Floating book fair opens in Cebu

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

CEBU CITY (Updated 3:40 p.m.) -- The world’s largest floating book fair opened in this city today, Wednesday.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia led the opening of the MV Logos Hope's international book fair at Malacañang Park, Cebu Port at 10 a.m.

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The international book fair showcases and puts on sale more than 5,000 relevant book titles in a wide range of subjects, including sports, cookery, arts, philosophy, religion, technology, management, business, and children, among others.

With over 400 volunteers from different countries serving as crewmembers, the Logos Hope community is regarded as genuine expression of international goodwill and understanding.

Rama, in his message, said bringing a lot of people with different nationalities in the ship is like being reminded of a family of nations.

"By being alive, we should make people feel that we are one. And we should be together because it’s only in togetherness that things can happen the way God is planning," he said.

Garcia, for her part, said one of the biggest challenges as a governor is the inability to be in different places all at the same time.

"I remember during my first term, I asked some of my staff if they could source out a copying machine so I could be xeroxed," the governor said.

Garcia also said that as people come in the ship as messengers of hope, they have also arrived in Cebu that continues to be a place of hope.

"With the two top leaders of the city and the province of Cebu working hand in hand for the growth, progress and development of this great island, they truly permeate much hope among Cebuanos," she said.

Aside from book sales, Logos Hope offers literary aid to people in developing countries through donation of textbooks and other volumes to individuals, schools, and the communities.

The ship’s crew and staff are all non-salaried volunteers, including many serving in their personal capacity, such as seafarers, engineers, electricians, nurses, teachers and cooks. Sponsorship from friends, family members and civic organizations enables crewmembers to serve on board.

The Logos Hope provides crew and staff training to sharpen their skills, develop character, and cultivate in them specific interests.

Logos Hope, first named Gustav Vasa, was built in 1973 as a passenger ferry, sailing North Atlantic routes. In 2004, GBA Ships e.V. (previously Good Books for All), after raising sufficient funds, acquired the vessel and had it renovated. The vessel was named Logos Hope in 2005, with "logos" taken from the Greek, which means "word, thought, principle, or speech."

The book fair will run until February 14. Tickets are available at the ticket booth for P20. Admission is free for kids aged five years below. (Tashuana Alemania/Sunnex)