Indie Publishers Call Out MIBF's 'Unfair Rule' on Author Book Signings
Book fairs are all about discounted books, the launch of new titles, signings, meet and greet with authors, and bumping into fellow book lovers. And the annual Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), dubbed the largest and longest-running book fair in the country, is exactly that. But recently, it has announced restrictions on author book signings.
A post by The Indie Publishers Collab PH on Thursday night, July 11, said that MIBF organizer Primetrade Asia, Inc. sent them an e-mail saying: "Please be informed that we will implement that author book signings are not allowed inside the booths for those who reserved 15 booths and below to avoid disturbance to the other exhibitors."
In their statement, The Indie Publishers Collab PH said that "the rule is unfair since it discriminates against small publishers." One "booth," which measures three meters by three meters, costs P74,000 plus VAT and can be barely afforded by small publishers like them. And yet they "persist" and continue to participate at the book fair because "[they] want to make [their] titles available to the general reading public, and thus give a bigger exposure to [their] authors and the important messages [they] want to communicate." They added that "author signings at the booths draw the readers and boost book sales, aside from providing the readers opportunities to interact with the authors."
They also claim that the "rule was arbitrarily imposed just two months before the MIBF, without prior consultation with the exhibitors."Â All exhibitors have already given the downpayment, and some have even made travel and boarding arrangements to ensure that the authors will be present during the MIBFÂ in September.
The Indie Publishers Collab PH at the Manila International Book Fair 2023
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Indie Publishers Collab added in their official statement about the MIBF restrictions on author book signings:
"As independent publishers, the MIBF has become an important venue for us to raise awareness for our advocacies, provide exposure for our fledgling authors, and expand our market. More than the wasted financial and marketing opportunities, it is the disregard for independent publishers, small presses and the Filipino literature and culture that we champion and represent that make us feel disheartened. The MIBF organizers pride themselves in having a diverse collection and representing authors and publishers, both big and small. With this policy of banning author signings inside the booth for exhibitors who reserved for 15 booths or less, the message is clear: MIBF is partial to only the big ones.
Primetrade should not favor one party over the other for the simple reason of 'avoiding disturbance to the other exhibitors'. For the sake of invigorating the small presses and developing readers, Primetrade should bring back author signings in the booth, regardless of how many - whether the exhibitor availed of just one or less than 15 booths."
The Indie Publishers Collab PH at Booktopia 2023 at SMX Davao City
San Anselmo Publications, Inc., which publishes a quarterly literary journal and other Filipino literary titles, echoed these sentiments through a statement by Executive Publisher Marvin B. Aceron.
Statement from San Anselmo Publications About the Author Book Signings
"For the longest time, I’ve been cold to the idea of attending the 'Manila International Book Fair.' In the pre-pandemic years, big chains occupied large blocks of the fair, making it feel like a trip to the mall with the same poorly curated titles. My idea of a book fair is to find a variety of titles from both big and small publishers, offering non-mainstream and compelling works.
During the pandemic, this changed. The big bookstore chains stopped participating (naubos pera), and a thriving group of big and small publishers supported each other to keep the spirit of the fair alive. We released well-received titles, and our authors had the chance to sign books for their fans.
Now, the big chains are back, prepared to reclaim the spaces they couldn't afford during the pandemic. Yesterday, we received an email from the organizers stating that if we lease fewer than [15] booths, we cannot hold author signings because it would bother those with [15] or more booths.
I found this unreasonable, especially since they changed the rules after we paid our down payment and signed the forfeiture clause. More than that, the real threat to the book fair (which the organizers seem unaware of) is that it will become boring again. We’re reverting to the pre-pandemic years, with big chains simply moving stock from their bookstores. What's the point of a book fair if it offers the same titles as the mall?
As San Anselmo Press’s Executive Publisher, I will follow the Indie Publishers Collab’s decision on this matter. I heard negotiations are ongoing. But as a long-time book reader and patron, I refuse to attend a dull book fair with uninspired titles. Watching the sunset over the Manila Bay reclamation seems more exciting."
The Indie Publishers Collab PH is a community of Filipino independent literary book publishers, including 8 Letters Publishing, Aklat Alamid, Alubat Publishing, Balangay Productions, Kasingkasing Press, Rebo Press Book Publishing, Southern Voices Printing Press, and more. In 2021, the collective launched an online convention called INDIEPUBCON that showcased several independent publications from all over the Philippines. Attendants had free access to the talks and events during its week-long run.
UPDATED (July 12, 2024; 2:30 p.m.): Esquire Philippines was able to secure a copy of the e-mail received by one of the MIBF exhibitors.
Full statements by Indie Publishers Collab PH and San Anselmo Press are posted on their respective Facebook pages.
The Manila International Book Fair runs from September 11 to 15 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Seashell Lane, Pasay City.
