MV Logos: World Book Fair Brings Hope in the Global Community

MV Logos Hope will dock at the South Harbor until March 13 for the Manila leg of its World Book Fair.

Books are universal tools for knowledge and progress. But because of limited access to inexpensive reading materials especially with the high cost being driven by the growing on-line reading market, most of us might have been hindering our own learning experiences. But if given better access to more low-cost books, all of us probably would have stocked at least a room full of nothing but our favorite titles. That’s why it’s really good news that MV Logos Hope, the latest addition to the Good Books for All (GBA) Ships fleet, has docked at the South Harbour on Thursday, carrying with her a selection of over 5,000 titles for the world’s largest known book fair.

Succeeding MV Doulos which has frequented Manila since 1988, this 12,519-gross-ton ship offers greater space which includes a Welcome Area with interactive displays, and an International Café. The wide array of books cover a range of subjects from languages, culinary, science, sports, children’s titles, medicine, philosophy, arts, and literature, and are all offered at affordable prices. According to the ship’s managing director Gian Walser, “Logos Hope’s vision is to make a difference in the world. A vision to bring knowledge, help and hope.”

GBA is a non-profit organization registered in Germany that administers vessels around that delivers not only book fairs but also bring aid and relief projects to needy communities. By travelling at sea, the 408 personnel on-board, 8 of whom are Filipinos, both see the wonder of creation and the various suffering in many parts of the world. This drives them to help on promoting peace, assisting in rebuilding orphanages, and supporting education campaigns for HIV/AIDS, among many other advocacies that helped reach 40 million across the globe.

The MV Logos Hope project alone has reached 2.5 million in 39 countries since it started its expedition in 2009. MV Logos Hope will be docking at Pier 15, Berth 4, South Harbour from Feb. 17 until March 13. On Feb. 24, an International Night will be held, followed by Open Ship Day On Feb. 26 and March 4. An African choir will perform on the evening of March 10. The book fair is open from 10am to 9:30pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 1pm to 9:30pm during Sundays. Its next stop will be at Subic from March 16 to April 9. Supporting this project will not only foster our cooperation for the most important issues and causes in the world community in our own simple way; as Filipinos, it would also be an avenue to voice out a much-needed reinforcement in the basic needs of our education sector. #