Manila, Philippines โ On September 11, 2025, leading smart devices provider HONOR Philippines announced the nationwide availability of its newest and most durable foldable HONOR Magic V5! You can now get it from any HONOR Partner and Experience Stores or online via: Lazada (https://bit.ly/Laz_V5_PR), Shopee (https://bit.ly/Shop_V5_PR), and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/TikTok_V5_PR). And only until September 30, you can get it with a FREE HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip worth Php 4,999!
Foldable with Unparalleled Durability
The HONOR Magic V5 sets a new industry benchmark for portability in foldable smartphones, featuring an ultra-slim 8.8mm body and weighing as little as 217g. These advancements reflect HONORโs relentless pursuit of engineering excellence, made possible by the industry leading AI-powered manufacturing system. This revolutionary process enhances structural reliability and integrity, delivering an almost crease-free fold and elevating the user experience that can be felt with every interaction.
The HONOR Magic V5 features IP58 and IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance. Engineered with HONORโs Carbon Fiber Reinforced Inner Display Panel and Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield on the outer screen, the device delivers exceptional resilience against scratches and everyday impact. Internally, a carbon fiber layer with 380GPa deformation resistance acts as a powerful shock buffer. The HONOR Super Steel Hinge also has an impressive tensile strength of 2300MPa, further strengthening the device while enabling smooth folding action.
Available in three stunning colorways Ivory White, Dawn Gold, and Reddish Brown, you can now get HONOR Magic V5 for only Php 89,999 at any HONOR Partner and Experience Stores or online via Lazada (https://bit.ly/Laz_V5_PR), Shopee (https://bit.ly/Shop_V5_PR), and TikTok Shop (https://bit.ly/TikTok_V5_PR) with FREE HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip worth Php 4,999 until September 30, 2025!
For more information about the HONOR Magic V3, you may visit: https://bit.ly/Web_V5_PR. To be in the loop of exciting updates, follow HONOR Philippinesโ social media platforms on: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).
About HONOR
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONORโs portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
Rex Education proudly congratulates three of its distinguished authorsโAtty. Hector M. De Leon Jr., Managing Partner of SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; Atty. Nilo T. Divina, Managing Partner of Divina Law, and Atty. Tranquil A. Salvador, Partner at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angelesโfor their recognition in the Asia Business Law Journalโs Philippines Top Lawyers 2025 A-List.
According to Asia Business Law Journal, A-List lawyers are โlawyers who are currently the star performers of the Philippinesโ legal profession; the lawyers who are personally undertaking the countryโs top legal work, crafting the most cutting-edge legal solutions to complex problems, and setting the highest standards in terms of quality, innovation and the ability to handle complex matters.โ
The journal also defines Legal Icons as โlawyers who are the luminaries of the Philippinesโ legal profession; the titans who command the respect of clients and juniors alike; the mentors who lead the Philippinesโ most admired law firms and/or legal teams, and who are the countryโs most prolific rainmakers.โ Among those honored with this distinction are Atty. Hector M. De Leon Jr. and Atty. Nilo T. Divina, who, aside from being part of the prestigious list, are also recognized as Icons.
Champions of Legal Practice and Education
Atty. Hector M. De Leon Jr. is celebrated nationwide for his dual expertise as a leading practitioner and one of the countryโs most prolific and trusted legal authors. His textbooks on Obligations and Contracts, Business Law, and Commercial Law remain indispensable in business programs and law schools. His works on the Philippine Constitution, Criminal Law, and related subjects continue to shape the legal literacy of countless law students and professionals.
Atty. Nilo T. Divina is equally admired as a premier corporate and litigation strategist and the transformative leader of Divina Law. His authoritative texts on Commercial and Corporation Law are essential references for law students, bar reviewees, and practitioners seeking clarity on complex commercial issues.
Atty. Tranquil A. Salvador, a recognized leader in litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is also an esteemed law professor and author whose works advance the study of Remedial Law. Beyond his practice areasโwhich include aviation, insurance, mining, and ADRโhe has made a profound impact on legal education through his widely respected textbooks and bar reviewer materials such as Footnotes Vol. I: Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure.
