The four-day event offers an immersive experience filled with books, contests, author meet-and-greets, and a variety of activities that celebrate Philippine literature, culture, and the arts.
A book fair is a bibliophile’s dream come true. Nothing beats being surrounded by thousands of books for you to read and having the opportunity to meet fellow bookworms and, more so, your favorite authors up close.
Filipino bibliophiles better gear themselves up for another one-for-the-books experience, as the country’s biggest all-Filipino book festival is coming your way this March. The Philippine Book Festival is set for a comeback that’s bigger than ever for its third edition this year.
PBF 2025 is taking place from March 13 to March 16 and is set to be the biggest one by far, as it steps out of its usual location at the World Trade Center in Makati and into the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong. The move aims to make the fair more accessible to bibliophiles in all parts of Metro Manila, according to its organizer, the National Book Development Board (NBDB).
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NBDB promises that the four-day event is not just a book fair but an immersive experience packed with thousands of books, performances, contests, author meet-and-greets, and other activities celebrating Philippine literature, culture, and the arts.
All of this is driven by the organization’s goal to address the long-running challenge of making books written by Filipino authors highly accessible in the Philippines. “The PBF is our love letter to the Philippine book industry—its writers, illustrators publishers, and booksellers. More than a marketplace, it is a necessary intervention in the national conversation on readership and accessibility,” NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade said during the fair’s media day on Feb. 13.
PBF has attracted over 75,000 visitors and earned more than P925 million in sales since it was established in 2023. This goes to show that the fair is indeed key to boosting the country’s publishing industry and providing support for local creators.
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For this year, the book festival is promoting the country’s vibrant culture through the theme of iconic Filipino festivals. And just like the previous runs, PBF will return with the four areas or realms fair-goers have familiarized themselves with in recent years.
First is the Kid Lit, which draws inspiration from Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival. In this engaging space designed by Juno Abreu, young readers can experience the magic of picture books, chapter books, and young adult novels. Then there’s Komiks, with a space designed by Paul Eric Roca to pay homage to the Tuna Festival in General Santos City. Here, comic book fans can explore the unique world of Filipino comics and the evolution of Philippine graphic storytelling.
Booktopia is designed by Danielle Florenda to showcase the vibrancy of Baguio’s popular Panagbenga Festival. This is where you can immerse yourself in a plethora of fiction and non-fiction titles for various literary tastes. Then there’s the Aral Aklat, an area designed by Pepot Atienza as inspired by Lucban’s Pahiyas Festival. Here, students of every age, as well as educators, can find a wide array of textbooks and educational materials.
Besides shopping, bibliophiles can dive deeper into local literature through the fair’s film screenings, poetry contests, and writing workshops. Authors, including literary experts Ricky Lee, Ambeth Ocampo, and Manix Abrera, are present for book signings, meet-and-greets, and discussions.
Activities that combine art with literature include the “Cosplay Filipiniana Fiesta,” where you can dress up as your favorite Filipino literary character, as well as the “Dream Book Cover,” where kids can draw their very own book covers.
What’s better is that admission to the PBF is free. That is why you don’t need to worry about spending your money on anything else but your book cravings. Register to the event here.
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