New ‘flavors’ of the Bible

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THEY say the Bible remains the world’s all-time bestselling book for selling like hotcakes since time immemorial. The Bible has neither a sequel nor a full-book movie adaptation yet it remains as the most-bought book of all time. Exhibitors and visitors at the ongoing Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2012 in Pasay City prove this.

Being interesting to readers from all walks of life, the Bible is almost always available at bookstores and book fair year-in, year out. Both Christian and Catholic Bibles draw young and adult readers alike, especially with the new “flavors” that these “hotcakes” come in.

In an interview with YouthPinoy, Hazel Alviz of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) said an average of 1,000 pieces of Bibles are sold at their booth every day during the MIBF, which is being held at the SMX Convention Center until Sunday, September 16.

“It is heartening to know that people haven’t forgotten that God’s Word is important and it is our manual for life. The volume of people coming to PBS buying their Bibles proves just that,” she said.

Micro, audible, e-versions

Alviz noted an upsurge of people’s interest in the Bible, especially with the new ones that come in new formats. She said different kinds of Bibles were produced lately for different kinds of readers.

The micro Bible and the e-Bible being sold at the Manila International Book Fair 2012.

“For the young, there is the Micro Bible, which is a pocket size version of the New and Old testament that can be brought anywhere,” she said.

“There is also an MP3 Bible for those who want to listen to the Word of God in Tagalog and some selected songs for their meditation,” Alviz added.

Bible students may want to avail of an electronic-book (e-book) version of the Bible. Alviz said the compact disc contains 20 versions of the Bible: in English, Tagalog and major languages and dialects in the Philippines.

The MP3 Bible also features selected meditation songs.

The Micro Bible costs PhP120 each, while the MP3 Bible is priced PhP600 (P420 at MIBF) and the E-Bible is valued at P385.

In other MIBF booths, there are available Bibles with waterproof pages costing as low as PhP1,100. There are Bibles with large fonts for the elderly readers at a price of PhP3,000 each.

For the young and hip, there are colorful Bibles that look like ladies’ clutches and wallet, or those that look like moleskin notebooks and journals. These ones costs no less than Php1,000 each.

The colorful and trendy clutch and wallet Bibles and others that look like moleskin notebooks and journals.

But any Catholic looking for his new Bible or buying some as gift to family and friends should not only consider the format and packaging of the Bibles to buy.

Look for the Maltese Cross and Imprimatur in the Catholic Bibles that you will buy.

Alviz reminded Catholics to look for the Maltese Cross in the Bible Cover and the Imprimatur as proofs that the version is suitable for Catholics. (Kris Bayos)