Philippines Makes Waves at Abu Dhabi Book Fair with Growing Demand for Filipino Stories

𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆𝙎 𝙋𝙃𝙄𝙇𝙄𝙋𝙋𝙄𝙉𝙀𝙎 𝘼𝙏 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘼𝘽𝙐 𝘿𝙃𝘼𝘽𝙄 𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆 𝙁𝘼𝙄𝙍

The Philippines made a significant impact at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), held from April 26 to May 5 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). This marked the country's second participation in the event, showcasing a diverse array of Filipino literature and cultural works. 

The Philippine booth, located at Hall 8, Booth B17, was organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) in collaboration with the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP). It featured approximately 300 titles from various genres, including literary fiction, children's books, graphic novels, and academic works.

Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director of the NBDB, emphasized the importance of sharing Filipino stories with a global audience and connecting with the Filipino diaspora in the UAE. She introduced a translation subsidy program aimed at assisting international publishers in translating Filipino works, thereby expanding their reach to non-Filipino-speaking readers.

Among the notable figures at the fair was Joanne de Guzman Rico, a Filipina author and financial literacy advocate. Her books, To Inspire Other Filipina Women to Rise to the Challenge No Matter the Circumstance and Break the Glass Ceiling and It's Not What You Think: Cracking OFW Myths on Personal Finance, address the challenges faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and aim to empower them through financial education. Rico's presence highlighted the depth and global relevance of Filipino narratives.

🌍 Looking Ahead: Frankfurt Book Fair 2025

Building on the momentum from ADIBF, the Philippines is set to be the Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest and oldest book fair. This upcoming event presents an opportunity to further elevate Filipino literature on the global stage. 

source: GMA Network News, The Filipino Times