Literature from the Philippines: “Imagination peoples the air”

The Philippines consists of 7,641 islands, and visitors to the country’s pavilion at as Guest of Honour at the 2025Frankfurt Book Fair can experience this for themselves. Curated by Patrick Flores, the architecture of the pavilion suggests scattered islands which are “inhabited” by books and projections by contemporary Filipino artists. Designed by Stanley Ruiz, the “islands” are linked by waterways and mountain paths. The translucent roofs of the islands suggest the shells of windowpane oysters, which are traditionally used as decorations in the Philippines. They symbolise traditional connections and close family cohesion. 

Explore the landscape of the Philippines

Between 15 and 19 October 2025, over 230,000 visitors are expected to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest event in the publishing trade. In 2024, 115,000 people in the book trade came from over 150 countries to find out about the German publishing market and books from around the world. The Guest of Honour attracts particular attention, and this year, readers can find out about the Filipino literary landscape, which remains little known in Germany and Europe. For the event, works by many contemporary Filipino authors have been translated into German for the first time. There is also a new edition of the novel “Noli me tangere” (“Touch me not”) by the Filipino author and national hero Jose Rizal. This year’s motto for the Guest of Honour is one of his phrases: “Imagination peoples the air”, reflecting the close connections between Filipino literature, culture and history. 

Strong contingent of Filipino writers in attendance

Around 120 high-profile Filipino authors have announced they will attend the Frankfurt Book Fair. Among their number will be the Nobel prizewinner and investigative journalised Maria Ressa and the UK-based novelist Candy Gourlay (“Wild Song”). Discussing his coming-of-age novel “Kites in the Night” before the event, the author Blaise Campo Gacoscos said, “If you’ve never read a Filipino book before and know nothing about the culture of the Philippines, you have to read this book. It’s a Filipino book, because that’s where some of the action takes place.” The author Budjette Tan is also expected to attend, who developed the Netflix crime series “Trese” along with anime artist Kajo Baldisimo, in which a detective investigates supernatural crimes in Manila. 

The cultural landscape of the Philippines has been shaped by Asian, Spanish and US influences. Over 180 languages and dialects are spoken across the archipelago. Along with experiences of occupation, migration and dictatorship, this diversity is reflected in the stories told by contemporary authors. In addition to this, writers are using their literature to engage with questions of indigenous origins, diverse lifestyles, close family units, and climate change and how it is impacting people and nature. 

Diverse cultural programme in the Philippines pavilion

“When the whole world is gathered in Frankfurt, the Philippines will raise their voices impressively through their books: persistent, open, critical and full of hope that storytelling remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for freedom and change,” said Karina Bolasco, Curator of the Literature Programme, at the opening of the pavilion. 

A cultural programme that includes exhibitions, performances and film showing in Frankfurt, Heidelberg and Berlin is accompanying the Book Fair. The Guest of Honour pavilion will host panel discussions, readings, poetry performances and fliptop battles, a form of competitive rap popular in the Philippines. 

Many events from the Book Fair are being shown live online.