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Tag: Office of Senator Loren Legarda

  • NBDB Sends Off PH delegation to the World’s Largest Book Fair

    NBDB Sends Off PH delegation to the World’s Largest Book Fair

    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 country’s 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 – a 2,300 square-meter cultural space featuring daily author talks, installations, performances, and more than 65 interdisciplinary programs highlighting Philippine literature and creativity.

    “The National Book Development is here to ensure that all of you are ready to present our books to the world,” said NBDB Executive Director and Philippines as Guest of Honour (PhlGoH) Project Co-Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade. “Because 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 Philippines’ creative industries are worth investing in.”

    At the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest, oldest, and most prestigious book fair and rights marketplace where the global “who’s who” in publishing gathers annually, the Philippine delegation will showcase the richness of Philippine publishing, spanning contemporary and speculative fiction, poetry, children’s 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.

    Reference & Media Contact:

    Divine Reyes

  • WORKS OF LOCAL AUTHORS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH UNDER THE NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S TRANSLATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM

    WORKS OF LOCAL AUTHORS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH UNDER THE NATIONAL BOOK DEVELOPMENT BOARD’S TRANSLATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM

    QUEZON CITY, Philippines—The National Book Development Board (NBDB) has announced on August 7, 2025 of the 20 grantees selected for its Translation Subsidy Program (TSP) this year “for local authors who wish to have their works translated into a foreign language.”

    Out of 32 proposals submitted to the NBDB, 20 grantees were selected. Among them are mBayuka Tanu! Maguindanaon Bayuk Translation, Transcription, and Annotation Volume 2 by Mansoor Limba, Aswanglaut by Allan N. Derain, Mga Lumadnong Sugilanon nga Mahinuklogon by Karl M. Gaspar, Si Lola Basyang sa Entablado by Christine Bellen-Ang, Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, Samtoy: Mga Kwentong Ilokano (Bagong Edisyon) by Danilo B. Antalan, Noli S. Dumlao, Aileen R. Rambaud, Arnold Pascual, Jose Sherma E. Benosa, N.M.E. Valdez, Ariel Sotelo Tabág, Juan Al. Asuncion, Roy V. Aragon, Daniel L. Nesperos, Joel B. Manuel, Prodie Gar. Padios, Mighty C. Rasing, and Selected Poetry of Gualberto Cea Manlangit by Gualberto Cea Manlangit, to name a few.

    The 20 grantees’ works, which were written in Filipino, Ilokano, Maguindanaon, Bikolano, and Bisaya, cover multiple genres such as fiction, poetry, short stories and essays, comics, novel, among others, and will all be translated into English. The amount of the grant ranges from PHP 70,000 to PHP 200,000.

    “We want to promote the literary works of Filipino authors through the translation of local books written in Tagalog and other Philippine languages not just into Tagalog or English, but likewise in other languages around the world so they would be known internationally. We
    believe translation is key to achieve that goal,” explains Ma. Carolina Tapia, NBDB’s Chief of the Creative and Professional Development Division.

    Under the selection criteria established by the NBDB, grantees are chosen based on their relevance to the publishing sector and the reading public, significance in promoting knowledge on the diverse culture, events, and topics of the Philippines, and a production plan or marketing plan that is feasible and effective for local distribution and promotion efforts.

    The TSP offers financial support to encourage the translation, publication, and distribution of Philippine books in foreign markets in order to introduce more Filipino stories, voices, and perspectives to readers across the globe.

    Being selected as a translation grantee is a pivotal opportunity for Filipino writers. It means they will be provided with formal support for translation, visibility at major international book fairs, and an open door into the global literary marketplace. For local authors, it’s not just funding: it’s launching their work into dialogue with the world.

    The program also has a separate edition designed to entice foreign publishers to translate Philippine books into foreign languages, also through a subsidy. It is a vital element of the Philippines as Guest of Honour 2025 (PhlGoH2025) initiative, an interagency collaboration led
    by the NBDB, together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda. The event will be held in Frankfurt, Germany on October 15-19, 2025.

    Through the years, the NBDB’s Translation Subsidy Program has contributed to increasing the number of translated Philippine titles and opened different opportunities for Filipino authors. As the Philippines prepares to take center stage at “FBM,” the world’s largest book fair, the TSP underscores the country’s commitment to promoting Filipino literature, authorship, and publishing excellence on the global stage.

    It also reflects the NBDB’s strong commitment to empowering Filipino authors, fostering cultural exchange, and boosting the global presence of Philippine literature. By supporting the translation of Filipino books into foreign languages, the program brings Filipino voices and stories to a wider international audience—paving the way for richer cross-cultural
    understanding and meaningful global engagement as the country positions itself to become the content capital of Southeast Asia.

    “The NBDB believes that every translated book serves as a bridge between languages, cultures, and more importantly, people. The NBDB’s Translation Subsidy Program is not just about funding the translation of a book. It is a commitment to help fuel a movement that places Filipino stories where they belong: in conversation with the world,” NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade pointed out.
    For full details on the Translation Subsidy Program, send a message to grants@books.gov.ph.

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Divine Reyes Caraecle
    Communications & Promotions Section
    communications@books.gov.ph
    0917-1396394

    About the National Book Development Board
    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 country’s vibrant culture of authorship and reading. To learn more, visit our social media pages (@nbdbphilippines).