Author: WILMAR NICOLAS DULDULAO

  • PHILIPPINE BOOK FESTIVAL 2026 – LAYAG-PAHINA: OPENING CEREMONIES

    PHILIPPINE BOOK FESTIVAL 2026 – LAYAG-PAHINA: OPENING CEREMONIES

    The Philippines Book Festival 2026 is the 4th Philippine Book Festival (PBF) of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) Philippines – the country’s only marketplace to all-Filipino books and published works, and a shared third place for publishers, writers, illustrators, readers, educators, and industry stakeholders.

    Gubat ng Karunungan or Rainforest of Knowledge is the theme of the PBF 2026. The key visual, crafted by returning artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, follows two characters, Yaz and Ye-ey, as they through a teeming rainforest, taking in its flora, fauna, and falls.

    On March 12, 2026 (Day 1), 11:00AM-12:30PM, the PBF 2026 was opened with an Opening Ceremony called the LAYAG-PAHINA: OPENING CEREMONIES that compose of Open House & Registration, Entrance of Colors, Philippine National Anthem, Invocation, Welcome Chant, Sitsiritsit, Welcome Message, Opening Rites, Poetry Reading, PBF Declaration, and Pagtatanghal.

    The Open House & Registration of PBF 2026 on March 12, 2026 (Day 1) is at 10:00AM, and the Programme, LAYAG-PAHINA: OPENING CEREMONIES starts from 11:00AM to 12:30 PM.

    Invocation, Entrance of Colors, Philippine National Anthem, Welcome Chant and Sitsiritsit are one of the first activities of the PBF 2026 Opening Ceremony.

    Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director, NBDB, has shared a Welcome Message during the Opening Ceremony of the PBF 2026, held on March 12, 2026 at the Fiesta Stage, 5th Floor, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

    Opening Rites is one of the necessary activities of the PBF 2026.

    Fatima Panontongan, Undersecretary & Chief of Staff, DEPED; Eric Zerrundo,Zerrundo, Executive Director & Chairman, NCCA; and Gerald Galindez, Poet & Artisan, had recited a Poetry Reading during the event of PBF 2026 Opening Ceremony.

    Tala Tugade has introduced Sonny Angara, Secretary, DEPED, for the PBF Declaration who also shared a message during the PBF 2026 Opening Ceremony.

  • Readers Engage with Leaders at TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine Signing

    Readers Engage with Leaders at TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine Signing

    Readers and supporters of inspiring leadership gathered for a special magazine signing event featuring George Erwin Mojica Garcia, Chairman of the Commission on Elections, and Glenda V. Hufano, Past District Governor of Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District.

    The event was held on March 10, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at National Book Store located at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.

    Organized by TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine, the gathering offered readers a rare opportunity to meet two distinguished leaders featured in the publications. The magazine signing was led by Editor-in-Chief Grace Bondad Nicolas, who continues to champion stories of leadership, governance, and community service through the magazines’ platforms.

    During the event, guests had the opportunity to interact with the featured personalities through a question-and-answer segment, which provided insights into Chairman Garcia’s leadership in the country’s electoral system and Hufano’s work in community development through Kiwanis.

    “I am always thankful to our featured leaders who, despite their busy schedules, made time to come and meet everyone,” said Grace Bondad Nicolas.

    Chairman Garcia encouraged everyone to vote and expressed his gratitude for the high voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the previous elections under his leadership. He also emphasized digital innovation in the electoral process, noting that advancements in technology have enabled faster transmission of election results.

    Hufano, on the other hand, shared that she will continue to help children through her connection with Kiwanis International. She mentioned that since childhood, she has had a heart for helping others, which inspired her advocacy to assist indigent communities. Many Kiwanis members also attended the event to show their support for her.

    Supporters, readers, and members of the public attended and took part in the engaging afternoon of dialogue, inspiration, and an exclusive magazine signing experience.

    Event Details:

    Date: March 10, 2026

    Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    Venue: National Book Store, SM Mall of Asia

    For media inquiries and event details, interested parties were encouraged to contact the organizers of TopNewsAsia and Rising Tigers Magazine at +63 977 897 8877 or president@tagmedia.asia.

    Reference:

    Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas

    President and Editor-in-Chief

    TAG Media Group

  • Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 by Everything’s Fine at PBF 2026

    Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 by Everything’s Fine at PBF 2026

    Who else will join the launch of Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 at PBF 2026?

    During the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Media Launch that was held on February 26, 2026, CHARISSE AQUINO-TUGADE, Executive Director of the National Book Development Board (NBDB), has announced of the launching of Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 by Everything’s Fine at the Fiesta Stage of the PBF 2026 on March 12, 2026.

    Let’s meet the author, Aristotle Pollisco, get your copies signed, and celebrate poetry with us. Makata sa Pinas Book Launch will be held on March 12, 2026, 5PM-7PM at the Hall 3, Main Stage at PBF 2026.

    PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at 5th Floor, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.

    Register here for FREE: bit.ly/PBF2026Registration

  • Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at SM Megamall

    Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at SM Megamall

    Who else will attend and experience the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026?

