The Philippine delegation was comprised of officials from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and representatives from the Senate and House of Representatives.

 

The Philippines’ special curation in the LBF featured National Artist Ricky Lee’s For B (Or How Love Devastates Four out of Every Five of Us) and the 41st National Book Award

finalist for Best Anthology in Filipino, Rurok: A Comics & Art Anthology.

 

The curation also highlighted a collection of recently published contemporary fiction from various regions, queer coming-of-age novels, and folklore and mythology, which the country introduced to publishers and readers in the English-speaking market.

 

In addition to the country stand which showcased Philippine-authored books, the delegation also held a talk entitled, “A Habit of Shores: Translating Across Seas from the Philippines to the UK” at the International Markets Theatre of the Olympia London on 13 March 2024.

 

Another highlight of the Philippine participation in the LBF was the launch of the books Arasahas: Mga Tula, authored by London-based poet and professor Jaya Jacobo and Mga Awit sa Huling Pagkikita, a collection of poems by Russian poet Anna Akhmatova translated from Russian into Filipino by London-based poet and writer/translator Gene

Alcantara.

 

During the three-day fair, the Philippine contingent was able to forge connections with a diverse crowd, from corporate rights experts and publishers to educators and international students.

 

Around 30,000 visitors attended the LBF which had more than 1,000 exhibitors./ END