Senator Loren Legarda: ‘We are a nation of storytellers, just like Rizal’

It’s happening finally: the Philippines will assume main character duties as the Guest of Honour (GoH) country at the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM) next year — a move that was envisioned by Senator Loren Legarda, with the Nation Book Development Board (NBDB) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) working together with the senator in fleshing out that vision.

During the press conference heralding how the concerned agencies and individuals will tackle this grand undertaking, Frankfurter Buchmesse director Juergen Boos expressed his excitement and pride in welcoming the Philippines as it showcases its rich literary and cultural heritage on the global stage.

The archipelago is made up of 7,641 islands and, according to Boos, “Every island has a story to tell — and we want to hear them all.” This has a special meaning for the FBM executive because he has lived in Heidelberg for many years. “In Heidelberg, I often pass along Jose Rizal Road next to the Neckar River. Rizal lived and wrote there. Thus, we look forward to learning more about the rich Filipino storytelling tradition, about the talented authors, illustrators and creative voices from your country.”

NBDB’s Karina Bolasco, head of the literary program, talked about how Philippine literature is as vast and as rich as its history of conquests and resistance. As National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin once said, our heritage isn’t simply a story of colonial trauma, but rather an enrichment — a hybrid of cultures that we can be proud of. We embrace the tools and technologies brought by colonizers, layering them atop our native roots, which has made our literature richer and more diverse.

Bolasco explained, “We know what books are — they are inhabited by the spirit of the times. They are fleshed out by curious, brilliant minds. They are forged by creative and imaginative forces, haunted by the ghosts of revolutions past, moved by the psyche of every new generation… sustained by the anima of a safe and just future.”

Philippine Pavilion curator Patrick Flores talks about the concept for our country’s GoH Pavilion. The theme “The Imagination Peoples the Air” was inspired by a line from Rizal’s classic novel, Noli Me Tangere. This phrase encapsulates the rich intersection of Philippine literature, cultural diversity and historical heritage. In Noli Me Tangere, Rizal writes, “Night favors credulity, and imagination peoples the air with specters,” evoking a sense of creativity and collective consciousness that resonates with the Philippines’ storytelling traditions.

What is at stake in being a Guest of Honour country, we ask?

According to Senator Legarda, the one who first believed we belong on that stage: “Why not the Philippines? Why shouldn’t our rich literary heritage and diverse voices be celebrated alongside the world’s best?” Being the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair holds great potential in bringing about changes in our publishing industry. This prestigious position can yield tangible and substantial economic benefits, such as an increase in the number of book exports, sales of translation rights and other derivative rights, and publication opportunities for our writers, editors, artists and book designers. Additionally, it offers us the chance to deepen our connections with global networks of publishers and cultural institutions.

The senator explained, “This opportunity allows us to shed the constraints of colonial frames and celebrate our rich heritage on a global platform. By reclaiming our heritage and sharing it with the international community, we can showcase our vibrant and authentic narratives to foster greater understanding and appreciation.”

She also shared this message during the press conference: “Our presence here (at the Frankfurt Book Fair) is a testament to the collaborative efforts of passionate individuals, institutions and government agencies. As Nick Joaquin once wrote, ‘Because it is so hard to keep the world going, there is always the temptation to abandon the effort altogether. For there is always the sowing and the harvesting, the building and the repairing, the falling down and the rising up again. Every day, everything has to be done all over again. In our world, it is always Monday morning.’”

On Sunday at the fair during the handover ceremony, Italy passed the Guest Scroll to the Philippines. The senator’s message was read by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Irene Susan Natividad: “Receiving this Guest-of-Honour scroll is more than symbolic — it represents our stories, transcending borders through the universal language of literature. Frankfurt, as a global literary stage, offers the Philippines an opportunity to bring forth our own narrative — of creativity, resilience and collective hope. The Philippines is a nation of storytellers just like Rizal. This is where the oral traditions of our ancestors seamlessly blend with the written works of our contemporary authors.”

Someone, perhaps Quijano De Manila, once said, “Memory is the only way home, and storytelling is the way we remember.” During those October days, our temporary home was in foggy Frankfurt, followed by Heidelberg with linden trees in tones of autumn. Yet, our thoughts frequently strayed toward La Patria, resilient in the rain, a home to storytellers.