โBeing recognized as part of the prestigious list and called icons of Philippine law underscores the enduring impact of Atty. De Leon, Atty. Divina, and Atty. Salvadorโnot only in their respective practice areas, but also in their invaluable contributions to Philippine legal education through their published works,โ said Rex Education CEO, Don Timothy I. Buhain. โTheir scholarship and leadership align with our aspirations: to nurture minds and transform communities through education.โ
Rex Education takes immense pride in being the publishing partner of these exceptional legal minds and joins the legal and academic communities in celebrating their well-deserved recognition in Philippine Law and Legal Education.
Congratulations, Atty. Hector M. De Leon Jr., Atty. Nilo T. Divina, and Atty. Tranquil A. Salvadorโwhose work continues to shape the future of Philippine law.
Line-up: Lotus 99T, Emira Limited, inspired by the Lotus 99T, Lotus Eletre, Lotus Emeya
Interviews: Ben Payne, Vice President of Design (by appointment)
Munich, September 4, 2025 โ Lotus will make an impressive appearance at IAA Mobility 2025 at Munichโs Kรถnigsplatz. The highlight is the German premiere of the concept car Theory 1, which embodies the future of intelligent sports cars. The presentation is complemented by a tribute to Ayrton Senna with his legendary Lotus 99T F1 car and the exclusive special edition Emira Limited, inspired by the Lotus Type 99T. In addition, the all-electric Hyper-SUV Eletre and the Hyper-GT Emeya complete the model lineup, demonstrating how Lotus seamlessly blends tradition, innovation, and electrification for the future.
Theory 1 โ The Design Future of Lotus
Theory 1 is a concept car that reflects the new Lotus design manifesto, โThe Lotus Theory,โ that will form the foundation for all future Lotus cars, encapsulated through three core principles – Digital, Natural and Analogue (DNA). Digital represents a connected, immersive, and intelligent driving experience. Natural stands for emotional, human-centered design. Analogue symbolizes the continuous development of performance engineering. All three deliver the purist driving experience for which Lotus is known for.
The vehicle features the innovative LOTUSWEARโข driver system, which interacts in real time with both driver and passengers. Combined with sustainable materials, minimalist design, and a central driverโs seat, Theory 1 sets new standards for intuitive operation, comfort, and driving dynamics.
โWith Theory 1, weโve built on everything Lotus has achieved so far in its 77-year history, to push the boundaries for what it means to drive a performance vehicle. We want to demonstrate that you donโt need to compromise โ with both digital and analogue capabilities working harmoniously in the future car. In doing this, we are able to bring drivers the best possible immersive driving experience with raw emotion, functionality and connectivity, at the core,โ explains Ben Payne, Vice President of Design at Lotus.
Media representatives can arrange exclusive interviews with Payne at the Lotus stand.
Motorsport Heritage Inspires Sports Car Design: Ayrton Sennaโs Lotus 99T and Emira Limited, inspired by the Lotus Type 99T
At IAA, Lotus bridges its rich history with the future. The original Lotus 99T F1 car, with which Ayrton Senna won in Monaco and Detroit in 1987, will be a special highlight at the show. Complementing this, Lotus will present the Emira Limited, inspired by the Lotus Type 99T, featuring a yellow paint scheme with blue accents that reference the legendary race car. Only twelve vehicles worldwide are available in this special livery. Both models embody the brandโs heritage and innovative spirit in motorsport.
All-Electric Performance Cars: Hyper-SUV Eletre and Hyper-GT Emeya
Lotus will also showcase its all-electric models at IAA. The Hyper-SUV Lotus Eletre combines outstanding performance of up to 918 hp with the highest level of comfort. Advanced driver assistance systems and a range of up to 600 kilometers ensure sporty driving dynamics over long distances. The four-door Hyper-GT Lotus Emeya accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds, reaches speeds of up to 256 km/h, and combines luxurious comfort with Lotusโs sporting DNA. Both models demonstrate how Lotus merges sports car heritage with luxurious electrification.
