By Kriz Quintos
Books uniquely transport us to different worlds, ignite our imaginations, and broaden our horizons. This magic comes closer to us through different platforms, technologies, people, and sometimes events just like the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), an annual gathering of prominent writers, starter authors, book lovers, readers, and small, big, academic, and independent publishers.
“This Book Fair event is a literary haven that has captivated book lovers, writers, and publishers for 44 years and counting – Inquirer.”
MIBF has served as a platform for local and international exhibitors and 160,000 visitors for the last 3 years and counting. It hosts seminars, trainings, book signings, panel discussions, and book launches, giving authors a space to engage with their audience and collaborate with other writers. Additionally, the event showcases academic materials, tools, and services, which makes it an ideal destination for educators and students.
This year the MIBF ran from September 14 to 17, 2023, and transformed the SMX Convention Center Manila Philippines into a bustling marketplace of books, ideas, stories, knowledge, and networking. Quest Publishing’s (QP) Philippines intrepid scouts, Allen Young and Kriz Quintos, visited this largest and longest-running book fair with their sights on expanding Quest Publishing’s book sales through partnerships and collaboration with local publishers and distributors in the Philippines. They were not disappointed.
Apart from Quest Publishing’s general marketing efforts for all its books, our scouts were particularly focused on finding one good, immediate partner—from among the many they met—to help market and distribute QP’s newest book, Mentoring Beyond AI, due for release by early December. Accomplished and content, our QP Philippine scouts left the fair, having connected with local publishers and distributors who shared their vision for books.
The end of MIBF is just the beginning of the journey. Quest Publishing will continue to nurture these relationships, working collaboratively to bring their upcoming book to the Filipino audience. Events such as the Manila International Book Fair serve as a bridge that fosters this networking and relationships to collaborate between local and international publishers and distributors.
As MIBF continues to thrive, it remains a testament to the enduring power of books and the potential for collaboration in the world of publishing. Quest Publishing’s quest for local partners at MIBF is a story of literary synergy, bridging cultures, and enriching the reading experience for book lovers not only in the Philippines but also expanding beyond.
We look forward to next year’s book fair for even more book fun and success.
Kriz Quintos is the marketing head of Inquesta Corporation.
She can be reached at kquintos@inquesta.com
