Independent book publishers and authors will return to showcase their books and meet their readers at the upcoming Manila International Book Fair (MIBF).
The Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAPPH) announced the comeback of “The Indie Village,” a space at the fair dedicated to all independent authors, publishers, and writers.
BDAPPH partnered with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) to push through with this initiative to support and showcase the best of local independent publishing.
Participants of The Indie Village include:
- The Indie Publishers Collab PH
- Milflores Publishing
- ABC Educational Books
- Jerico Silvers
- Jane Vergara
- Ricky Lee
Members of The Indie Publishers Collab, meanwhile, are:
- Balangay Productions
- Gantala Press
- Aklat Mirasol
- Aklat Ulagad
- Pawikan Press
- Good Intentions Publishing
- San Anselmo Publications, Inc.
- Aklat Alamid
- Librong LIRA
- Saniata
- Saranggani Writers League
- Southern Voices
- 7 Eyes Productions
- Alubat Publishing
In the post, BDAPPH also promoted Kulay Labitigan, a London-based creative talesmith from the Philippines who made the village’s poster for MIBF.
“Growing up in the tropics, his vibrant and kaleidoscopic image-making are happy allusions of his sunny childhood in the rural province and as a Southeast Asian gay man living in London,” the association said on Labitigan.
The Indie Village debuted at the MIBF in 2022, the first time the fair returned to its physical format since the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While MIBF has partnered with independent publishers over the years, this pavilion was the first time they were given a dedicated showcase to cater to customers with a penchant for indie titles.
In a blog entry posted last year, MIBF recognized the potential of these MSMEs in offering a far more diverse catalog of books than mainstream bookstores and book chains.
“Though small, indies showcase an interesting selection of published titles as they can move quicker in terms of deciding which titles to come out with and have the freedom to experiment and redefine rules or accepted norms,” the entry on MIBF’s website reads.
“Given their network and diverse interests, they are able to pick up many titles that would not necessarily be on the radar of traditional and mainstream publishers,” it added.
MIBF runs Thursday, September 14, until Sunday, September 17. It will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
READ: Rundown: How to avail free tickets to the 2023 Manila International Book Fair