With the presentation of the Theory 1, historic and sports Lotus models, and the all-electric lineup, Lotus at IAA Mobility 2025 once again underscores the brandโs vision for the future: uniting performance, innovation, and design while carrying the thrill of driving into the future โ all in line with the motto โAre you a Driver or What?โ.
Lotus is a global performance brand built on solid foundations and a rich heritage. Since the formation of Lotus in 1948, it has been pioneering true automotive innovation, introducing cutting-edge technologies and designs to meet its uncompromising vision of how a car should look, perform and feel. Lotus is made up of a high-performance sports car operations unit, Lotus Cars, and a leading luxury mobility provider, Lotus Technology. Together, we are setting a new standard for automotive excellence.
The Lotus Media Site contains news, images, films, technical specifications and full details of current models, as well as heritage cars and engineering technology.
Reference & Media Contact:
MAE ANGELIE PACATANG-VALDEZ SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
mpacatang@autohubgroup.com M: +63920 955 7999 LOTUS CARS MANILA 38th St. corner 11th Ave. Triangle Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634
Now on its 19th year, Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair is back on the Metro! This yearly showcase of Cagayan Valley’s best of the best will be held on September 19-25, 2025 at the Upper Ground Floor, Carousel Court and East Hall, Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Visitors to the trade fair can expect a wide, dazzling array of products, showing the finest tradition culture and creativity at the heart of the metropolis.
More than 100 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya will showcase their products from fresh fruits and vegetables to processed foods, aquatic and fishery products, native delicacies (kakanin), rice and corn-based goods, plants, furniture, and furnishings, and innovative new products.
Aside from promoting products, the trade fair will also offer unique opportunities and experiences highlighting tourism and investment opportunities in the region. Featuring the Provincial Pavilions of Batanes and Isabela, mall-goers can explore the one-of-a-kind culture of Batanes, and the abundance of agricultural products of Isabela. Buyers from Manila can also look forward to a special pavilion by the City of Ilagan, showcasing the heart and pride of Isabela’s capital city.
Padday na Lima will bring fresh energy this year with their festival passport where buyers can collect stamps after every purchase or booth interaction to unlock access to games, activities, and a chance to win exciting prizes. Fun activities will also include food and wine tasting, a captivating fashion show, and a creative crafts demonstration.
But the fun won’t stop at the fair! Buyers from the Metro can now easily get their hands on the finest products of Cagayan Valley with just a few clicks through PaddayNaLima.ph. In partnership with Shopee and Mayani.ph, these sought-after good are now made accessible to the buyers more than ever!
Padday na Lima, an Ybanag vernacular for “made by hands”, is the region’s biggest fair and a platform to promote the exquisite products of Region 2. It has been the seeding ground for growth and progress, helping Region 2’s MSMEs to reach their full potential for economic and social development through business matching activities and interactive collaborations with private and public sectors.
This September, feast your eyes on the wonderful abundance from Cagayan Valley’s unique heritage and traditions at the Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair. Join us and immerse yourself with all the wonderful things in store; Padday na Lima is waiting for you!
In skincare news that will be sure to cause a buzz in the Philippine regenerative aesthetics scene, Avignon Clinic and Galderma, a global leader in dermatology and aesthetics, announce a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the standard of injectable treatments in the country. This alliance underscores a shared commitment to patient-centric innovation, clinical safety, and education in aesthetic care.
As patients continue to seek safe, effective, and personalized treatments, the collaboration between Avignon Clinic and Galderma aims to respond with science-backed solutions that evolve with individual skin needs. The partnership will feature cutting-edge injectables: notably Sculptraยฎ, Restylaneยฎ Kysse and Restylaneยฎ Skinboosters Translucent Vital, designed to deliver natural, long-lasting results without compromising comfort or safety.
