TOMORROW, April 27, the 6th Iloilo Mega Book Fair (IMBF6) at the Festive Walk Mall/ Iloilo Business Park opens.
It runs until April 30.
The Peter Solis Nery Foundation has a booth there.
It will be my first participation in the history of this local book fair.
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After my participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF15), I wasnât really keen on local book fairs anymore.
I think Iâve only been to the Manila International Book Fair once, in 2009, to promote my book âThe Passion of Jovita Fuentesâ published by New Day Publishers.
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It should be remembered that I was the first Filipino author invited to the Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates in 2015.
The second was actress-celebrity cook Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.
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In Sharjah, I had a meet and greet, book signing, and two televised panel discussions.
In addition, I was transported to a neighboring emirate to give a poetry lecture to teenage Islamic girls.
But my greatest fun was the cultural exploration tours that included sand dune bashing, camel-back riding, some visits to museums, belly-dancing, and dining in a tent in the middle of the desert.
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My Sharjah book fair participation remains as one important highlight in my career as a writer.
To be invited alone is such an honor.
Itâs an all-expense paid first-class vacation, down to limousine service with the Emirates Airlines.
I bow down to Arabic hospitality.
They really go out of their way.
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To be the first Filipino so honored is something that no one can take away from me.
Itâs a record and Filipino literary landmark that I can take to my grave. Haha.
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I have no doubt that the IMBF6 will be a success.
They are going six years now (although they might have gone virtual during the pandemic years).
Still, six years in my book is as good as seven years.
And seven years for me means stability.
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My personal book fair participation this weekend is pretty minimal.
Iâm just likely to be there for meet and greets.
Although I have prepared some exciting postcards to sell.
I will not be launching my own books.
But I will be selling my own books from my first title (published in 1993) to my latest (published in 2021).
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The PSN Foundation will launch Celia Parconâs book of translation instead.
Retired UPV Prof. Parcon has translated some of my Hiligaynon stories, and we published this in early 2020.
It is called âNothingâs Lostâ as in ânothingâs lost in translationâ.
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During the book launch, Prof. Parcon will autograph copies of the book.
She will also be awarded her Special Peterâs Prize for Literary Translation.
The Peterâs Prize, now on its 11th year, is sponsored by The Peter Solis Nery Foundation.
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The Foundation will also be paying tribute to late poet, fictionist, translator, and scholar Felino Garcia, Jr. who passed away in July last year.
Felino, also a UPV professor at the time of his demise, was awarded the Special Peterâs Prize in Literary Criticism in 2014 with the commission to be the Foundationâs first ambassador for literary scholarship.
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Another Special Peterâs Prize winner, Melecio Turao, will also be gracing The Peter Solis Nery Foundation booth to help pay tribute to Felino, who was his close associate; and to meet and greet his own fans.
Mel will be selling his books, âThe Interior of Sleepâ, and âThe Interior of Interiorsâ.
Mel has written âInsatiable: A Literary Biography of Peter Solis Neryâ so we will also make this title available.
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As I have said so many times before, I am not just a writer.
I am also a fashionista and agent provocateur.
As such, I will just likely be at the book fair for meet and greets and photo-ops.
Of course, people can buy my books and merchandise, but since theyâre in very limited supply, I think I will have them already sold out before the start of IMBF6âs Day 2.
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On the other hand, I have another supply of ThePSN paper dolls and writing tip postcards coming in by April 29.
So yeah, prepare your money to spend if you have it.
I seldom sell my books in Iloilo nowadays.
This one opportunity is for those who cannot afford to order stuff online. Haha./PN