    National Book Development Board has launched the PBF 2026 on February 26, 2026 during the Philippine Book Festival 2026 Media Launch at JRich Corporate Center, Sto. Domingo Ave., Quezon City,

    Gubat ng Karunungan or The Rainforest of Knowledge is the theme of PBF 2026. The key visual, crafted by returning artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, follows two characters, Yaz and Ye-ey, as they journey through a teeming rainforest, taking in its flora, fauna, and falls.

    Diverse publishers, creators, authors, writers, illustrators, book lovers, readers, educators, story tellers, and industry stakeholders will join the 4th Philippine Book Festival – the Philippine Book Festival 2026.

    PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at 5th Floor, Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.

    Register here for FREE: bit.ly/PBF2026Registration

  • Diplomacy Meets Media: Indonesian Trade Attaché Graces TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine Signing

    Diplomacy Meets Media: Indonesian Trade Attaché Graces TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine Signing

    Indonesian Trade Attaché Joins TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine Event to inspire readers, supporters, and aspiring leaders in the community.

    On March 5, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, readers, supporters, and aspiring leaders gathered at National Bookstore for the first magazine signing event of the year hosted by TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine, led by publisher Grace Bondad Nicolas.

    Adding significance to the occasion was the presence and support of the newly appointed Trade Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in the Philippines, Rahayu Ningsih, whose participation highlighted the growing relationship between media, diplomacy, and cross-cultural collaboration.

    The event featured two inspiring personalities whose stories represent leadership and innovation in today’s evolving society. The current cover of TopNewsAsia features Brian Poe Llamanzares, Congressman of FPJ Panday Bayanihan, while the maiden issue of Leading Women Magazine highlights young CEO Grace Santiago of Lync Solutions, released in celebration of National Women’s Month.

    More than 120 attendees participated in the exclusive meet-and-greet and magazine signing, creating a rare opportunity for readers to personally interact with the leaders whose stories they read about in print. What made the event even more meaningful was the insightful discussion on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy, where Llamanzares and Santiago shared their perspectives on how technology is transforming governance, entrepreneurship, and the future workforce.

    The importance of a magazine signing goes far beyond autographs. It transforms journalism into a living conversation. For readers, it is an opportunity to engage directly with the people behind the headlines and cover stories. For the featured personalities, it becomes a platform to expand ideas, inspire dialogue, and connect with communities that believe in their vision.

    Events like this also reaffirm the continuing relevance of print media. In an era dominated by digital platforms, a magazine signing reminds audiences that printed stories carry depth, credibility, and permanence. When readers hold a magazine and meet the leaders featured in its pages, the experience becomes both personal and memorable.

    Another key advantage of the gathering was its educational value. Young professionals, students, and entrepreneurs present during the event gained valuable insights about the growing role of artificial intelligence and the need for stronger digital literacy skills in a rapidly evolving world. These discussions demonstrated how media events can serve not only as celebrations of publication but also as platforms for learning and inspiration.

    The objective of the gathering was clear: to create a meaningful space where journalism, leadership, and public engagement intersect. Through initiatives like this, TopNewsAsia and Leading Women Magazine continue to elevate conversations that matter, highlight leaders who make a difference, and encourage readers to become informed, empowered, and inspired members of society.

    Publisher Grace Bondad Nicolas expressed her sincere gratitude to National Bookstore for its continued partnership in promoting print media and fostering intellectual exchange through events like these.

    As the first magazine signing of the year, the event set the tone for more interactive experiences where stories printed on pages come alive through conversations, connections, and inspiration, reminding everyone that behind every magazine cover is not just a story, but a community ready to listen, learn, and lead.

    Reference:

    Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas

    President and Editor-in-Chief

    TAG Media Group

  • PBF 2026 Brings Together the Full Spectrum of Philippine Literary Life

    PBF 2026 Brings Together the Full Spectrum of Philippine Literary Life

    Did you know that the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 brings together the full spectrum of of Philippine literary life?

    The writers whose pages many of us grew up with – Ricky Lee, Virgilio Almario, Ambeth Ocampo-will be on hand along side trade-book favorites Jonaxx and Ron Canimo, kidlit masters Eugene Evasco and Luis Gatmaitan, and komiks legends Manix Abrera and Pol Media. Viral reads, poetry, pop fiction, indie zines, and award-winning titles every kind of reader finds their people here.

    On March 14, 2026, the Final Stage will host the 43rd National Book Awards (NBA) – honoring the authors, illustrators, editors, translations, and publishers whose work has shaped and sustained Philippine literature. It is the festival’s day set aside entirely for the recognition of excellence and affirmation of the strength, creativity, and diversity of Filipino story telling this day.

    The PBF is more than gathering of books. It is a gathering of the nation’s voices – where writers meet readers, teachers meet students, and communities come together around stories that are unmistakably ours. Literature lives beyond if it is shared, celebrated, and felt together.

    PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026. Register here for FREE: bit.ly/PBF2026Registration

  • Philippine Book Festival 2026 Theme: Gubat ng Karunungan or The Rainforest of Knowledge

    Philippine Book Festival 2026 Theme: Gubat ng Karunungan or The Rainforest of Knowledge

    National Book Development Board (NBD)’s Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 was launched on February 26, 2026. During the PBF 2026 Media Launch, Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza has revealed the theme of PBF 2026.

