GoingToMeet

OPENING DOORS AND PAGES: A LEGACY OF BOOKS
Like a natural pearl that takes years to grow, the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) first opened its doors to the Filipino people in 1981 and slowly built its reputation as the Philippines’ premiere book event in the country. With reading and literacy as its rallying call, the MIBF united publishers, booksellers, educators, librarians and readers. It made books more accessible to more Filipinos, especially those who had little or no access to books.

Over the years, the fair has grown to reach out to a wide range of audiences, spanning generations, interests and socio-economic backgrounds. As the years went on, the fair gathered a following of thousands of people who flocked to its venues to share and celebrate their love of books.

And now, thirty years from when it started, the MIBF continues to promote books and reading by giving the bookselling and publishing industry a venue to promote new titles and authors, dialogue with readers, and discuss ways to improve the quality of books.

With new trends and breakthroughs in technology, the publishing landscape is changing too. Books are evolving. Besides the printed form, books are available in a wide range of digital media. But more than just letters printed or typed on pages, books have the power to inspire and change lives. In its 30-year run, the MIBF has been instrumental in showcasing books in all their forms, encouraging people to read and find their inspiration.

Its exhibitor line-up is as diverse as its audience. The MIBF serves as a platform for traditional and new media, presenting books and other published works in all their permutations to an ever-growing audience. Yet its vision remains the same: to be a platform for books and other published works, and to promote reading and literacy.