Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan at the Philippine booth during the opening day of the Doha International Book Fair at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. (Doha PE photo)

DOHA 17 December 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Doha participated in the 29th Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from 29 November to 08 December 2018.

The Embassy’s inaugural participation in the book fair showcased the rich literary and cultural heritage of the Philippines. Around 100 local titles of different types and genres as well as tourism promotion materials, cultural items, and artifacts were displayed at the Philippine booth.

The Sentro Rizal Qatar, a collaborative program of the Embassy and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, played center stage in the Philippine booth where a dedicated area exhibited the Rizal bust, his most prominent literary masterpieces the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and his other published works depicting his prolific writing ability.

Organized by the Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Center, under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the DIBF was held under the theme “Doha, a City of Knowledge and Conscience” which is driven by the ministry’s vision of “Towards a Conscious Society with a Sound Conscience and Healthy Body” and in line with its various campaigns to foster a love of literature among its citizens and the expatriate community.

The ten-day event included local artworks on display, symposiums and sideline conferences, workshops, and various interactive cultural activities.

The book fair featured more than 400 publishers and publishing houses representing 30 local and foreign publishing houses from participating countries. There was also a total of almost 800 stalls and pavilions of book sellers, various government organizations, cultural institutions, and diplomatic missions in Qatar.

The Embassy plans to invite book publishers and writers from the Philippines to join the book fair and further expand the scope of its participation by including story telling workshops and interactive video displays for the succeeding year. END

The Sentro Rizal Exhibit at the Philippine booth featuring Dr. Jose Rizal’s literary masterpieces. (Doha PE photo)

Local patrons and guests visit and browse at the book collection in the Philippine booth during the 10-day event. (Doha PE photo)

The Embassy’s booth featured around 100 books published in English and Filipino as well as cultural novelty items and artifacts. (Doha PE photo)