Exploring Gubat ng Karunungan: Rainforest of Stories and Creativity
The 4th Philippine Book Festival invites everyone to step into the ‘Gubat ng Karunungan,’ a rainforest of stories, creativity, and culture.
Words Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of National Book Development Board
March 05, 2026
The official media launch of the Philippine Book Festival (PBF), organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), took place at JRich Corporate Center in Quezon City. Media friends, authors, booktokers, and artists gathered to celebrate the festival that has grown into a vibrant hub of Filipino stories.
From March 12 to 15, 2026, the Megatrade Hall at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City will be transformed into a Gubat ng Karunungan, or Rainforest of Knowledge, marking the fourth edition of the festival.
What began as an idea four years ago has blossomed into a thriving space where writers, illustrators, educators, publishers, and readers come together to celebrate the richness of Filipino literature.
A Festival That Feeds the Mind
In frame: Charisse Aquino-Tugade, NBDB Executive Director | Photo from National Book Development Board
The PBF is more than just a marketplace—it is an ecosystem that nurtures Filipino literature in all its forms. According to Charisse Aquino-Tugade, NBDB Executive Director, the festival reflects the growing appetite for stories that reflect the country’s culture, languages, and lived experiences.
“With the continued interest we saw in the last few years, we are encouraged by the growing appreciation for Filipino stories and content. The strong public response affirms that there is a meaningful demand for books that reflect our own culture, languages, and lived experiences,” she says.
Previous festivals have welcomed over 120,000 attendees and generated roughly PHP 80 million in retail sales, clear evidence that Filipino readers are eager for content that speaks to their identity.
This year, the festival is opening Day 1 to the general public for the first time, inviting readers of all ages to explore the event alongside educators and book evaluators from the Department of Education.
Tugade reflects on what makes the festival truly special: “I think about the child clutching a newly signed book as if it were gold. The teacher who discovers a locally produced title that fits her classroom perfectly. The small regional publisher whose books flew off the shelves, telling us that the hunger for stories runs deep in every language of our archipelago. The young author who sees their name on a banner, a line of readers waiting to meet them, and thinks, for perhaps the first time, ‘My story matters.’”
These are moments of connection, validation, and identity—reminders that Filipino stories are essential and deeply cherished.
Four Realms, One Rainforest
PBF 2026 brings its literary ecosystem to life through four signature realms, each inspired by the layers and vibrancy of a rainforest. Aral Aklat highlights educational books and guides, inviting visitors to discover learning on every page.
Booktopia opens doors to the diversity of Filipino fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and essays, offering something for every reader. Kid Lit provides an interactive environment for young readers to explore the joy of books, while Komiks celebrates the rich tradition of Filipino graphic storytelling, showcasing the colors and creativity of local comics.
Beyond these realms, the festival offers spaces designed to connect readers and creators. In Lugar Lagdaan, visitors can meet authors and illustrators and experience the excitement of book signings.
Bahay Ilustrador provides a window into the craft of visual storytelling, while the Gubat ng Karunungan hosts workshops, talks, and masterclasses that allow knowledge to flow naturally into discovery. The Fiesta Stage brings performances and cultural programs to life, and Umpukan provides spaces for informal conversations where ideas and stories are shared freely.
According to Tugade, “The Philippine Book Festival is positioned not only as a literary event but also as a third place that connects key players in the publishing and education sectors. By convening publishers, institutional buyers, educators, and readers in a single venue, the festival supports broader efforts to improve access to quality Philippine books and sustain the local publishing industry.”
Stories That Matter
Photo from National Book Development Board
The PBF continues to be a platform for socially relevant stories. This year, broadcaster Nelson Canlas and actress Yasmien Kurdi collaborated on a children’s book that addresses bullying, aiming to foster awareness and resilience among young readers.
The festival also honors the nation’s literary heritage, featuring facsimiles of rare works such as Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, Doctrina Christiana, and Fr. Manuel Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas. These displays remind visitors of the deep roots of Filipino storytelling and the enduring importance of literature in shaping cultural identity.
Meet the Stars of Philippine Literature
In frame: Jose “Butch” Dalisay Jr.
PBF 2026 offers readers the rare opportunity to meet the luminaries of Philippine literature.
National Artists Ricky Lee and Virgilio Almario, historian Ambeth Ocampo, and popular authors such as Jonaxx, Ron Canimo, Eugene Evasco, Luis Gatmaitan, Manix Abrera, and Pol Medina will be present for book signings and interactive sessions. The festival also features the launch of “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” by GMA Network in partnership with PaperKat Books, adding a touch of popular culture to the literary celebration.
A major highlight is the 43rd National Book Awards on March 14, which honors the authors, illustrators, editors, translators, and publishers whose work has most significantly shaped the Philippine literary landscape.
Into the Gubat ng Karunungan
In frame: Pepot Atienza, PBF KV Designer | Photo from National Book Development Board
This year’s theme, Gubat ng Karunungan, celebrates the rainforest as a metaphor for a thriving literary ecosystem. The festival’s key visual, created by Joffrey “Pepot” Atienza, follows two characters, Yaz and Ye-ey, as they journey through a lush forest made from recycled paper—a reminder that the stories we tell begin with the natural resources we protect.
Atienza reflects, “Our stories, our books, and our karunungan all start here—in the biodiversity we need to protect.”
Tugade emphasizes the festival’s broader mission: “Let’s make the Philippines not just a nation of readers, but a global powerhouse of authors and creators. When books move, the industry thrives.
And when the industry thrives, new voices get the chance to rise.” From March 12 to 15, the Megatrade Hall invites everyone—readers, parents, students, teachers, and book lovers—to explore the Gubat ng Karunungan, buy books, share stories, and nurture the country’s literary ecosystem.
Every book purchased is a seed, every reader nurtured is a root, and every conversation started is a shaft of light breaking through the canopy. Together, the Philippines’ literary forest continues to grow, diverse, resilient, and alive.
