THE National Book Development Board (NBDB), the government agency mandated to develop and support the Philippine book publishing industry, will hold The 5th Philippine International Literary Festival and Book Industry Summit (PILFBIS), a celebration of books and a discussion of responsible industry practices, from November 12 to 14 at the Bayanihan Center in Pasig City. The event is also the centerpiece of the Philippine Book Development Month this November.
With the theme “The Pressing Issue: Sustainable Business amid ASEAN Integration,” the 5th PILFBIS aims to prepare the local book publishing industry in time for the integration of Asean countries into a single market.
On November 12, publishing and business experts will talk about issues on sustainability, publishing and distribution models, and the state of the book publishing industry. On November 13, writers and creators will examine issues on copyright, creative content, and the artistic and financial gains of creative work. The sessions on November 14 are in partnership with Filipino Readercon so participants may expect sessions on the interconnectedness of reading, writing, and publishing.
“It is important that all stakeholders in the publishing industry develop and maintain their competitive advantage, especially when they face open regional trade,” says Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, NBDB chairman.
The event will pull together everyone in the publishing industry, from the authors and editors, printers and publishers, to teachers and librarians, and booksellers and book industry groups.
NBDB has always envisioned a globally competitive book publishing industry for the Philippines. This festival promotes locally published books and talent, and provides a venue for deeper engagement among stakeholders.
The convention consists of lectures, panel discussions, paper presentations, conversations among writers, artists, readers, and publishing industry stakeholders, an all-Filipino book fair, exhibits, and performances.
PILFBIS will tackle many facets of book publishing, including issues that stakeholders currently face: best practices, alternative publishing models, a writer’s career, rights management, and readership, among others. It will also engage leading local and foreign industry practitioners to share their experiences and insights. Among them are Eric Huang, Development Director at Made in Me, an award-winning digital agency in London specializing in children’s entertainment and brand development; Linda Tan Lingard, managing parter of Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency in Malaysia; Robin Hemley, writer of “A Field Guide for Immersion Writing: Memoir, Journalism, and Travel” and Director of the Writing Program at Yale-NUS College in Singapore; and Noelle de Jesus, Filipino writer and editor based in Singapore.
The PILFBIS is organized by the National Book Development Board. Participation fee is P150 per day. Participation is free for students and teachers upon presentation of a valid ID.
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