Thirteen new titles on adulting “chick lit” novels, speculative fiction, poetry books, and graphic novels, along with stories that “ignite the imagination of both writers and readers” were formally launched at the recent Philippine Book Festival 2025 on the main stage of the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.
Vibal Foundation, Inc. announced a new era by expanding its trade catalog with new imprints to grow its impressive portfolio of handsomely illustrated and award-winning books, envisioned to engage Filipinos in intelligent discussions on Philippine history, culture, and art.
Five new imprints
The event was opened by National Book Development Board Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, who urged the public to support local publishers like Vibal. The authors and editors present at the venue were then called on stage to introduce their books and the new imprints.
Vida New Adult, a new imprint that will welcome readers to stories of life and love, was introduced by Mina V. Esguerra, who is known for her contemporary romance novellas. She serves as editor-at-large of this new imprint which will offer readers engaging stories and relatable characters set amidst the present milieu.
Under this new imprint are three new titles: Interim Goddess of Love, Queen of the Clueless, and Icon of the Indecisive, also written by Esguerra. This enchanting trilogy blends humor, romance, and the vibrant elements of mythology, telling the story of a young woman discovering love, identity, and the intricate dynamics of relationships—all while juggling the immense responsibility that comes with being the Goddess of Love.
Next to be introduced was Paradox, Vibal’s imprint for Speculative Fiction, which offers readers “the fruits of unfettered imagination.” Fantasy, science fiction, and horror tales will celebrate Filipino creativity, simultaneously anchored in the here and now while soaring to far-flung futures and diving deep into the mythic past. Serving as editor–at-large of this collection is Dean Francis Alfar, an award-winning author and pioneer of Philippine speculative fiction and Chairman of the Filipino Critics Circle.
Two new titles were launched: New Philippine Speculative Fiction 1, edited by specfic stalwarts Dean Francis and Nikki Alfar, to showcase fantasy, horror, science fiction, and everything in between; the past intertwining with the future; and narratives interspersed with wonder and melancholy—demonstrating the rich variety of speculative fiction in the Philippines. The other book is The Infinite Library and Other Stories by Victor Fernando Ocampo, as a collection of loosely connected stories that push the boundaries of form and genre, blending realism, speculative fiction, and experimental narrative.
Grafika meanwhile was declared as a new imprint that aims to bring comics and graphic novels by Filipino creations to a wider audience and spark public interest. The imprint’s editor-at-large, popular illustrator and author Randy Valiente, is a staunch believer that comics and graphic novels are powerful tools that depict history, imagination, and identity.
Its first title is Nagalit ang Aswang sa Mahal ng Bawang, a graphic novel written by Valiente and illustrated by Aurelio Castro III. This book is about the aswang as a phenomenon of the modern age, where every event will not occur without the accompanying pang of hunger. While the town offers blood for the welfare of its citizens, the aswang sucks the blood that flows through it for its own flesh. How exactly did the aswang come to be, and why does it harbor a hatred for the value of garlic?
“This will open doors for new creators and provide space for contemporary voices and perspectives,” Valiented noted. “We hope to encourage a deeper appreciation of visual art as a form of literature capable of capturing interest and shifting readers’ consciousness because Grafika is more than just an imprint. It marks the beginning of a new chapter—the resurgence of comics, which once became a hallmark of our culture.”
The next imprint launched was Paraluman, which will publish a collection of the finest novels, stories, poems, and personal essays, written in Filipino, English, and other languages spoken in the Philippines. These works will offer insights into a variety of experiences and reflections—stories that ignite the imagination of both writers and readers, sparking ideas that reveal the depth of the human spirit and emotions.
First to be launched is a poetry collection entitled Panunumbalik sa Gomorrah by Harold John L. Fiesta. The book offers a glimpse into the woven experiences of the author’s life through a bold and raw collection of poems. He will trace paths that are rarely explored and confront the complex burdens of hearsay. In the collection, one will find the paradox of stories hidden violently yet with caution, painful yet tempered.
Finally, there is Esther, an imprint under the children’s books collection of Vibal and named after foundress Esther A. Vibal. This new collection will highlight the literary and artistic possibilities of children’s books beyond traditional formats in the Philippine publishing scene. It will offer literature that is innovative, awakening, and aesthetically driven, presenting young readers with experiences that challenge conventions, explore diverse perspectives, and embrace the artistic potential of storytelling.
Under the imprint is the series called “Bakit List” which aims to answer “many whys you need to know about how our body works.” The series aims to combine storytelling with educational principles. Each story in this series touches on scientific, physiological, and medical principles, which are discussed in a very engaging way. Its first title is Rak en Rol Eyeball! (Bakit Tayo Nananaginip?)/ Rock and Roll Eyeball! (Why Do We Dream?) which is available in English and Filipino. With 72 pages and in hardbound and softbound versions, this picture book uses words and illustrations to combine storytelling with educational principles, to discuss health-related topics in a very engaging way.
The book is written by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, who is a renowned doctor and author of more than 70 children’s books, and illustrated by Danielle Florendo, a multi-awarded illustrator based in Baguio City.
Referencia, Academica, and Clasica
Aside from the titles under the new imprints, Vibal also presented a set of new titles under the existing non-fiction imprints Referencia, Academica Filipina+, and Filipiniana Clasica.
Atty. James Latiph is the author of Mastering the Games of Politics: How to Win Hearts, Sway Minds, and Secure Victories–where he solidifies his expertise as both an election lawyer and campaign strategist into a concise yet powerful guide to navigating the ever-evolving Philippine political landscape.
More Pinay Than We Admit 2: The Filipina Emerges from the Margins, edited by the esteemed Maria Luisa T. Camagay, explores the multifaceted roles of Filipino women during the Spanish, American, and contemporary eras of Philippine history. This collection explores the development of Filipino women over time, from how they were perceived and controlled to the ways they resisted and redefined their identities through time.
Author Gaspar Vibal meanwhile released El Español en Filipinas, The History of the Spanish Language, the Academia Filipina, and Hispano-Filipino Culture, 1924-2024, which charts the vicissitudes of the Spanish language in the postcolonial Philippines, beginning with the traumatic rupture with Spain in 1898. The text also explores the development of Hispano-Filipino culture from the late nineteenth century through the American occupation, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II, events that drastically impacted Spanish-speaking communities.
The third edition of Ferdinand Blumentritt’s Dictionary of Philippine Mythology is a landmark work that paved the way for the scholarly exploration of the mythological traditions of the Philippines. Originally published as Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in 1895, this English-translated edition brings new life to one of the earliest and most comprehensive studies of the deities, spirits, and supernatural beings that inhabit the belief systems of the archipelago’s diverse ethnolinguistic groups.