The Philippine Book Festival (PBF), the country’s premier all-Filipino book festival, returns for its 2025 edition at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall today, March 13.

The highly anticipated fair once again opened its doors to book lovers, authors, artists, and publishers from all over the country for a four-day book experience featuring author meet-and-greets, art workshops, talks, and exhibits centered around Philippine books.

The festival was officially launched today through the ceremonial rites titled Fiesta Simula, which featured dramatic readings, musical performances, and messages from distinguished figures from the country’s book publishing, education, and cultural sectors.

In attendance were National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario and National Artist for Film & Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, key officials from the Department of Education (DepEd), and the National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) Executive Director, Charisse Aquino-Tugade, who founded the festival in 2023.

What’s new this year?

Fiesta-inspired design, exclusive book discounts, more events!

Besides the thousands of books for sale, exhibits that highlight the country’s literary history, countless events, and exclusive book discounts, festivalgoers flocked to new activation spaces such as the Pakyawan Plaza, which houses a Pahiyas Festival-inspired bahay kubo, and a live mural. True to its name, the PBF this year further honed in on its mission to celebrate all things Filipino, fiesta-style, by incorporating design elements from the country’s beloved festivals in collaboration with renowned children’s book artists Juno Abreu, Pepot Atienza, Danielle Florendo, and Paul Eric Roca.

Later in the day, Aquino-Tugade and the PBF team welcomed over 650 teachers from the DepEd to facilitate the purchase of P2.4 billion worth of books that will be used in DepEd schools and libraries across the country.

Distinguishing itself from other book festivals in the country, the Philippines’ first and only annual marketplace for all-Filipino books was specifically designed to respond to the lack of ready access to quality Philippine-authored titles both in bookstores and classrooms all over the country. Since its first edition, the PBF has led to the institutional sale of hundreds of millions’ worth of quality Philippine-authored books, which have been delivered to DepEd schools and libraries across the country, from Batanes to Jolo.

“This year, we’re not just focusing solely on numbers. We’re also ensuring that the kinds of books that are reaching these students actually match their needs and mirror their contexts. In the past few months, we have been training DepEd teachers to approach book scoping as less of a technical requirement and more of an exercise in imagination and agency. What would these book selections look like if our teachers were empowered to be the primary decision-makers that they truly are and if they put themselves in the shoes of their students who are eager to read and to learn?” said Aquino-Tugade.

“The PBF is that time of the year when we remind everyone working in the book industry and the education sector that it’s not too late to change the statistics and even misconceptions that have long plagued the idea of a reading Filipino, of a robust book industry, and of a readership that can easily access and is able to appreciate stories that emanate from their own culture,” Aquino-Tugade added.

The Philippine Book Festival 2025 runs from March 13 to March 16. Entrance is free.