HONG KONG, 25 July 2023 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong participated in the 33rd edition of the Hong Kong Book Fair held annually at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC) from 19 to 25 July 2023. The Hong Kong Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the world and among the most-attended, with nearly one (1) million visitors this year.
Aside from the 2023 Hong Kong Book Fair, its organizer the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC) also hosted during the same period the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo, and the World of Snacks. Altogether, these events featured about 760 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, and more than 600 seminars and cultural events on-site and throughout Hong Kong.
The theme for this year’s Book Fair is “Reading the World: The Joy of Reading for Children & Youth,” focusing on Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
In line with this theme, the Philippine booth featured a selection of children’s books carefully curated by the National Book and Development Board (NBDB), including award-winning books “Ang Aklatang Pusa (The Cat Library)” by Eugene Evasco, “Daughter and the Fish,” by Loren Peria, “I Like Wearing Rainbows” by Agay Llanera, “Moon Rising” by Phoebe De Leon, “Mga Munting Patak ng Ulan (Little Drops of Rain)” by Jessica Luciano Olmedo, “Shipwrecked” by Becky Bravo, and “Mang Andoy’s Signs” by Mailin Paterno.
The Philippine booth was located at the “World of Art and Culture Zone,” which zone included a special exhibition showcasing literature and cultural arts from different parts of the world. The special exhibition included award-winning children’s books from the Philippines, particularly “Cely’s Crocodile: The Art and Story of Araceli Limcaco Dans” written by Gabriela Dans Lee and illustrated by Adrian C. Panadero which was the 2019 Grand Prize Winner of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY)-Alcala Award and the PBBY-Salanga Award, and “Pitong Tsinelas (Seven Slippers)” written by Divina Gil Reyes and illustrated by Benjor Catindig which won in the 2020 National Children’s Book Award.
Aside from promoting Philippine culture through literature, the Philippine booth also gave away travel brochures to different tourist destinations in the country.
8Letters Bookstore & Publishing, a publishing company that helps promote Filipino self-published authors, also participated in the 2023 Hong Kong Book Fair. The company’s founder, Cindy Wong, brought a selection of its published books, especially those written by Filipino authors based in Hong Kong. Among its publications are “Diaspora Journey: Stories of Philippine Migration to Hong Kong” by Leila Rispens-Noel, Joy Tadios-Arenas, Heda Bayron and Cindy Wong which won the Print Journalism Award- Best Book (Non-fiction/Anthology) in the 2021 Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Ron R. Lacson, “Chasing Horizons” by Ody Munson, “Behind Closed Doors” by Cindy Wong, “On the Island of Miro” by Bryan Bago, “Loving Mr. Unlikeable” by Alyssa L. Caballero, “Black” by Michellan Sarile-Alagao, “The Meat Ball Club: Detective Agency” by Cindy Wong, “Shards of Time” by Mitos Suson, among others. 8Letters Bookstore shares the booth with Hong Kong-based Suzanne Younan, author of “The Green Dragon” book series, and Keebpop customized keyboards, a start-up company founded by young Filipino entrepreneurs.
The Consulate supports the sharing of Philippine literature to people all over the world. With over 7,641 islands comprising over 180 ethnolinguistic groups, Philippine literature reflects its rich and unique culture through folklore, myths and stories.
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