Events: The 34th Manila International Book Fair

 

It was a crazy day at SM Mall of Asia, Pasig City last Sunday, September 15, 2013. Despite the rainy weather, the grounds were full of vehicles and individuals due to the big events that had took place. The first event is SM Mall of Asia's Big! Big Sale, then there's the UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2013 at SM MOA Arena, and the Best of Anime 2013 at Function Rooms 3 & 4 of the SMX Convention Center. But the event that I'm more interested on during that time was the one that took place on Exhibits 1-4 of the SMX Convention Center which is the 34th Manila International Book Fair.

Crazy weather and traffic it really was on that day.

This 5-day book fair started out last September 11, 2013. It's a book fair that will surely entertain and get the attention of most bookworms. It will also be an attraction to others who are fond of sales since a lot of books being sold there can be bought at discounted prices. Along with these, other events also took place such as story telling for kids, seminars for individuals interested in starting their own book, and even for bloggers. There are also some interesting book launches and book signing that has occurred which geared fans of their respective authors to patiently line up just to get close to them and have their books signed.

While browsing thru the different facebook pages of some publishers that I know, I luckily came across some free entrance tickets to the book fair. Thanks for Anvil Pub. for saving me some money in entering the event. It's really a convenience that most of the publishers, where most of the local books that I got, have posted a line up of the activities that they'll be having at their booths. The three events that caught my attention was the book signing of Manila Noir made by Kajo Baldisimo & Rosario Lucero at the Anvil Pub Booth, the giving away of free comic books at the National Book Store Booth, and the book launch of This is a Crazy Planets Volume 2 by Lourd de Veyra at Summit Media Booth. Among these three, the only thing that I wasn't able to attend was the one done at the National Book Store Booth. As for the book signing at the Anvil Pub. Booth, I only got my book signed by Kajo.

 

Here's a copy of the free passes that I got.

The event at the Summit Media Booth was the one that really made my day at the book fair. As Lourd de Veyra signs a book, Jun Sabayton keeps the line in place and also acts as a barangay tanod as he holds a rattan stick to keep order. All of this he does while entertaining the people in line and the crowd as well. It was also the first time that I had drank an alcoholic beverage at a book signing, as Lourd made it a new policy that any man who comes at the table should have a shot first before his book gets signed. Crazy right? But nonetheless cool and an enjoyable one, although I resisted drinking a little more for it might trigger my cravings to continue drinking upon returning back home. As if things weren't crazy enough, Ramon Bautista sneaked beside the area of the book signing of Summit Media. Well sneak might be the closest word to use since most of the crowd recognized him at once.

Lourd signs my book after I drank some of the beer.

Ramon Bautista promoting his book not published by Summit Media.

Lourd continues his book signing while having his "yosi"

It was a memorable experience that day. Thanks to all of the organizers, not only for Summit Media, but for the organizers of the Manila International Book Fair in general. Events like this are always a treat for us book lovers.