National Book Development Board - Philippines

Everyone is invited to attend the exclusive book presentation of The Melancholy of the Tongue (Lumbay ng Dila) by acclaimed author Genevieve Asenjo this coming Saturday, June 27, 2026.

It will be held at the Philippine Club, Passatge Madoz 5 (Plaza Reial) in Barcelona, Spain but the event will be streamed at The Filipino Expat Magazine Facebook account for all to see. Don’t miss this chance to interact with the author online!

"It was cruel, how you skipped down, escaping like a spider in the grass. I will buy this bag of tamarinds, though it is foreign, like this field where my tongue is melancholy."

Are you ready to explore a story of longing, discovery, and the beautiful complexities of the heart?

We invite you to an exclusive book presentation of The Melancholy of the Tongue (Lumbay ng Dila) by the acclaimed author Genevieve Asenjo.

Step into the journey of Sadyah (whose name means "happiness in Kinaray-a") as she lives in a world defined by family history, heartbreak, dreams, and the breathtaking, scenic wonder of Antique.

Melancholy of the Tongue (Fidessa Literary) explores the meaning of lacking, of yearning, and of finding oneself amidst it all.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the author, enjoy an intimate reading, and participate in a Q&A session.

🗓 When: Saturday, June 27, 2026
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Where: The Philippine Club, Passatge Madoz 5 (Plaza Reial), Barcelona
💻 Can't make it in person? Join our live stream on Facebook!

We look forward to an afternoon of beautiful storytelling and insightful conversations with you!

Celebrate Pride Month with the power of q***r storytelling!

The global Aesop Q***r Library is making its Philippine debut! Spearheaded by National Artist Ricky Lee and indie poet Jerico Silvers, this unique pop-up invites anyone to walk in and take home free books by Filipino q***r authors—no purchase required.

Running from June 26 to 28 at SM Aura, this initiative arrives just as LGBTQIA+ literature continues to reach powerful new heights across the Philippines and the world.

Let's support q***r stories, amplify diverse voices, and keep the pride alive all year round!

National Artist Ricky Lee and indie Gen Z poet Jerico Silvers will lead the Philippine debut of Aesop Q***r Library, a global initiative that transforms the Australian beauty brand's storefronts into reading spaces for Pride Month.

The pop-up library will open at SM Aura in Taguig from June 26 to 28. Visitors can get free books from q***r Filipino authors—even without making a purchase.

"You just have to get in the branch," Silvers said in a TikTok post.

Days before the launch, Lee and Silvers led a discussion on q***r literature, where they spoke about their respective works and introduced the library to select attendees.

Launched in 2021, Aesop Q***r Library has been installed in cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Taipei, Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Macau.

“This year, the Library celebrates the liberating possibilities of LGBTQIA+ self-expression, and the stories that can be found beyond hetero-normative constraints and expectations,” Aesop said on its website.

Lee has written more than 180 screenplays, including “Himala,” “Brutal,” “Moral,” “Karnal,” “José Rizal,” and “Anak”—many of which helped shape modern Philippine cinema. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the country’s most influential filmmakers, including fellow National Artists Lino Brocka, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, and Ishmael Bernal.

Beyond film, Lee is also a prolific author. His books include the seminal scriptwriting guide “Trip to Quiapo,” essay collection “Kulang na Silya at Iba pang Kuwentong Buhay,” and novels “Para kay B” and “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata.”

Silvers' poems explore mental health, self-discovery, and emotional healing. His books include "Of Flowers That Bloomed in Fire," "Of Flowers That Bloomed at Night," "Of Flowers That Bloomed for You," and "Afterglow of a Heart." He's also a content creator who discusses similar themes, as well as indie publishing.

The Philippine arrival of Aesop Q***r Library reflects the growing recognition of local LGBTQIA+ literature—as q***r storytelling continues to expand beyond Pride Month.

