(The University of Santo Tomas Publishing House’s booth in the Manila International Book Fair. Photo by Amparo Klarin J. Mangoroban)
September 16, 2015, 12:16a.m. – AN AUTOBIOGRAPHIC
narrative by female authors and a number of poetry collections were among the
new titles showcased by the UST Publishing House in the 36th Manila
International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.
Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo’s “Filipino Woman Writing: Home and
Exile in the Autobiographical Narratives of Ten Writers” is a collection of
writings by Filipina authors. Hidalgo is the head of the UST Center for
Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS).
Chuckberry Pascual’s “Kumpisal” is a short story collection
featuring members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Also released was a collection of poems translated into
Filipino, tiitled “Nabighani: Mga Saling Tula ng Kapwa Nilikha,” by Fr. Albert
Alejo, S.J.
Fr. Kenneth Cadena Masong’s “Becoming Religion: Alfred North
Whitehead and a Contemporary Philosophical Reflection” tackles the postmodern
role of religion.
“The Heart of Need” by CCWLS fellow Augusto Antonio
Aguila is a collection of short stories about the great lengths people are willing
to go to, just to be loved.
There were three poetry collections: Ralph Semino Galan’s
“From the Major Arcana,” inspired by the illustrations of tarot cards;
Joselito de los Reyes’s “Paubaya,” which tackles themes such as marital life
and the Filipino identity; and Palanca winner Carlomar Daoana’s previously
unpublished works in “Loose Tongue.”
The authors will be at the fair this week to sign their
books.
Going digital
John Jack Wigley, director of the Publishing House, told the
Varsitarian that UST titles could soon be released in digital form.
“It’s still underway. Medyo conservative kasi talaga ang
Publishing House pagdating sa e-books,” Wigley said.
There is limited demand for e-books, he pointed out.
Fictional works, however, will be prioritized if ever the proposal to publish
e-books gets off the ground, he said.
“This is due to the difficulty in determining the kind
of textbooks the students will need with the implementation of the K-12
program,” he said.
Rediscovering reading
This year’s fair has diverse array of books, from works of
fiction, scholarly titles, children’s books, and travel books from local and
international authors and publishers.
Irene Lloren, president of fair organizer Primetrade Asia,
Inc., reminded patrons of the allure of the written word.
“[Reading] gives us journeys and adventures, breaking
the humdrum of existence with bursts of imagination,” she said in her
opening remarks during the event’s first day.
Former Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo
echoed Lloren. The written word, she said, “inspires, educates and creates
our own personal adventures.”
The Manila International Book Fair will be held until
Sunday, Sept. 20. Zenmond G. Duque
