The Instituto Cervantes de Manila is set to hold the “Día del Libro” (World Book Day) in celebration of the shared literary culture of Spain and the Philippines on April 25 at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
Visitors may purchase books from Manila-based bookstores and publishing houses at a 20 percent discount during the full-day event.
Among the line-up of activities is “Escribo el Quijote,” a long-running tradition held during the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, where participants are invited to rewrite portions of the classic novel, titled “Don Quixote.”
The completed handwritten copy will later be deposited at the Instituto Cervantes library, while participants will receive a free book and a rose.
“With so many distractions today, it reminds young people that books can still be meaningful and help us better understand ourselves and the world around us,” Royce Lim, chairperson of the Department of Modern Languages, told the Varsitarian.
“It gives people a chance to appreciate both perspectives and shows how ideas and experiences can bring different countries closer together,” he added.
The “Plantadores de Historias” (Story Planters) activity merges ecology and literature. Participants are invited to write poems and short stories on plantable paper, which will then be potted in soil, allowing the writings to literally grow into plants.
The event will also feature a public book exchange in “Libros que Importan” (Books That Matter), where each donated book includes a personal note explaining why it holds meaning to its previous owner.
Fans of theatre can also catch a glimpse of Repertory Philippines’ upcoming production of “Man of La Mancha,” the Tony-award winning musical inspired by “Don Quixote.”
Among the performances scheduled during the event is “Tango para siempre” (Tango Forever), an Argentine dance presentation that reflects the joy and rhythm often found in literature.
Hands-on workshops on journal-making will also be offered in the afternoon, in partnership with the Design Center of the Philippines.
A poetry recital, titled “Bersong Hispano-Pinoy,” will invite onlookers to recite Spanish and Filipino, bridging the literary gaps between the two cultures.
It will be followed by “Jazz en el parque”, a jazz concert by two of Manila’s most exciting young jazz musicians, Gabriel Lazaro and Bergan Nuñez, who will pay tribute to the masters of Latin jazz.
Other activities are Latin dance classes, quizzes, poetry creation, and drawing workshops.
The full-day event will open with a speech by Miguel Utray, the Spanish ambassador to the Philippines.
“Día del Libro” is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the Embassy of Spain, in collaboration with the National Book Development of the Philippines and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. John Kobe S. Balod
