“Cebu LitFest × KomiKet 2018”

CEBU, Philippines — Hundreds of Cebuanos and visitors to Cebu converged at the Activity Center of the Ayala Center Cebu on one weekend for “Cebu LitFest × KomiKet 2018,” a two-day gathering which brought bibliophiles, comic book lovers, authors and comic book creators together in one venue.

Mainlined by talks with Cebuano authors and meet-and-greet sessions with local comic book writers and illustrators, the occasion proved that Cebu’s love for fiction is not limited to those that are made by international publishing firms and talents.

Like last year, this year’s event centered on an “artists’ alley” where local novelists, comic book writers and illustrators got to meet with followers of their work. This was complemented by pocket activities which included talks, workshop sessions, book launches, book swaps, spoken word sessions and more.

Since their initial runs, both “Cebu LitFest” and “KomiKet” have been phenomenal in rekindling the love for locally produced literary works, single-issue comic book series and compendium-type graphic novels.

For five years running, “Cebu LitFest” (short for “Cebu Literary Festival”) has become a highly-anticipated literary gathering in Cebu, while “KomiKet” (short for “The Filipino Komiks Market”) has introduced a new generation of indie press Pinoy comic titles since 2015.