A celebration of new stories, new voices at Día del Libro 2025

MAKATI CITY—Vibal Foundation, Inc. proudly unveiled new titles during the Día del Libro 2025, marking a significant expansion of its trade publishing catalog. The event, held in the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, showcased a diverse array of genres, including adult “chick lit,” speculative fiction, poetry, LGBTIQ+ literature, and graphic novels.

Among the highlights of the morning session was the presentation of More Pinay Than We Admit 2: The Filipina Emerges from the Margins, edited by Dr. Maria Luisa T. Camagay, which explores the multifaceted roles of Filipino women through different historical eras. Dr. Camagay was joined on stage by contributors Dr. Mary Dorothy dL. Jose, Ms. Gloria E. Melencio, and Ms. Liza Ruth Ocampo.

Jose Victor Torres was also present to promote his new book Emilio Aguinaldo: Politics and Remembrance (1901-1963), which is a multifaceted discussion of one of the greatest and most controversial heroes of Philippine history.

Nicole CuUnjieng Aboitiz’s latest book Imperfect Tense and Times was also launched. It features essays or meditations on self, as well as historical and social commentary on the Philippines. Present for the launch was the editor-at-large of Nicole’s book: scholar and bestselling author Charlie Samuya Veric. Veric stated that Vibal’s latest imprint World Nonfictions aims to illuminate the Filipino experience, the Asian region, and the diverse world using bold, timely, and original works.

The afternoon session featured an exciting mix of stories, including L.L. Martinez’s debut collection, If Serpents Could Soar and Other Stories, which presents captivating tales that blend magic with the challenges of heroism.

The graphic novel Nagalit ang Aswang sa Mahal ng Bawang by Randy Valiente and Aurelio Castro, and Carla de Guzman’s romance novella Blooming Love, also drew attention, highlighting imaginative storytelling.

Under editor-at-large and acclaimed screenplay writer Jerry B. Gracio, Vibal’s Paraluman imprint unveiled four new LGBTIQ+ titles at Día del Libro: a poetry collection by Harold John L. Fiesta, entitled Panunumbalik sa Gomorrah, which offers a glimpse into the woven experiences of the author’s life; Pamimintana sa Pintong Roses Budget Hotel, a novel by Allan Derain about a college instructor who grapples with unexpected self-discovery and longing; Magsimula Tayo sa Panghalip by Andyleen Feje, a powerful short story collection that celebrates the diverse experiences of lesbians and queer individuals; and Tonight We Slurp in Color by Andrea V. Tubig—a vivid, genre-blurring exploration of hunger, heartbreak, and a strange hankering for all things racy, raunchy, and deliciously obscene.