This not only promotes cross-cultural understanding but also elevates the Philippines’ presence in the global literary landscape
For the first time, the Philippines participated in the International Rights Market at the 51st Angoulême International Comics Festival at the Musée de la Bande Dessinée (Comic Strip Museum) in Brussels from Jan. 25 to 28.
The National Book Development Board, in partnership with Komiket (a non-profit organization devoted to publishing and promoting Filipino komiks and komikeros), presented over 52 Philippine comic and graphic novel titles to global publishers.
There, Komiket founder Paolo Herras and British comics expert Paul Gravett discussed the journey of Filipino komiks from its golden age to the pulsing and vibrant contemporary scene.
They spoke about the 1920s “Golden Age” artists Nestor Redondo, Alex Niño, and Alfredo Alcala; the modern age dominated by Gerry Alanguilan, Arnold Arre, Carlo Vergara, Budjette Tan, and Kajo Baldisimo; and the contemporary scene featuring creators including J. Philip Ignacio, Dead Balagtas, Tarantadong Kalbo, Bambi and Roland Amago, CJ Reynaldo, Ren Galeno, and many others.
After the session, Galeno raffled off her original artwork and signed copies of her graphic novel ‘Nothing To Lose.’
Meanwhile, Makiling Komik Kolektib, the official comic club of the Philippine High School for the Arts, was one of 46 nominees for the 44th edition of the Alternative Comics Award which recognizes the world’s best fanzine and alternative comics production.
Komiket said the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême is a venue for “comic and graphic novel professionals worldwide to establish networks, negotiate rights sales, and explore other business prospects,” as well as “allow Filipino komikeros to showcase their work not just to the French public, but also the global audience.”
The Angoulême International Rights Market gathered “comics and graphic novel professionals […] publishers, translators, producers, distributors, and licensing agents” from 35 countries to share catalogs, obtain feedback, and provide opportunities for rights selling.
This gave Filipino comics a chance to be published abroad, by foreign publishers, and the works adapted into other narrative forms such as films and television.
Also among the attendees at Angoulême were “journalists, creators, collectors, educators, and enthusiasts,” some of whom participated in activities such as creator talks, conferences, master classes, and meet-and-greets.
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In another ‘first’ for the country, the NBDB is in the midst of earnest preparations for the country’s Guest of Honor stint at the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse or Frankfurt Bookfair, which provides “an opportunity to spotlight Philippine literature on the world stage.”
One of the major activities at the Fair is an exhibition of Filipino book titles at a 2,000-square meter pavilion “that will showcase the most distinguished titles spanning the last century of publishing in the country.”
The fair provides a venue for networking, collaboration, and potential partnerships with global publishing houses.
NBDB invites all publishers and authors to contribute to the pavilion exhibition by “submitting their titles published over the last hundred years,” spanning “all genres, including textbooks, coffee table books, art books, and other niche genres.”
A board of jurors will “assess the submissions…to curate a selection that authentically mirrors the richness and diversity of the Philippine literary landscape.” The deadline for submission is March 30.
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In yet another ‘first,’ the Philippine Board on Books for Young People released a call for all children’s book publishers to nominate titles for inclusion in the first-ever Philippine stand at the 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the world’s largest fair of children’s content.
Nominated books should be authored by a Filipino, published in the Philippines, of excellent literary merit, and “lend itself well to translation and adaptation to other languages and cultures.”
For the other selection criteria and more information about the event, visit the PBBY Facebook page.
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Participation in international trade events like the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, and Angoulême Comics Festival is important for developing nations like the Philippines to foster economic growth and cultural exchange.
Such events are platforms where publishers, authors, and literary professionals converge, presenting unique opportunities for the Philippines to showcase its rich literary and cultural heritage and activities.
Engaging in such events allows the Philippines to attract international attention to the talents of its authors, publishers, illustrators, and komikeros, as well shine a light on the country’s unique stories.
Exposure on the international stage can lead to increased opportunities for Philippine literature such as international publication and adaptation, and enhances the Philippines’ cultural diplomacy, allowing the nation to share its narratives and perspectives with a global audience.
This not only promotes cross-cultural understanding but also elevates the Philippines’ presence in the global literary landscape, and contributes to the nation’s soft power, economic development, and cultural reach.
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