Fans and book lovers unite
Every year, book lovers and people of varying ages anticipate the annual international book fair. Not only does it cater books and stationeries, but it also features authors and artists coming for their book signing events. In this year’s book fair, are the people here for the books or the artists?
Organizers prepare the stage for the artists' book signing event. Photo by Lorraine Lazaro/THE FOURTH
Along the four corners of the SMX convention center, occupying two floors for five days and selling thousands of books, time was not enough for the bibliophiles to take their chance to grab those discounts and place books in their respective baskets and book shelves.
The hustle and bustle of the crowd, reading here and there, together with the atmosphere’s enticing aura, was surely a paradise for these book lovers.
Other than just the smell of books and the vibrant aisles of coloring and writing instruments, an added number to the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) patrons were the adoring fans of celebrities that made their way to see their loving crowd.
The essence of the event which was the love for books seemed to be overthrown by the loud screams and awed faces of the youngsters who waited for their favorite celebrity to arrive.
Some of the usual customers of the fair complained and somehow got irritated because the celebrities created noise and disturbance to those who came for the books. The racket caused an annoyance to customers that disrupted the beauty of the event which in celebrating their love of books.
Designated time and dates were specially organized for authors and artists in the duration of the five-day event.
Artists like Boy Abunda, James Reid, Ella Cruz, Julian Trono, Rachel Alejandro, Celeste Legaspi, Paulo Avelino, Arnold Clavio, and many more, together with authors, like Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian welcomed their warm-hearted fans at the National Bookstore booth.
Despite the huge crowd, not only did they enjoy the event but also, they also got a chance to buy the books in their wish list for great discounts.
Next year, the annual book fair would be gracing the convention center on September 12-16, 2018. So once again, mark your calendars and fill-up your coin banks.
