Philippines: From ideas to the printed word: Instituto Cervantes puts the spotlight on publishing

It’s the silent link that is mostly left unacknowledged: From international publishing powerhouses to small, independent publication companies, publishers have played a vital role in bringing world-changing ideas from the most progressive minds closer to more people all over the globe. But while the field of publishing greatly influences the configuration of literary standards, it still doesn’t receive the full attention it deserves in academic courses.

On February 26, 2008, Instituto Cervantes will help shed more light on the great literary adventure that is publishing through a round table discussion titled La aventura de la edición (The Adventure of Publishing). Featuring Filipino editor Karina Bolasco and Spanish editors Manuel Borrás and José Huerta, the discussion will bring up the challenges that publishers face, most especially the independent ones, and the conference participants’ experiences in the field. It will also present the important role that publishers, agents and newspapers play in defining what is literature and configuring the literary canon of a certain period.

Beginning his publishing career in 1974, Manuel Borrás is one of the most respected publishers in the world. He has worked with prestigious newspapers and magazines such as El País, El Mundo, ABC, and Cuadernos Hispanoamericanos, to name a few, and he has also won the 1997 Premio Nacional del Ministerio de Cultura for his editorial work. He is the president of the prestigious Spanish publishing firm Pre-Textos, which currently carries more than 800 published titles in various selections.

Though a relatively young publishing house, Lengua de Trapo is already known as a serious competitor in the field of publication. Founder José Huerta started the business in an office with only a computer and phone line but through the company’s enthusiasm and, Huerta acknowledges, its ignorance of the reality of publishing, Lengua de Trapo has then printed works from then-unknown writers that proved to be a hit among readers, such as Fabulosas narraciones por historias by Antonio Orejudo and Breve historia de la inmortalidad by Antonio Álamo.

Karina Bolasco has worked in the field of book publishing since 1979. As the founder of Anvil Publishing, Inc., she works through all the stages of book publication: Manuscript development, production, promotion, marketing and distribution. With a number of National Book Awards and Publisher of the Year Awards under her belt, Bolasco has also been cited as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service for Book Publishing and Literacy in 1995 for her dedication to help the public through the printed word.

La aventura de la edición will be held at the Salon de Actos of Instituto Cervantes at 6:00 p.m.

Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Center , is a public institution founded in 1991 to promote and teach Spanish and to spread the Hispanic and Latin culture. It is the largest Spanish-teaching organization in the world, with over 65 branches in four continents.

Instituto Cervantes de Manila is located at 855 T.M. Kalaw St. , Ermita, Manila . For more information, call 526 1482 to 85 or visit www.manila.cervantes.es.

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