by: Janna Pineda
Twenty-five-year-old writer Mikhaela Lladones, known by her pen name “alerayve,” never thought her stories would be published.
She began writing around age 13 after finding a story with an unsatisfactory plot, leading her to create a book that resonated with her own story.
At 14, Lladones began her writing journey on Wattpad, a digital storytelling platform, where she published her first story. Four years later, this story, “Mhorfell Academy of Gangsters,” led her to become a published author.
“Around senior high school, I think I was a year before turning 18, I got a message from PSICOM Publishing saying they wanted to publish my story,” Lladones said.
 |
| Mikhaela Lladones |
Her passion for writing continued, leading to the publication of her second book in 2021. Looking back, she realized the importance of supporting emerging authors.
“You don’t really write or read just for the sake of money. You just want to write. That opportunity is not an opportunity earned by money. It’s the opportunity of sharing the story on a wide scale,” Lladones said, recalling how the sales of her first book were the least of her worries.
Recognizing the need to empower Filipino writers, the National Book Development Board is creating a dedicated space where they can showcase their literary contributions.
Thus, the NBDB transformed the annual Philippine Book Festival into an exclusive marketplace for Filipino-authored books.
“We created a marketplace for Philippine books because it’s difficult for Filipinos to easily access them,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, emphasizing the need to encourage younger generations to foster a love for reading and support for local books.
“A book is like a product, a knowledge product, but a unique one. For the younger generation to like a product, it has to be cool enough. That is why this year’s PBF is not just a marketplace but also a ‘third place,’ where they can read and enjoy books outside of an academic setting,” Aquino-Tugade added.
This initiative gained the support of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, who experienced his books being hardly noticed in bookstores.
“I would like to thank the NBDB because through the PBF, Filipino-authored books are not bit players or ‘extras’ anymore but main protagonists or ‘bida’ even for only four days a year where all eyes will be on local authors like myself,” Lee said.
As a contemporary Filipino writer, Lladones also welcomed this initiative as a step toward empowering future generations of writers to promote the Philippine literary scene.
“I am really, really happy for the authors because I also want Filipino books to be recognized. I think this step is a pioneer move. It means someone has taken the lead, someone has spearheaded this, and now, we can only expect more opportunities and platforms for Filipino writers and readers to explore Filipino literature as a whole,” Lladones said.
Also, the NBDB partnered with the Department of Education to improve students’ access to Philippine books.
The Philippine Book Festival has become a marketplace for the DepEd to purchase quality education materials. Since the first festival, the DepEd has procured 925 million pesos worth of Filipino-authored books, which were made available in all schools.
For this year’s PBF, the DepEd has earmarked approximately 2.4 billion pesos to buy more Philippine books for Filipino students.
The Philippine Book Festival will be held from March 13 to 16 at Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
Aside from gaining access to Filipino-authored books, the PBF will allow local authors to connect with their readers. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
0 Comments