    This year’s PBF gathers under the theme Gubat ng Karunungan—The Rainforest of Knowledge. A gubat is alive, layered, and interconnected, and our literary ecosystem is no different. Featured as the festival’s four signature realms, each one represents a distinct corner of Philippine literature and learning: different audiences, different genres—one forest, thriving and alive.

    Kid Lit is built for young readers, featuring picture books, learning materials, and titles that nurture a lifelong love of stories.

    Komiks brings the universe of Filipino comics to life, honoring the legends of the form while spotlighting emerging visual storytellers.

    Booktopia is a meeting ground for the many voices shaping the Filipino literary imagination—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and more.

    Aral Aklat is dedicated to learning, featuring textbooks, teaching guides, and educational resources for classrooms, teachers, and library hubs across the country.

    The PBF 2026 takes its theme from the richness underfoot and overhead: Gubat ng Karunungan or Rainforest of Knowledge. The key visual, crafted by returning artist and designer Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, follows two characters, Yaz and Ye-ey, as they journey through a teeming rainforest, taking in its flora, fauna, and falls.

    Drawing on his daily life at the foot of Mount Banahaw in Lucban, Quezon, Atienza wave recycled paper into the artwork as a deliberate gesture: the same trees that give us paper carry the stories we tell. “Our stories, our books, and our karunungan all start here – in the biodiversity we need to protect.”

    PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at the Megatrade Hall, 5th Floor, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.

    Register here for FREE: bit.ly/PBF2026Registration

    REFERENCE:

    National Book Development Board (NBDB) – the Philippines’ book authority mandated to develop and strengthen the local book publishing industry.

  • Philippine Book Festival 2026 Programs and Featured Events

    Philippine Book Festival 2026 Programs and Featured Events

    During the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) 2026 Media Launch on February 26, 2026, Charisse Aquino-Tugade, Executive Director, National Book Development Board (NBDB), has shared the PBF 2026 Programs and Feature Events.

    DAY 1 (MARCH 12) FEATURED EVENTS:

    FIESTA STAGE

    Layag Pahina: The Opening Ceremonies; Fragile Frontier: The Climate Study of Palawan Film Launching UNESCO by National Commission of the Philippines; and Makata sa Pinas with Gloc-9 by Everything’s Fine

    GUBAT NG KARUNUNGAN

    The History Q&A with Prof. Xiao Chua by San Anselmo Press

    BAHAY ILLUSTRADOR

    Concept Character Making: From Idea to Visual Form by Jerome Supler

    UMPUKAN

    Making Learning Araling Panlipunan Fun with Alamin, and Alamin! by Adarna House

    DAY 2 (MARCH 13) FEATURED EVENTS:

    FIESTA STAGE

    Culinary Calling: Pinoy Chefs’ Roundtable; and Mafia-mafihan, literary, literaryhan?

    GUBAT NG KARUNUNGAN

    Owver-owver sa Hiraya: Writing Queer; and Fantasy by GAD-NBDB

    BAHAY ILLUSTRADOR

    Make Your Little Dream House by Danielle Florendo)

    UMPUKAN

    Wellness for Authors by PaperKat Books

    DAY 3 (MARCH 14) FEATURED EVENTS:

    FIESTA STAGE

    National Book Awards Ceremony & VivaOne Soecial Program

    GUBAT NG KARUNUNGAN

    PITCH, PLEASE by NBDB x PaperKat Books

    BAHAY ILLUSTRADOR

    HAGOD (The Brush Inking Techniques of the Filipino Komiks Masters) by Randy Valiente

    UMPUKAN

    PITCH, PLEASE! From Print to GMA Pictures by NBDB x GMA Pictures

    DAY 4 (MARCH 15) FEATURED EVENTS:

    FIESTA STAGE

    Encantadia Chronicles Sang’gre Book Launch by GMA x PaperKat Books

    GUBAT NG KARUNUNGAN

    Malong: The Magic Cloth by Teatro Arellano

    BAHAY ILLUSTRADOR

    Paint Your Own Jeep by Patricia Ramos

    UMPUKAN

    Hayop na Booklaunch! With Naldo Vivo by Avenida Books

    Join the Philippine Book Festival, from 12 to 15 March at Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, where books, art, and culture come together in one unforgettable experience!

    The Philippine Book Festival isn’t just another typical book fair—it offers a diverse array of events, including talks, workshops, meet-and-greets, book signings, exhibitions, and musical and literary performances. It’s an immersive book experience where attendees can purchase their favorite Filipino books, meet esteemed authors, participate in workshops, and even enjoy different contests. With special features like walking tours with National Artists, the festival presents an ideal opportunity to reintroduce the joy of reading to students in an engaging learning environment.

    See you at the Philippine Book Festival!

    PBF 2026 runs from March 12 to 15, 2026 at the Megatrade Hall, 5th Floor, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. FREE Entrance for ALL.

    Register here for FREE: bit.ly/PBF2026Registration