Manila International Book Fair 2018: New Titles at Big Discounts!

The 39^th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the longest running book fair in the country, is an annual event that all book lovers look forward to. Over a hundred local and international publishers put their best foot forward to entice readers with book signings, new titles, book bundles, exclusive discounts, and freebies! It’s no wonder many flock the five-day affair.

With the doors opening today, we enlisted the help of mom and contributing writer Alexine Parreño, who also owns online bookstore Pumplepie Books & Happiness to share her experience at the MIBF. Take a look at what awaits you:

A long line...

Since it’s fairly easy to score a free ticket (get your free tickets here!) expect A LOT of people who’d want to hoard books like you. The fair will run from  September 12 to 16, so come as early as you can. Gates open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on September 12, 13, and 16 and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on September 14 and 15.

But you will be rewarded with children's books!

Homegrown titles get their chance to shine at the fair! Catch author and publisher Mary Ann Ordinario at the ABC Educational Development Corp booth, the first publishing house to print children’s books in Mindanao.

Big discounts from the country's top publishers

Hiyas is offering up to 30% off on their books. You can also get sale books at Php25!

 

All titles from Anvil are at 20% off.

Get book bundles for bigger discounts

Philippine literary classics like Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere and Ang Alamat ng Ibong Adarna are reimagined for children ages 0 to 4. It’s sold at a special price of Php620 while the retail price is Php855.

Get all 24 titles for Php1,650 instead of Php2,352! You save a total of Php702 and you get a freebie, too!

Regular price is Php1,200 but they are selling all 10 titles for only Php795!

For mom

All set?

If you're planning to go to the MIBF, Alexine has some important reminders.

• Prepare a list of books you want to buy. The sheer number of books is overwhelming and it will be easy to go over your budget. Know what you want to buy before you come in and stick to it.
• Dress comfortably. The fair is massive with two floors dedicated to books! Alexine says the main hall (at the first floor) can get pretty wild, but the young adult and children's section at the second floor has more space and wider aisles.
• Brace yourself for the crowd. Especially if you're going on the weekend, when most of the book signings will take place. Find the full schedule here.
• Give new titles a chance. We have many talented local authors and the MIBF is an avenue for them to launch their stories. If you're looking to add books to your collection, consider them as they have a lot to offer especially when it comes to children's books.

Happy reading!