Bring Home a Free Book From This Limited-Time-Only Queer Library in BGC

(SPOT.ph) Nothing hits quite like discovering a new book and unveiling the world it contains. Even better if you can take it home for free. Australian skincare brand Aesop is hosting its first-ever Queer Library in Manila this weekend as part of its mission to uplift local talent and underrepresented voices with its selection of titles.

From June 26 to 28, Aesop's SM Aura outpost in Bonifacio Global City will be transformed into a public library that houses 29 titles from 15 local publishing houses. Visitors can drop by over the weekend to bring home one book, free of charge, on a first-come first-served basis. There is no need to buy anything from the Aesop store to get a title.

While Aesop is no stranger to championing literature and writers abroad, this will be the brand's first library in the Philippines, and the first Queer Library in Southeast Asia. This year's selection is entirely local, with works focusing on Filipino queer experiences and narratives, or crafted by queer authors. Entitled 'Body of Work', "this year's edition focuses on the notion of the human body as a bridge between our private interiority and what is shared with the wider world."

The queer movement, and the literature it has created, has always challenged assumptions and fought to give visibility to realities—and bodies—that have been forcefully hidden or silenced. Aesop Philippines has aptly called it an "act of joyful resistance."

Titles are available in English or Filipino from known names in the publishing industry, including Anvil Publishing, Adarna House, and Milflores. We also spotted titles from KOMIKET, UP Press and Everything's Fine PH. There were more, and we wish had about 10 more eyes just to take everything in.

Libraries can get overwhelming, especially with such a thoughtful curation. Aesop's catalog features fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and even comic books, so there's something here for everyone. Distinguished playwright and National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee has several titles in the library: Para Kay B, Kalahating Bahaghari, and Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata. Mga Batang POZ by Segundo Matias Jr., which has been adapted into an online series, also has a nook on the shelves.

The Gathering Bees by Chuckberry J. Pascual also received strong recommendations from the Aesop staff. It centers around two ever-evolving characters and their repeated encounters across different worlds.

You can also take home Of Flowers That Bloomed at Night by Jerico Silvers, Lamyos: New LGBTQ Fiction from the Philippines by J. Neil C. Garcia, and Kinaiya: Antolohiya ng mga Makabagong Tinig mula sa LGBTQIA++ (Philippine Writers Series 2024) edited by Trist'n Buenaflor and Vladimeir Gonzaga.

One of our favorites has to be CJ Reynaldo's Nino Bughaw, a comic book following the escapades of a deaf boy who can control the weather. Spectacular visuals and punchy dialogue from the KOMIKET title aside, it was eye-opening to see sign language drawn with movement in a comic book.

Lighthearted, humorous, and reverent to daily Pinoy life, Dante, Damian & Pascal The Pusang Kalye by Levi Sabarre is a cheeky comic book from KOMIKET that's easy on the eyes, and even easier on the heart.

Check out the full list of titles.

Also read: In QC, LGBTQ+ Patients No Longer Have to Defend Who They Are to Get Basic Medical Care

Each visitor may get only one book from the library, and this applies to all days it's open. That means once you've brought home a book on Friday, you can't visit on Saturday or Sunday to get a book again. Apart from giving Filipino queer authors the spotlight this weekend, it's also an effort to make Filipino literature more accessible, especially to those who might not have the resources or means to approach the scene. The more people get the chance to read, the bigger the win for readers, authors, and publishers.

Queues can get long, but it's well worth it in the end. The Aesop team will be giving out a list of titles to folks in line so the selection process is faster, streamlined, and considerate of everyone. While browsing in-store and maybe getting photographs would be great, visitors are encouraged to think of the other people in line.

Thousands of paperbacks have taken the place of the apothecary's signature amber bottles and aluminum tubes, but shoppers who wish to buy products only without bringing home a book are still welcome to purchase products. Just inform the Aesop staff what you're there for and they'll assist you to the correct queue.

The Queer Library will only be in the SM Aura branch of Aesop.

Named after a Greek philosopher and storyteller, Aesop has always been informed and inspired by literature. Since the Library's inception in 2021, the initiative has distributed over 115,000 books, serving as a platfrom for underrepresented voices and affirming the power of the written word to change perspectives, empower individuals, and foster community.

The Aesop Queer Library is in 3F, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City Taguig. For the full list of titles, visit the Aesop Philippines website.