International Book Day at Instituto Cervantes

Experience a different kind of book fair as Instituto Cervantes celebrates the 10th edition of Día Internacional del Libro (International Book Day) on April 23. The Spanish Cultural Center will once again be holding cultural and fun activities. Around 4,000 book titles will be gathered at Instituto Cervantes. And for this year’s celebration, Instituto Cervantes will be giving out hundreds of books for free.

First introduced by Instituto Cervantes in Manila in 2006, the tradition of Día del Libro began in Barcelona, Spain as inspired by an old legend involving chivalry. Until now, the tradition is commemorated on St. George’s Day, where gifts are exchanged between sweethearts: men and women exchange roses and books. This tradition encourages book lovers from all walks of life to gather and indulge their literary passion.

This date also commemorates the deaths of two of history’s greatest writers — Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare — who coincidentally also died in the same year, 1616.

For this year’s celebration Instituto Cervantes will have a twist with La Noche de los Libros (The Night of Books). Through it, the Spanish Cultural Center will provide free entertainment for an entire evening of leisure and activities, including a feast of Spanish food, games, music, poetry recitals and free Spanish classes.

Just like every year, Día del Libro will feature top exhibitors and bookstores that will be selling a wide selection of books — dictionaries, children and young adult titles, fiction and non-fiction — at a 20 percent discount. And following the tradition in Spain, every book purchase would entitle one to a free rose.

The first 100 people to come to Instituto Cervantes for La Noche de los Libros will receive a free book or a rose upon entrance. In addition, those who would sign up for a membership at the Instituto Cervantes Library would also get a free book.

Día del Libro is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, and the Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

Admission to all Día del libro activities is free on a first-come-first-served basis.

For further information please log on to: Instituto Cervantes’ website www.manila.cervantes.es or www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila, or contact Instituto Cervantes de Manila at (632) 5261482 local 111.