The Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) has always been a special date on my calendar, and this year’s 2025 edition was no different. Last Saturday, September 13, I finally made it back to the massive halls of SMX, ready to get lost in rows upon rows of books, meet authors I admire, and soak in the energy of fellow book lovers.
But as with any big event, it came with both highlights and lowlights — and I wanted to share mine with you!
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| My MIBF 2025 Experience |
Highlights
Meeting Authors in Person
There’s nothing quite like seeing the writers whose words you’ve spent hours with face-to-face. I had the chance to meet and chat with authors like Carina Gaskell and Anj Miranda and the incredible The Brothers K. Some of my books even got signed — a treasured keepsake for any reader.
Attending a Book Launch
One of the special moments of the day was attending a launch event. Beyond the stacks of books and merchandise, it’s these live celebrations that remind you of the thriving creativity in the local and global literary scene.
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| Strength in the Spectrum: A Life Journey of Resilience in Autism Parenting, by Dr. Karen Develos-Sacdalan. |
The Buzz of the Book Community
There’s an undeniable magic in being surrounded by thousands of people who love books as much as you do. But I was incredibly happy to meet some of the members of our book club!
Lowlights
Epic Lines Everywhere
From buying books to paying at the counters, the lines were epic especially at Fully Booked and National Book Store. I heard Fully Booked's booth needed to be close for a while due to the massive crowd inside!
Crowds, Crowds, and More Crowds
It felt like the entire city showed up! Navigating the sea of people made it harder to browse leisurely, and in the end, it even stopped me from buying more books (yes, shocking, I know!).
Timing (Shift + Tita Energy)
I came straight from my graveyard shift, so my energy reserves weren’t exactly at 100%. Combine that with the crowd and the lines, and let’s just say: next year, I’ll try a weekday visit instead of braving the weekend rush.
Final Thoughts
Even with the long lines and the chaotic crowds, MIBF 2025 was absolutely worth it. I left tired but happy, with signed books in my bag, new memories made, and a renewed appreciation for the book community.
A week later (and with a healing eye injury, haha), I’m still smiling about the experience. If you survived MIBF 2025 too, you know exactly what I mean!
See you all again at MIBF 2026 — but this time, catch me on a weekday! 😉
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| BOOKS SECURED! |
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