โThis partnership is rooted in a shared vision, to elevate aesthetic medicine through innovation and trust,โ said Ferdinand โLouieโ Roxas, General Manager of Galderma Philippines. โBy working with an institution like Avignon, which mirrors our values and commitment to excellence, we can bring global dermatological solutions to local patients who deserve the very best.โ
Andy Chou, Head of Commercial Operations of Galderma, also highlighted the significance of the collaboration in the broader regional landscape. โOur partnership with Avignon Clinic aligns perfectly with our vision to expand access to advanced regenerative aesthetic solutions across Asia-Pacific with strong medical expertise with a patient-first philosophy.โ
With a reputation for state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on tailored patient experiences, Avignon Clinic reinforces its leadership through this strategic alignment. According to Christopher Cachuela, Founder and CEO of Avignon Clinic, โThis collaboration with Galderma enables us to offer not just world-class treatments, using evidence-based products that deliver high patient satisfaction and ensure safety for our patients. Our clients can expect the most advanced, clinically tested injectable solutions to meet their changing skin goals.โ
A New Era for Injectables in the Philippines
The partnership spotlights three key innovations:
Sculptraยฎ, often described as the foundation for youthful-looking skin, is the only collagen stimulator made with PLLA-SCA, a unique formulation proven to stimulate type 1 collagenโthe most abundant form in the skin. Results begin as early as 14 days post-treatment and can last over two years, offering natural-looking firmness, radiance, and elasticity over time.
Restylaneยฎ Skinboosters Translucent Vital is the only hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable clinically proven to enhance six aspects of skin quality. Patients can expect deep hydration, improved smoothness, reduced fine lines, even tone, reduced scarring, and a refreshed glow that lasts up to 15 months.
Restylaneยฎ Kysse is a hyaluronic acid (HA) lip filler designed specifically with movement in mind, made with Optimal Balance Technology (OBT). This advanced formulation allows for precise, natural-looking results that move harmoniously with every smile, and expression. Whether a more defined lip contour, improving lip symmetry, achieving naturally full lips, or smoothing perioral lines (commonly known as smokerโs lines), Restylane Kysse is the ideal choice for patients seeking personalized, expressive beauty that complements their unique facial features.
โMore than just treatments, these injectables represent confidence,โ said Michelle De Jesus, Business Head of Galderma Aesthetics Philippines. โWe understand patientsโ apprehensions about injectables, and thatโs why weโre focused on education, transparency, and the use of rigorously tested products that deliver subtle, natural improvements.โ
As part of this partnership, Avignon and Galderma will roll out a series of educational campaigns, exclusive treatment programs, and medical symposia to further demystify aesthetic injectables and empower patients to make informed choices.
โThereโs a lot of misconceptions around injectables, because some think itโs about changing who you are. But at Avignon, our philosophy is enhancement, not alteration,โ noted Benedict Sy, President of Avignon Clinic. โBy partnering with Galderma, weโre confident in providing results that feel natural, look refined, and will age gracefully with our patients.โ
This partnership signifies a mutual dedication to raising industry standards while nurturing the growing trust Filipino patients place in aesthetic medicine.
From Left to Right: Mr. Al Reburiano (Key Account Manager of Galderma Philippines โ Aesthetics), Ms. Joy Cabrera (Commercial Excellence Head of Galderma), Ms. Christine Legaspi (Marketing and Customer Education Training Manager), Mr. Andy Chou (Head of Commercial Operations of Galderma), Mr. Ferdinand โLouieโ Roxas (General Manager of Galderma Philippines), Mr. Benedict Sy (President and Co-Founder of Avignon Clinic), Mr. Christopher Cachuela (CEO and founder of Avignon Clinic), June Christine Chio, M.D (Medical Operations Manager), Eufronia Apple Cruz, M.D (Aesthetic Physician of Avignon Clinic), Nancy Gabiota, M.D (Certified Dermatologist of Avignon Clinic) and Ms. Michelle De Jesus (Business Unit Head of Galderma Philippines – Aesthetics)
For more information about Avignon Clinic and its partnership with Galderma, follow Avignon Clinic and Galderma Aesthetics Philippines on Facebook, Avignon Clinic and Galaderma Aesthetics Philippines on Instagram or speak to an Avignon skin specialist today.
