Philippine Book Festival 2025 Highlights

It’s embarrassing to admit it, but this is my first time going to the Philippine Book Festival. I always had this niggling thought in my mind that I am not an established author to go there, that I don’t have a right to be there, and who will I be with when I go there? So though I’ve always wanted to go and just be a buyer of books, I’ve always stopped myself from doing so. Plus, of course, a conflict in schedule always comes up.

First, I’m lucky that I got to put my two books, Chroma Hearts: A Psychological Thriller, and Ione: A Sea Witch’s Tale, at the Philippine Book Festival this year with Kath Eustaquio Derla of Paperkat Books. They promoted and even printed posters for each of my books, and I got to take them home with me. I was surprised when one of the staff (sorry, I didn’t get her name, but she was so pretty and so sweet) told me that there were people asking for me as they browsed my books. Wait, what? 

I bumped into people who have been with me since the start of my writing journey: Cindy Wong of 8Letters, Ms. Joy Aspa of JMD Printing. The info they shared about picture books was enlightening.

Extremely happy to meet old and new author friends: Pau Romana Alagao who was there for her book signing as Winter Aragon, Zandro Bautista, Jahric Lago of TBC Publications, CJ Edmunds (I don’t have photos with him <sad>), Cristina Alfonso, Vittena Vibar, Elmo Badiang, Kadi Serafica. 

I had a serendipitous first encounter with Diwa Malaya, a Filipina poet based in the States, when we talked about writing communities and self-publishing in the Philippines. Of course, I introduced her to Pinoy Indie Authors, a writing community/collaboration which I founded in 2023.

I also had a very long, interesting and eye-opening conversation with M.A. Del Rosario, a world-famous Filipino graphic novelist, and his insights on comics, prose, graphic novels, and demographics–and how to effectively bridge the gap between them. I’m so thankful he made time to talk to us and share with us his insights. 

But my most memorable moment at the Philippine Book Festival is, hands down, with Dean Francis Alfar, a very well-known and respected Filipino playwright, novelist and writer of speculative fiction. As he passed us by, I asked (with bated breath) if we could have a picture with him, and he readily agreed. When he saw us struggling with the phone to take our photo, he laughingly grabbed it and took the photo himself! His beautiful wife, Nikki, also gamely posed with us. I am mind-blown!

I am awed by my encounters with both M.A. Del Rosario and Dean Francis Alfar. They’re so down-to-earth, and they freely shared their time and ideas despite being famous and prominent authors in their field. Thank you kindly, sirs!

All in all, I had a blast at the 2025 Philippine Book Festival! But. . . I am ashamed to say that all those meets made me forget to buy books! But no worries, I can always buy next time or online.

Photo dump incoming!

(The 2025 Philippine Book Festival was held from March 13-16, 2025 at the SM Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall!