Manila International Book Fair 2020 Goes Virtual This November

Manila International Book Fair will go online from November 24 to 30

There’s no stopping enthusiastic readers from book shopping online even during a pandemic. That’s why even though this year’s Manila International Book Fair, usually held in big spaces with huge crowds, is going online, we can expect plenty of hype.

A virtual book fair is exactly what’s going to happen, as the 2020 Manila International Book Fair will be held online from November 24 to 30.

Image credit: MIBF

As announced on Facebook, the MIBF, one of the biggest and longest-running book fairs in the Philippines, will find a new home online in this November’s fair which was originally supposed to be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay in September.

“You spoke, we listened. This year, the Manila International Book Fair is coming to you. Save the dates,” the announcement reads.

Further details about the fair have yet to be announced

Image credit: Manila International Book Fair

Further details about the fair are yet to be announced – such as the list of exhibitors and how readers can make their purchases.

But as MIBF is an event that Filipino bookworms look up to every year, we may expect a wide selection of books from local and international publishers such as ABS-CBN Publishing and Penguin Books, as well as collections from the biggest bookstore chains in the country such as National Bookstore and Fullybooked.

The finalized list of exhibitors is pending at the time of writing.

Netizens anticipate the book fair

Image credit: X Y R Fajardo, Lala dela Cruz – Fetizanan, Grace Gatdula

Netizens welcomed the Facebook announcement, with X Y Ra Fajardo hoping there will be plenty of books available for buyers and Grace Gatdula requesting for school supplies such as the popular Japanese Sarasa pens even if the fair will be held online.

Image credit: Lee Earnshaw

Lee Earnshaw is also requesting for a GCash payment option for easy cashless online transactions.

While readers are wondering if the #MIBF2020 book fair will go smoothly in its first online edition, the success of the smaller, local book fair Aklatan 2020 held on August 16 to 18 on Shopee gives us confidence that we can get our printed goodies delivered safely to our doorsteps come November.

Filipino readers sharing their haul from the Aklatan 2020 fair on Twitter
Image credit: @thoughtsofteb, @neil0rbleed

Manila International Book Fair 2020 will keep bookworms happy

Lucky for us bookworms, we can still get our book hauls even during a public health crisis, thanks to book fairs such as the MIBF that will still push through, albeit online.

While we anticipate how the 2020 MIBF will happen on our computer screens, visit their website or Facebook page from time to time to get further updates.

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Cover image adapted from: Manila International Book Fair, @imerareinamarie