Bookworm of Gensan collects: PacMan books and magazines

Manny Pacquiao (PacMan) books and magazines

Occupying a special corner of my library is my collection of books and magazines on boxer Manny Pacquiao. His life and achievements in the boxing ring are truly an inspiration to many.

The first book on PacMan to be published. Written by sports writer and columnist Recah Trinidad. Co-published by Anvil Publishing , Inc. and Philippine Daily Inquirer.Newsprint and bookpaper. 179 pages. Available at National Book Store and Powerbooks.

PacMan's autobiography in English and Filipino editions. The English edition was written by Manny Pacquiao and Timothy James while the Filipino edition was translated by Teodoro Antonio, Roberto Anonuevo and Susie Borrero. Philippine edition published by Anvil Publishing, Inc. with permission from Dunham Books. 223 (English ed.) and 127 (Filipino ed.) pages. Newsprint. Available at National Book Store and Powerbooks. Also bundled with Trinidad's book.

By Gary Andrew Poole. This came out almost at the same time as the autobiography. Trade paper back edition. Published by Da Capo Press. 251 pages. Available at National Book Store, Powerbooks, and Fully Booked.

A bookazine filled with pictures and short articles. Published in Hong Kong by Global Integrated Media (HK) Ltd. 73 pages. Glossy pages.

sample page from A Tribute to The Legend.

The first graphic novel on PacMan by Jose Gamboa. Self-published. 90 pages. Black & white illustrations on book paper.

sample page of the Pacquiao graphic novel

Bookworm of Gensan laments The Nick Joaquin Book Festival

Nick Joaquin is a multi-awarded writer-journalist. So when Anvil Publishing, National Book Store and Powerbooks launched the Nick Joaquin Book Festival this July, I was excited about the chance to complete my collection of Nick Joaquin's books.

But my enthusiasm was doused when I saw that the participating branches of National Book Store and Powerbooks were all in Metro Manila and Luzon ONLY.


WHY????

Doesn't a NATIONAL ARTIST of Nick Joaquin's stature deserve a NATIONWIDE book festival? I know this book fair was conducted to promote the biography of Nick Joaquin written by his nephew Tony Joaquin. But it appears to me as a hastily-conceived promo.

Why promote Nick Joaquin's books ONLY in Metro Manila and Luzon? Don't the readers of Visayas and Mindanao deserve the chance to discover/rediscover the literary genius of Joaquin?

The two branches of National Book Store here in Gensan carry only 3-4 of the nine books shown in the poster. I had to request some titles I needed from the customer service counter here.

This book festival is a missed opportunity for the publisher, book stores and readers alike and it needs a major rethinking.