About Galderma Philippines
Galderma Philippines is the local affiliate of Galderma, a global leader dedicated exclusively to advancing dermatology for every skin story. Backed by decades of scientific innovation, Galderma provides a broad portfolio of prescription, aesthetic, and consumer care solutions across 90+ countries. In the Philippines, Galderma continues to set the standard in aesthetic medicine by offering clinically proven, science-based products that prioritize patient safety, efficacy, and natural-looking results. Galdermaโs aesthetic portfolio includes world-renowned brands such as Sculptraยฎ and Restylaneยฎ, helping Filipino patients achieve their skin goals with confidence and care. For more, please visit the website.
About Avignon Clinic
Avignon Clinic is a premier Longevity and Medical Aesthetics Center destination in the Philippines, known for merging advanced medical aesthetics with luxury-level service. Founded on a commitment to innovation, expertise, and personalized care, Avignon offers a wide range of FDA-approved dermatological, aesthetic, and laser treatments tailored to every individualโs skin journey. With a team of expert doctors, state-of-the-art technology, and a patient-first approach, Avignon is redefining the standard of aesthetic care by delivering results that are not only transformative but also safe, natural-looking, and sustainable. Avignon is where science meets beauty in the most refined, results-driven way. For more information, please visit the website and follow the clinicโs Instagram @AvignonClinic. Visit Avignon Clinicโs Grand Alabang at Block 28, Commerce Ave, Filinvest City Alabang, Muntinlupa City (09171002366), the BGC Premier Clinic at 108 Ground Floor, Fort Victoria, 5th Ave. and 23rd St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (09176368732), the Quezon City Flagship Clinic at 58 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (09176566988), or Avignon Clinic – Baguio, Ayala TechnoHub, Ordonio Drive, Camp John Hay, Baguio City (09176253500).
Buy HONOR Pad 10 for only Php 17,999 with FREE Smart Keyboard.
Manila, Philippines โ On September 16, 2025 Global technology brand HONOR announced the launch of the HONOR Pad 10, an exciting new addition to its innovative tablet lineup. Featuring a breathtaking 2.5K HONOR Eye Comfort Display, powered by the advanced Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Chipset, and equipped with a robust 10100mAh High Energy-dense Battery, the HONOR Pad 10 is designed to deliver an exceptional user experience with unparalleled performance and comfort.
Charming and Portable Design
The HONOR Pad 10 blends charm and functionality with an ultra-slim and lightweight body that is only 6.29mm thin and 525g light. It features an integrated metal unibody that gives off a warm metallic sheen for a refined feel. On the back, its design is accentuated by the Starlight Cloud Ring and a family-style circular lens, shaped through high-precision fine carving to create a symmetrical composition that plays beautifully with light and shadow. Adding to its appeal, the HONOR Pad 10 is built with the industryโs first 270ยฐ bending process, combining lightness and durability. This innovative technique enables a 29% overall weight reduction, slims the body thickness by just 0.6mm, ensuring itโs built to handle everyday use with ease.
Stunning at Every Glance
The HONOR Pad 10 is equipped with a 12.1-inch TFT LCD 2.5K HONOR Eye Comfort Display. Its remarkable screen-to-body ratio of 88% provides an expansive view while the 120Hz dynamic refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling, fluid animations, and responsive gaming. It also supports a high-definition resolution of 2560×1600 pixels. Experience a more engaging and responsive visual experience, no matter what you’re on โ browsing social media, scrolling through lengthy documents, or enjoying graphically rich games.
The HONOR Pad 10 supports the DCI-P3 color gamut, which covers 96% NTSC, 133% sRGB, and 1.07 billion colors, bringing breathtaking clarity and true-to-life hues. Together with the AI Dynamic Display, it boosts dynamic range enhancement by 200%, delivering 0.1 nit to 500 nit on display, making every frame immersive.
