Marz Today: Komura; Bookfair 2019

I participated in Komura; Bookfair 2019. This is the third bookfair that Kwago library organized. What compelled me to participate in this edition is its all-women creators / publisher slant. And of course, books are always a welcome company.

Its concessionaires and programs are what I personally found the strongest feature of this edition. Instead of being a straightforward book-selling fair the platform offers an abundance of independently published zines, books, and other women-owned business (which I am one of.)

I managed to browse a bit despite having to man my booth. Here are a few of my favorites from the fair.

Discovering Toni B. & Nicole Tejedor

Nicole Tejedor

Toni B.

Who would have thought I'd find a proper jazz musician from Manila?! I have been living under a rock. I am sorry! Echoes PH did a pretty solid curation of acts both music and spoken word artists for Komura; bookfair 2019.

Groovy Pikol

Pickles are fun, nuff said. (and wait, is that pickle juice?) More Groovy Pikol here.

Estela Vadal ang Tumutulang Robot

Estela is a twitter bot designed to come up with poems in Filipino. Last year, its creator decided to turn her into a robot. Now the robot is touring as a working prototype that takes your photo and prints out a Filipino poem crafted from its database of words. Although the poem I got is rather incoherent in having a solid theme, its ability to string together Filipino phrases that makes 'some' sense is pretty amazing for a simpleton like me. Read the poetry of Estala Vidal on twitter.

Komura; 2019 Merchant Poster

Komura's 2019 poster features all the participating merchants in the bookfair. This design is by Alyssa de Asis in collaboration with Bad Student. I asked Alyssa what its like to design a poster with Bad Student (they're a Riso print service.) Upon the creation of the design, the team had to pick which colors they'd use from Bad Student's available colors / color palette —then this final image. If I had more disposable funds I would splurge on a tee and a poster. I am somewhere in the poster. Find me.