PH set for historic ‘Guest of Honour’ role at Frankfurt Book Fair

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

INT’L BOOK FAIR. The Philippine Guest of Honour Pavilion Core Team, led by National Book Development Board Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade (4th from right), raises a toast during the sendoff event on Thursday (Sept. 11, 2025) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The country is set to take part in the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), the world’s largest and oldest international publishing event. (PNA photo by Wilnard Bacelonia)

MANILA – The Philippines is now ready for its landmark role as Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), the world’s largest and oldest international publishing event.

At a sendoff event on Thursday at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, National Book Development Board (NBDB) Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade said the country’s presence will place Filipino literature and culture “front and center of the world’s literary stage.”

“We are joining the Frankfurter Buchmesse or the Frankfurt Book Fair. This is the largest and oldest book fair in the world. This year, Guest of Honour po tayo, meaning we are in the front and center of the world of literary stage,” she said.

Aquino-Tugade said the Philippines will bring 500 books for rights sales, cultural programs, and a delegation of about 500, including creatives, authors, illustrators, 52 publishing houses, and literary organizations.

She noted that while Filipinos are spread across the globe, many still lack awareness of the country’s rich heritage.

“You know, the Filipinos are around the world. Diba 1/6 of our population live and work abroad. The problem is no one knows our stories. Hindi nila alam na marami tayong (They don’t know that we have) languages. We have 135 languages. They don’t know our history, and now it’s time for everyone to see who we are because usually the narrative is very Western. They’re talking about us, writing about us, but it’s high time that our authors are out there representing the Philippines,” she said.

The Frankfurt Book Fair, which traces its roots to the 15th century, annually gathers thousands of publishers, writers, literary agents, and readers from around the globe.

The Philippines’ participation as Guest of Honour is seen as a milestone in promoting its literature, languages, and creative industries to the world.