Doulos Hope Floating Book Fair Is Back in the Philippines
Here's where and when you can visit this floating library.
(SPOT.ph) We're still a little ways down the road from book fair season, but that doesn't mean we have to make our wallet cry whenever we need to add to our library. Before you bookworms rush to your nearest bookstore and buy your next reads at full price, you should check out MV Doulos Hope—a massive floating library and book fair with tons of titles available at wallet-friendly rates. Here's what you need to know about this "book fair on a boat" currently docked in the Philippines.
Also read:
Manila International Book Fair Announces 2024 Schedule
Vibal Publishing's Fine Philippine Books Store in Binondo Is Filled With Great Reads
What is the Doulos Hope?
The Doulos Hope is touted as the world's biggest floating library and book fair. The ship visits different countries, stopping at several ports of call for weeks at a time with a mission to bring "literacy and education, cross-cultural cooperation, and social awareness, and reflect God’s compassion for the world in the ports and countries they visit." At every stop, the Doulos Hope brings with it a massive selection of books from a wide range of topics at an affordable price.
You might have vague memories of visiting the Doulos Hope when you were younger. Don't worry, it wasn't a fever dream. The floating bookstore has been around since the 1970s. It has visited over 480 different ports in more than 150 countries and territories. The Doulos Hope's last visit to the Philippines was back in 2012. It has since undergone major renovations and was relaunched back in May 2023 in Singapore.
Where can you find the Doulos Hope Book Fair?
Currently, the Doulos Hope is docked at the Rivera North Wharf in Subic until March 3. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
If you can't make it to Subic by then, don't worry. The Doulos Hope Book Fair is making three more stops in the Philippines before it sets sail to another country.
After its Subic stop, you can catch the Doulos Hope Book Fair in these locations:
- San Fernando International Seaport, San Fernando, La Union - March 7 to 24, 2024
- Manila - March 28 to April 13, 2024
- Batangas - April 16 to 28, 2024
How do you get tickets to the Doulos Hope Book Fair?
Guests hoping to check out the Doulos Hope Book Fair are encouraged to book tickets ahead. Priority entry is given to those with an online booking. Slots are released on a weekly basis. You may book your visit to the Doulos Hope Book Fair starting the Sunday before your intended visit date. As of writing, only slots for the ship's last week in Subic are available for booking.
Based on the current pricing for the Subic leg, tickets cost P50 each. Senior citizens, PWDs, and children 12 and under may enter for free. Simply book your tickets online and have a copy of your ticket (printed or e-copy) available for validation during your visit. Note that, as with most ships, there are limited accessibility options for PWDs. Please plan your visits accordingly.
Registration and booking for La Union, Manila, and Batangas are not yet open as of writing. Updates will be provided on Doulos Hope's Facebook page and website.
Hey, Spotters! Check us out on Viber to join our Community and subscribe to our Chatbot.