CSM Publishing successfully mounted a Book Expedition at the 40th Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). With a bigger booth space and an even wider selection of books this year, book enthusiasts and longtime CSM readers enjoyed the All Books at P100 promo. The annual five-day book fair was held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex last September 11-15, 2019.

This year, CSM launched 18 brand-new titles: 11 from local authors and 7 from international publishers. Despite the unpredictable weather and heavy traffic, local authors graced the CSM booths with their presence as they held book signings, short interviews, and meet and greet with their readers.

Among the 18 new titles, two are written by first-time writers: And God also Made a Cat: 90 Devotions for Cat People by Victoria Rico Costina and Take Heart: Letters of Faith, Hope, and Love, a collection of 30 letters written by 14 young writers and its foreword written byPalanca-award winning author Ms. Grace D. Chong.

L-R: Victoria Rico Costina (And God also Made a Cat: 90 Devotions for Cat People) and the Take Heart writers together with Ms. Grace D. Chong, CSM Editorial Manager Daffodil Dedel, and CSM VP for Publishing Joy Solina

Grace Gaston-Dousel makes her comeback 14 years after writing her first book True Love Weds with her newest title, I Married an Alien: The Quirks of a Cross-Cultural Marriage. Here she is posing with her “alien” Mang Dousel at her book signing at the 2019 MIBF.

Top, L-R: Grace D. Chong (The Other Cheek: What It Takes to Forgive), Dr. Armand Canoy (Preaching Nga Ba o Assuming Lang?), Grace S. Koo (In the Triumph Song of Life: Turning Adversity into Strength), Chinkee Tan (My Utang-Free Diary) | Bottom, L-R: Pastor Joey Umali (Unli Rice and Unlimited Rice vol. 7), Dr. Lizette Knight (How to Start a Senior Adults Ministry), Nelson T. Dy (How Do I Know “The One”?)

On Day 1, an intimate book reading event followed by a book signing event took place at the CSM booth for Take Heart: Letters of Faith, Hope, and Love, written by young writers aged 30 and below to encourage and inspire today’s youth. Take Heart foreword writer Grace D. Chong trained them in a two-Saturday workshop back in 2017. She also released a new book entitled The Other Cheek: What It Takes to Forgive.

Take Heart writers reading their written pieces aloud (L-R: Alea Toledo, Rochela Bugarin, and Jennifer Ang Sun)

 Mark Mirabuenos, one of the writers of Take Heart, performing an original song

From Days 1 to 3, CSM held a special book sale called the Early Bird Book Deal where customers who purchased their books during the first hour (10 am to 11 am) of the book fair got a 10% discount on their total purchased amount!

Hourly raffles and giveaways were drawn at the CSM booth, as they do every year. Customers and even passers-by were given the chance to play the Bring Me game and take part in answering trivia questions. Winners received limited edition bookmarks, button pins, and journals!

Customers filled the CSM Book Expedition

If you missed the MIBF this year, don’t worry! The All Books at P100 promo is extended at Back to the Bible as well as PCBS branches nationwide. The schedule of the promo varies for every bookstore, but the extended sale will take place this October. You can also visit the CSM Facebook page or www.csm-publishing.com for more updates soon.

We’re delighted to serve you at the Book Expedition! See you again next year!

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7