Powerful Hardware for Reliable Performance
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragonยฎ 7 Gen 3 mobile platform built on a 4nm process by TSMC. This boosts HONOR Pad 10 with significant performance improvements, including a 50% increase in GPU performance, a 15% boost in CPU performance, and a 20% improvement in energy efficiency. These bring users a more productive and responsive experience for everyday tasks and heavy-duty tasks for work or leisure.
The HONOR Pad 10 also comes with a robust 10,100mAh battery, which is manufactured by high-energy-density materials that boost a high energy density of 729Wh/L in only 2.48mm cell thickness. With this compact yet powerful battery, the HONOR Pad 10 empowers users to focus on what matters most โ productivity and creativity โ without being tethered to battery level. With this compact yet powerful battery, the HONOR Pad 10 empowers users to focus on what matters most โ productivity and creativity โ without being tethered to battery level. It supports 35W wired charging and 66W wireless charging, allowing users to quickly power up their devices to usable levels within minutes for continuous enjoyment.
Immersive Audio Experience
With advanced HONOR Spatial Audio technology, the HONOR Pad 10 offers the ultimate and stunning audio experience. Six powerful speakers deliver a wider, more expansive soundstage, enveloping you in rich, dynamic audio. This is further enhanced by HONOR Sound, which provides full-range sound effects, rendering crisp highs, refined midrange, and enhanced bass. Whether you’re using built-in speakers or your favorite headphones, the HONOR Pad 10’s spatial audio technology creates a truly immersive soundscape, anytime, anywhere. With both Hi-Res Audio and Wireless Hi-Res Audio certifications, the HONOR Pad 10 guarantees high-quality, authentic sound reproduction, making it perfect for enjoying movies, music, and more.
Thanks to HONOR’s bidirectional vocal enhancement technology, the HONOR Pad 10 features advanced AI Noise Reduction and Voice Amplification, for calls, meetings, and online learning. Voice Amplification effectively filters out electrical noise and highlights vocals to allow spoken words to be clearly heard. Simultaneously, AI Noise Reduction not only reduces background noise during sound transmission but also intelligently recognizes and amplifies the speaker’s voice. These advanced technologies work in tandem to excel at highlighting and amplifying human voices. Whether youโre participating in online classes or attending virtual meetings, the HONOR Pad 10 ensures you hear and are heard with unparalleled clarity.
For more information about the HONOR MagicPad 3, you may visit: https://bit.ly/Web_Pad10_PR. To be in the loop of exciting updates, follow HONOR Philippinesโ social media platforms on: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines).
About HONOR
HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONORโs portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) recently rolled out a spirited send-off for more than 100 Filipino publishers, authors, illustrators, and creatives bound for the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair (FBM), happening from October 15 to 19, 2025 where the Philippines takes the spotlight as its Guest of Honour (GoH).
The evening celebration, held at the 2025 Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center on September 11, 2025, brought together the countryโs diverse delegation for networking and a toast to this historic moment in global publishing.
Guests at the send-off were given an exclusive first look at the Philippine Pavilion โ a 2,300 square-meter cultural space featuring daily author talks, installations, performances, and more than 65 interdisciplinary programs highlighting Philippine literature and creativity.
โThe National Book Development is here to ensure that all of you are ready to present our books to the world,โ said NBDB Executive Director and Philippines as Guest of Honour (PhlGoH) Project Co-Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade. โBecause when we step into Frankfurt, we bring not just our stories and books, but also the diverse voices and imaginations of the Filipino people. This is our chance to show the world that the Philippinesโ creative industries are worth investing in.โ
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, the worldโs largest, oldest, and most prestigious book fair and rights marketplace where the global โwhoโs whoโ in publishing gathers annually, the Philippine delegation will showcase the richness of Philippine publishing, spanning contemporary and speculative fiction, poetry, childrenโs literature, nonfiction, and graphic novels and comics.
