in celebration of Children’s Book Month.

Buklat Bulilit is presented by Filipinas Heritage Library, Philippine Board on Books for Young People, National Book Development Board, and TriNoma, in partnership with Anvil Publishing, Adarna House, Jollibee, and Oishi.

Good Finds at The Manila International Book Fair 2008

Yes, books were aplenty at the MIBF last September 12-16, 2008 but I bought only the titles that fit my budget. Though I only had three titles in my book bag, my best finds at the book fair were friends, old and new.

Here's Andy Arcilla-DeGuzman, an old friend from college. She now has two kids and works as librarian at the Philippine Christian University in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Her kids are Victor (8) and Nicole (7). Andy and I go along way back. It's pretty strange how we would only meet once a year at the book fair. With email and texting technology, I'm challenged to keep in touch with her more frequently. We have a lot of catching up to do.

(L-R)Frauline Oclarit, Ariel Oclarit, Me and Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmaitan.

The Oclarits were at the MIBF to touch base with friends and professionals in the library industry. Frauline and I met during the 2005 IASL Conference in Hong Kong. Imagine that! She's from Mindanao and I, from Manila but we met in bustling Hong Kong, a Chinese territory. She presented a professional paper at the time while I was the eager participant. This time around, she's helping out hubby Ariel in setting up DREAM Children Project (Democratizing Reading Among Mindanaoan Children) in barangays in South Cotabato. From their stories, four reading centers have been set up already but books are wanting as well as people who could help run sustainable programs for literacy development. I am awaiting email from either of the Oclarits since I am interested to help out in whatever way I can. The thought of going to South Cotabato is dangerously exciting!

I'm with Melody Remorca and daughter Marky. Luis Gatmaitan poses with us and takes a bite of Pilandok's mango. In 1997, Melody and I began telling stories for Museo Pambata and National Bookstore. At the time, NBS still had their famed Kiddie Book Club. Part of their activity was storytelling sessions in several branches. I did storytelling gigs for NBS on weekends and partnered with Melody several times in many a storytelling sessions. A decade after, we're still very much active in the industry that shaped who are.

In spite of these happy encounters, I could not help but think what destiny is trying to tell me. For the past three months now, I've been bumping into old friends and acquaintances; people I knew from my past. I'm tickled by the idea of a bigger plan forming in the cosmos for me to know and discover what is. I know I'n being "speculative" about this, but good finds are hard to find. It's the kind that does not happen every day.

MIBF 2008: Words Without Borders

The Manila International Book Fair will open on September 12, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Head on to the MIBF website for a comprehensive look of the varied activities in store for everyone. And I mean everyone-from the serious to the curious.

Do click on Special Events for an overview of the seminars, workshops, exhibits, book launchings, etc. schedule during the four day book fair. Again, I invite you to join me in two of my seminar-workshops - the PBBY and the Vibal Publishing sponsored events respectively.

Apart from these two, I'm just as excited to judge for the Salaysayan Storytelling Contest of the PBBY and Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines on Sunday, September 14 and 16, 2008. What magical doors could storytellers open this time as they do the book based storytelling technique? Would listeners dare step into that magical land? How strong could storytellers, competing for prize and reputation, convince us that the magical world is just as real?

See you there!

Library Magic

The PBBY has a line up of workshops during the Manila International Book Fair on Sept 12-16, 2008. Visit the PBBY website for more information. If you're a teacher, parent, writer, poet, illustrator, storyteller or literacy advocate, you'll find a workshop/seminar of interest.

For librarians, three seminar/workshops are on schedule for September 13, 2008 at SMX, Pasay City.

Library Magic:
25 Steps to Building a Mobile Library
Nina Lim-Yuson, Director of Museo Pambata (10.30-12.00)

25 Ways to Survive and Thrive: Managing Change in Libraries
Zarah Gagatiga, Sectoral Representative for Librarians, PBBY (9.00-10.30)

Setting Up Children’s
PLAI (Philippine Librarians Association Inc.)

I do not hope to amaze and dazzle. But, I will be inviting participants to identify the variety of changes that occur in today's libraries - from manpower and staffing; structures and systems; analog to digital resources; attitudes and paradigms; roles and expectations. After this, they will be given opportunities to look at themselves and their response to changes through the Emotional Quotient Approach.

Honestly, this is a new module that I've designed in the summer. My motivation sprang from the trials, struggles and challenges I've experienced so far as a school library coordinator. They were far from pleasant, but not at all bad. Something has to rise from the ashes and I invite you to join me in setting the phoenix aflame.

See you there!

The official website is here.

If you're free in the afternoon of the 30th of August, 3.30 to 4.30, you might want to hear what's new with today's kids' and teens' reading habits. Spread the news! See you there.

And if you're a reader of this blog, don't hesitate to say "hi" or to introduce yourself. I'll be glad to meet you in person.