Recalling the 2015 Manila International Book Fair

Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Pasay City

Recalling the Philippine Halal Assembly

Inside Philippine International Convention Center

A unique form of architecture. I may be clueless as to its formal structures but I know a good building when I see one.
  

The 32nd Manila International Book Fair Experience

* one of the entrances to the Manila International Book Fair

in SMX Convention Center

* University of the Philippines Press Booth

* Ateneo de Manila University Press Booth

* school children attending the MIBF 2011

I can readily count on the fingers of my right hand the times I have been to the Manila International Book Fair (fondly called MIBF by others): 1) in 2005 when I met in person then Mayor Lito Atienza [held then in the World Trade Center Manila], 2) in 2008 with a fellow book enthusiast and 3) this year 2011. If before I only went to do random book picking, I can say that I have been relatively successful in this year’s MIBF as I was able to collect a number of Filipiniana books, especially those that I will need for my book project.

* a simple merienda bought from Albergus

* one of the buffet tables of Albergus

* Pastor Hiram Pangilinan in the book signing session of his new book
“Hula, Multo, Faith Healing, Atbp.”

* Trailer Pransis and Jordan, DJ of Perfect Rhythm radio program

The MIBF is a five-day event but one can visit all the booths, skim through the books on sale, in one day. However, each day has highlight activities. On the day we attended, book readings for children occupied most of the afternoon slots in the stage area.

* all-metal-and-pipes ceiling of SMX Convention Center

* book reading session of “The Boy with the Book”

* book reading of Kuya Jun at the Stage Area

* “though shall be known by the mark”: MIBF marks

Some booths also have their special activities. As an example, the OFM Literature Booth hosted a book launch of Pastor Hiram Pangilinan, a preacher I have known in a not-so-distant past through his writings. One bonus at the OFM booth was meeting Jordan, the DJ of the 702 DZAS program “Perfect Rhythm”, a half-hour radio show airing every Sunday. My mother always tunes in the radio to this particular station and somehow my ears have become accustomed to Jordan’s greeting as I wake up every Sunday. During our brief conversation, he mentioned that a lot of people treat his program as their alarm clocks.

* façade of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life

* close up view of the church’s retablo and the interior

* some of the books in the 2011 MIBF

In recalling the booths I have visited which catered to Filipiniana books, I can only say that the Philippines has a wide array of written materials, from books on indigenous culture and arts, to technical manuals on medicine or engineering. Not to mention pocket romance books! The only thing that the Filipinos need to have and cultivate is the affinity for reading. Yes, it is good to see people buying and conducting book reading sessions in that kind of activity. But unless we get to the point where reading is as commonplace as smoking in public, we still have a long way to go to entrench the culture of reading in the Philippines.

* This blog entry also appears in Viole(n)t Mugs blog

Stop Over at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Our escapade began at Gil Puyat LRT Station where we started walking until we reached the Manila World Trade Center then turned right to the Manila Bay area. The heat of the early morning in Manila was more than enough to extinguish the strength of Laguna travelers and so we opted to make a short rest at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

* the Cultural Center of the Philippines with the wide lawn fronting it

* a closer look at the Cultural Center of the Philippines

* side walk up the Cultural Center of the Philippines;
I see this as a good place to do downhill on skateboards

* the façade of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

* Trailer Pransis striking another serious pose;
heat plus thirst are the best ingredients for such a pose


* the wave-like pillar ceiling supports of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

* a close-up view of CCP’s exterior

* CCP fountain at the front

* another view of the fountain

The Cultural Center of the Philippines or CCP for short was created in 1966 through the issuance of Executive Order No. 30 by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Its formal inauguration however happened on September 8, 1969 along with a three-month-long inaugural fest. The inauguration was attended by then California Governor Ronald Reagan and his wife to represent US President Richard Nixon.

Today it is affiliated with the Office of the President and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (in connection with policies and programs). CCP is in fact one big complex, composed of different areas for performances (most notably the Tanghalang Pambansa or the CCP Main Building, the one we usually see in photos), exhibit halls, and other satellite venues. There is also the CCP Museum or Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino which opened in 1988.

Digging into all these information, I see that I still have a lot to see at CCP aside from its Main Building. And the place must be more than an art haven, as its scope goes beyond the visual arts. Dance, music, plays, etc. Let us all discover CCP!

* World Trade Center in Manila

* a white-breasted sea eagle

* another bird we saw resting over a concrete

* a tower from Star City as seen from the grounds of CCP

* "Go Navy! Fleet Marine Team"; a billboard of the Philippine Navy

* Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas o BSP found just across CCP

Other Sights Around CCP

The photos above are some of the sights one can behold as one approach or look around CCP. Actually, this reclaimed part of the Manila Bay has many areas that you can visit. Hopefully next time, armed with a fully owned camera, I would be able to roam the place and snap photos!

[How to go to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP): From the Gil Puyat LRT Station, the fastest way to reach CCP is to hail a taxi. But do not engage in any pre-arranged fare price. I did this for a number of times before I realized that it was too costly. Aside from that, I actually do not know any public vehicle route that would pass by CCP.]