©By Noppasin Wongchum via Canva.com
For the first time in its 500-year history, Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM), the world’s oldest and largest book fair, has selected the Philippines as its Guest of Honour (GOH) for 2025.
The country will present over 700 titles from 70 publishers, authors, and creatives in the fair in Germany. These works range from new adult to children’s, education, and graphic novels.
As the GOH, the Philippines will also shine a light on the developments made over a century after its hero and renowned prolific writer, Dr. José P. Rizal, accomplished and published his magnum opus, Noli Me Tangere, in Germany.
His seminal work inspires the theme for the Philippine participation, “The Imagination peoples the air. “
This achievement is made possible through the joint efforts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
From the Philippines to Germany
The Philippines’ role as the GOH was a lengthy undertaking led by the vision of Senator Legarda, who has supported the country’s continued participation in the FBM since 2015.
She explained, “The Philippines’ presence as Guest of Honour at the world’s most prestigious book fair is a testament to what we can achieve if we nurture our people’s talent. We can make a difference and rally stronger support for the continuous advancement of our book industry and the creative industry through consistent and sustainable government initiatives.”
Activities in 2024
Below are the activities that the Philippines will host:
Official launch at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024
A press conference will be held at the Frankfurt Pavilion on October 17, 2024, to present the Philippines as the next Guest of Honour at the Frankfurter Buchmesse. The event will unveil the visual identity, theme, and plans for 2025.
Key figures from the NCCA, NBDB, DFA, and the Office of Senator Legarda will emphasize the importance of this role in promoting Filipino literature globally and in utilizing arts, culture, and literature to foster stronger global connections.
Patrick Flores, the curator of the 2025 Philippine Pavilion as GoH, will present the theme. Flores is an eminent curator, art critic, and professor, and currently the chief curator of the National Gallery Singapore. He has held the position of chair of Art History and Criticism at the University of the Philippines until 2022.
Karina Bolasco, a leading figure in Philippine contemporary publishing, is the head of the literary program and curator for books for the GoH program. She will discuss the literary and publishing landscape in the Philippines and the literary program for 2025.
The press conference program will also feature conversations with Filipino author Budjette Tan, creator of the critically acclaimed graphic novel series Trese, and transfeminine thinker and artist Jaya Jacobo.
Literary program for FBM 2024
Jaya Jacobo, multi-awarded creative writer Jose Dalisay, investigative journalist and author Patricia Evangelista, and Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo are scheduled to give talks at the International Stage.
At the ART+ Stage, Budjette Tan and Patricia Evangelista will give talks, as will award-winning illustrators Isabel Roxas and Frances Alvarez. Roxas and Alvarez are both members of Ang INK, the Philippines’ first and only organization for artists dedicated to children’s illustration.
Additionally, Mina Esguerra, author and publisher of romance novels and founder of RomanceClass, a community of Filipino authors who write romance in English, will give a talk at the New Adult Stage.
The Asia Stage, sponsored by Buchmesse and Rex Education (Philippines), will host 30 sessions covering literature, education, the arts, humanities, technology, and sciences. This platform fosters regional discussions on key challenges and trends in the publishing industry.
The handover ceremony
A key event of the 2024 FBM will be the formal handover of the Guest of Honour role from Italy to the Philippines in a ceremony on October 20, 2024, at the Italian Pavilion.
This symbolic event will further offer insights into the cross-cultural exchange that the Guest of Honour program promotes through a creative talk by Isabel Roxas and Italian illustrator Alessandro Sanna.
To profile the creative talent and cultural heritage of the Philippines, the program will include performances from multidisciplinary artist and Indigenous musician Waway Saway and the multi-awarded choral group, the Philippine Madrigal Singers. The Philippine Madrigal Singers is renowned for winning top prizes in the world’s prestigious choral competitions, including the Grand Prix in the 2016 Concurso Internazionale di Guido d’ Arezzo, Arezzo, Italy. They are also the only choir to have won the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice, in 1997 and 2007.
IN THE AIR in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld
The Philippines will extend its cultural programming beyond the fairgrounds in Frankfurt through a dynamic four-day launching program titled In the air that will be held in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld from October 24 to 27, 2024.
In the air will explore José Rizal’s legacy as a hero, writer, and thinker. It will also delve into broader themes such as home, exile, and international solidarity. Moreover, it will examine their relevance to the contemporary Philippine diaspora and how these interactions with the world animate Filipino literature.
The events in Heidelberg include a Filipino and German Writers Fellowship; a walking tour led by Ambeth Ocampo retracing Rizal’s footsteps in Heidelberg; Talking Heads: Art and Science Show, a collaborative engagement between Philippine artist Miljohn Ruperto and Professor Jonas Grethlein from the University of Heidelberg; With Spectres, an artists’ talk between Joscha Steffens and Stephanie Misa inspired by Rizal’s ophthalmology studies in Heidelberg; a launching program with the collaborating agencies for the Philippines’ GoH role; and a concert featuring Filipino artists.
Additionally, the Wilhelmsfeld event titled, Pumpon ng mga Gunita (Bouquet of Reminiscences), features a two-part program that combines performances, talks, and conversations about Rizal.
The first part, Lebendes Bild, is an evocative performance tableau that depicts scenes from Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and dramatizes his letters to his close friend Ferdinand Blumentritt and his family. It culminates in Pastor Karl Ullmer’s house, where Rizal lived for three months in 1896.
The second part is the Tertulia, an engaging discussion led by German and European scholars, artists, and authors whose works focus on Rizal. The talks will be complemented by performances of Filipino music and poetry, evoking the lively spirit of Rizal’s era.
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