This historic milestone is made possible through the collaboration of the NBDB, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
As Guest of Honour, the Philippines will enjoy unprecedented visibility at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, opening doors to translation deals, international rights trading, cultural exchanges, and global readership growth.
Festive yet forward-looking, the send-off marked the culmination of years of preparation, and the start of an extraordinary journey as the Philippines takes its boldest leap yet onto the biggest global stage for books and ideas.
To learn more about the National Book Development Board and its upcoming activities, visit books.gov.ph, and follow the NBDB through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
Manila, Philippinesย โ The National Book Development Board (NBDB), the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), and Primetrade Asia, Inc. opened the second Asian Rights FairโManila (ARF-MNL) 2025 yesterday, 8 September, at the SMX Convention Center.
Under the theme Archipelago of Stories, the ARF-MNL is the first of its kind in the country, bringing together publishers, agents, and industry leaders from across Asia and beyond to explore translation opportunities, rights exchanges, and regional collaborations. It follows the Philippine publishing industryโs renewed efforts to strengthen ties within Asia, and comes as the country prepares to be Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the worldโs largest book fair.
In her welcome remarks, NBDB Executive Director and Philippines as Guest of Honour Project Co-Director Charisse Tugade emphasized the importance of stories crossing borders, noting that while โa Malaysian reader may rarely encounter Philippine works, and a Filipino student may not know the powerful voices from Indonesia, Thailand, or Central Asia, these storiesโour storiesโdeserve to be shared.โ
Since assuming leadership in the NBDB in 2021, Tugade has been a pioneering figure in expanding the Philippine book market, spearheading flagship projects on industry development and boosting the countryโs presence in international markets such as Bologna, London, and most notably, Frankfurt.
The ARF-MNLโs opening program featured industry leaders, including Hasri Hasan of Malaysia; Yani Kurniawan of Indonesia; Sartika Dian of Thailand; Bayan Kabylash of Kazakhstan; and Jรฉrรดme Bouchaud of France. Philippine publishers Ned Parfan (UST Publishing House) and Rica Bolipata-Santos (Ateneo de Manila University Press), with Jun Matias (Precious Pages Corporation, Lampara Books) as moderator, joined the discussions, which spanned topics from academic markets and digital platforms to translation initiatives, literary prizes, and regional distribution.
Sessions on the Southeast Asian market were led by Atty. Dominador Buhain, Philippine Educational Publishers Association Chair Emeritus, for the Philippines; Malaysian Book Publishers Association/ASEAN Book Publishers President Shake Faisal for Malaysia; and Intan F. Anggraini for Indonesia. Ranya Bakr introduced participants to the Arab publishing market, while Arthorn Techatada of Elite Creative Agency and Edmund Wee of Epigram highlighted the role of literary prizes in raising Asian voices, and Maria Christina Pangan-Cagalingan of the NBDB Philippines and Duangporn Sudhisomboon of Publishers Ande Booksellers Association of Thailand shared insights on grants available to publishers and authors across the region.
The second ARF-MNL welcomed notable publishing professionals from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Kazahkstan, including Ampaporn Borwornratansilp, Worawit Kitikusoun, Kiridaren Jayakumar, Netrnudda Malicum, Khatthiya Banmai, Patcharee Boonchauy, Sasithorn Teth-uthapak, Jintana Srithilah, Mohd Khairulanuar Bin Manshor, Nurin Afiqah Binti Azlan, and Evelyn Ghozalli.
The ARF-MNL is organized by the BDAP, led by its president, Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores. By showcasing Asiaโs publishing landscape, the ARF-MNL reaffirms its mission to make regional literature more visible to the world, and to one another. The program will be followed by the Rights Marketplace on 10โ11 September 2025 at the Manila International Book Fair, also at the SMX Convention Center.
The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the book authority of the Philippines. The agency is at the forefront of developing the Philippine publishing industry and safeguarding the countryโs vibrant culture of authorship and reading. To learn more, visit our social media pages (@nbdbphilippines).
