Last July 12, 2011, my strength and patience was tested when we decided to go to SM Megamall in Mandaluyong for the 15th Philippine Academic Book Fair. That week was one of the tiring weeks that we had for this semester. Our school works are piling up and there are a lot of events that we have to attend to.
Our trip to SM Megamall is a very adventurous one. The best way to reach SM Megamall is by riding an LRT and MRT. It was one tough ride going to SM Megamall; imagine numerous people walking fast ahead of you trying to get a seat on the train. What’s worse than those numerous people walking is the sardine-like situation inside the train. I seated opposite of my classmates so at first I can still see them, but as the train stops at every station it is filled with many people. So after some time we finally reached our destination.
We did not have a hard time to find where the Book Fair is held. We signed up and took a picture at the entrance and then we entered into the hall.
When I first step foot and saw the Book Fair, the first word I uttered was “HEAVEN!” It really was heaven for a book lover like me. Though not most of the books I read are as academic as seen on the Book Fair, whenever I see tons of books like that, I know that there are some books that I will also love. As we walk around the fair, we saw a faculty from the Mass Comm. Department and we even took a picture with her.
As we continue roaming around, we separate ways so that we can take a better look on some books. I went from stall to stall and look for some interesting books. Sometimes, I look for books about Mass Comm. that could help me in the future years. As I go through each stall, I take note of the publishing company that they represent. There were some famous publishing houses like Ateneo de Manila University Press, University of the Philippines Press, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, Claretian Communication Foundation, Inc., IBON Foundation, Inc., Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, Jesuits Communications Foundation, Inc., and many more. These publication houses showcased many books that were really very useful. Their books like songs have different genres that can be anyone’s source of information.
Yes, these books are really academic and their price is really yeah, ^_^ It was heaven like to be inside the book fair but you cannot really imagine how a simple student can buy a book with such cost. This was not the so good part about the Book Fair; though there are lots of books that we can use, we cannot afford to buy some of those that we need.
What I learned from this Book Fair is that, media such as print have a big influence towards development. Unlike other forms of media like broadcasting and advertising, print will last for a long time for it is kept through books, magazines and newspapers.
Blog entry by: Annie Mae S. Dela Cruz
