Frankfurt Book Fair – Special Programs and Events
NBDB’s virtual offerings for the book fair include several events that aim to give foreign publishers a more intimate look into what the Philippines has to offer. The scheduled events will feature Philippine cuisine, climate fiction, LGBTQ+ literature, and Filipino mythology in contemporary writing.
Philippine Cuisine: 7,641 Ways to Cook
20 Oct 2021 (Wednesday) 4:00pm PHT / 10:00am CET
We cook our way through the Philippines! Learn the how to’s of Filipino food with Chef JP Anglo as he cooks up recipes from the Philippines’ favorite food books. Salty, sour, sweet, and bitter? Find your favorite flavor.
Watch the world premiere this 20 October 2021 at 4pm on booksphilippines.gov.ph/frankfurt and https://bit.ly/NBDBYoutube.
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Myth, Magic, and Childhood: A VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
21 Oct 2021 (Thursday) 4:00pm PHT / 10:00am CET
Books Philippines puts the spotlight on its children’s books illustrators with an exhibit of art from selected titles. The illustrations will be available for viewing online through Books Philippines’ dedicated portal for FBM 2021.
As children of the islands, we grow up basking in the eternal summer. A few months out of the year, monsoon rains prevail, whipping our homes with heavy droplets and whirling ípuípo (tornado).
As we go through life, our families are with us, and we are never left alone. At home, rooms are shared, meals are taken together, and boundaries are often blurred to give way to pakikisáma (smooth interpersonal relationships). Our family is not just limited to our siblings, parents, and grandparents. Kinship extends beyond blood, and our neighbors and kababáyan (townmates) are families.
The children of Bathalà (Great Creator) are exposed to epics, stories, and songs in varying languages. It’s all same-same to us but still different. Teachers speak in English, grandparents talk in the language of their home province, parents discuss current events using the lingua franca of the big city, and neighbors might converse in another dialect. Diversity is experienced early on and encourages deeper connections with another.
Children are brought into the spiritual journey early. Most Filipinos are religious but this is mixed with indigenous practice to reflect their experiences through time, no matter how cosmopolitan the city has become.
As kids grow into adulthood, these memories prevail. Myth, Magic, and Children reminds us of Filipino childhood and how magical it is to be a child of the islands, in our archipelago of stories.
Watch the world premiere this 21 October 2021 at 4pm on booksphilippines.gov.ph/frankfurt.
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PRIDE: Different Faces, Diverse Voices
22 Oct 2021 (Friday) 4:00pm PHT / 10:00am CET
Different faces, diverse voices, all Filipino queer writers. Listen to three acclaimed authors on the LGBTQ+ experience in the Philippines and outside of it, and how their work conveys their various contexts, identities, and realities.
Watch the world premiere this 22 October 2021 at 4pm on booksphilippines.gov.ph/frankfurt and https://bit.ly/NBDBYoutube.
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Extreme Weather: Filipino Stories and Climate Change
23 Oct 2021 (Saturday), 4:00pm PHT / 10:00am CET
The Philippine archipelago is known for its beautiful volcanic islands and stunning beaches. But it is also—and always has been—highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Through the lens of science and literature, we take a look at the country as a rich source of stories shaped by climate issues.
Watch the world premiere this 23 October 2021 at 4pm on booksphilippines.gov.ph/frankfurt and https://bit.ly/NBDBYoutube.
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Myths, Cities, and Communities
24 Oct 2021(Sunday), 4:00pm PHT / 10:00am CET
Home to about 180 ethnolinguistic groups, the Philippines is one of the most diverse countries in the world. This diversity spells a wealth of myth and folklore from different regions and communities, and its palpable influence on contemporary Filipino literature.
Probe further into the examination of Filipino identity in contemporary literature by joining this discussion.
Watch the world premiere this 24 October 2021 at 4pm on booksphilippines.gov.ph/frankfurt and https://bit.ly/NBDBYoutube.