(✍️: Julia Escarez)

Calling all creatives who have legal concerns, need legal advice or consultation about how to protect work, or want to learn more about copyright issues.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Quezon City Chapter will hold a free Copyright Legal Aid Clinic on June 30, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 n.n.

Just head to the Covered Walk, Legislative Wing of the Quezon City Hall High Rise Building to avail of this free legal service from IPOPHL and IBP.

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦!

𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗮 𝗯𝗮?

May legal concerns ka ba? Need ng legal advice or consultation?

This is your chance to get guidance from legal professionals at the 𝗜𝗣𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗟–𝗜𝗕𝗣 𝗤𝗖 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰!

DATE: 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
TIME: 𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 – 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗡𝗡
VENUE: Covered Walk, Legislative Wing, Quezon City Hall High Rise Building

In partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Quezon City Chapter, this event aims to help protect your creative rights and empower our creative community.

If you've ever wondered how to protect your work or need legal advice regarding copyright, don't miss this opportunity.

The Premyo Valledor for Bikol Novel 2026 is officially open for submissions!

Savage Mind: Arts, Books, Cinema is inviting writers from across the Bikol region and diaspora to submit their work. They are looking for bold, innovative, and daring manuscripts—including graphic novels and experimental works—written in any Bikol language or hybrid form.

The submission deadline is September 30, 2026. Mechanics, guidelines, and the submission form can be found here: https://forms.gle/gY4mfYZWDR2V5NuDA.

Here’s to more Bikolano voices taking center stage!

Applications for the Publisher Fellowship Programme have officially been opened, taking place as part of the 3rd South Asia International Book Fair 2026 – Sri Lanka Edition!

Five publishers from anywhere in the world will be selected to participate in this exclusive fellowship.

Selected fellows will receive:
🏨 Complimentary accommodation
🤝 Curated B2B meetings with Sri Lankan publishers and selected South Asian publishers
🎭 Access to the official cultural programme
📖 Exclusive networking and business development opportunities throughout the fair

📍 Colombo, Sri Lanka
🗓 25 to 30 September 2026

📝 Application Deadline: 30 July 2026
Apply here: https://forms.gle/KpQKo1yFyxJHMZRH7.

For NBDB, working toward international standards means rethinking how the agency operates from the inside.

Yesterday at the Office Lounge, personnel gathered for an ISO 9001:2015 Orientation covering the agency's Quality Management System: what it requires, and where daily operations need to align. The session made clear that a culture of quality runs through every role in the organization, and that the Quality Policy has practical applications at every level, not just in leadership.

The session revisited core exercises: identifying and eliminating organizational processes that drain valuable resources without adding real value to stakeholders, and looking beyond risk mitigation toward seizing new opportunities for growth.

The orientation reinforced a key point: achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification is not the agency's final destination, but a milestone in a continuous, long-term commitment to public service excellence.

Kids spending time at the library while there’s no classes is a positive attitude. But our partners at Book Nook Sagay City made library time more interesting by holding their Project Easy-to-Learn Arts and Crafts and Hear Bible Story (EACH).

Kids didn’t just learn the moral lesson about the Bible story of Noah’s Ark, but also learned how to make paper puppets which they designed themselves. The activity showed that you can inspire kids to make art from what they have read.

We capped off the Readers Rising Academy with a resounding success!

Day 3 featured powerful final presentations from Mentor Dian’s mentees—Mga Tala at Tula Community, Team (A)BCDE, and Team Maharlikha.

A massive thank you to our mentors—Mentor Tash, Mentor Lawrence, and Mentor Dian—for showing us what true community service means. You've reminded us that change-makers must be one with the masses, and that sustainable projects must be built to endure for generations.

And to our ten teams of dedicated Risers, we are incredibly proud of your passion. You’ve ignited a fire that will spark a thriving reading culture and keep it blazing.

The academy may be over, but the work begins now. We can’t wait to see your ideas create waves of change, one page at a time!