Global queer library land in PH, offers free books

Aesop opens pop-up at SM Aura

National Artist Ricky Lee and indie Gen Z poet Jerico Silvers will lead the Philippine debut of Aesop Queer Library, a global initiative that transforms the Australian beauty brand’s storefronts into reading spaces for Pride Month.

The pop-up library will open at SM Aura in Taguig from June 26 to 28. Visitors can get free books from queer Filipino authors—even without making a purchase.

“You just have to get in the branch,” Silvers said in a TikTok post.

Days before the launch, Lee and Silvers led a discussion on queer literature, where they spoke about their respective works and introduced the library to select attendees.

Launched in 2021, Aesop Queer Library has been installed in cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Taipei, Toronto, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Macau.

“This year, the Library celebrates the liberating possibilities of LGBTQIA+ self-expression, and the stories that can be found beyond hetero-normative constraints and expectations,” Aesop said on its website.

Lee has written more than 180 screenplays, including “Himala,” “Brutal,” “Moral,” “Karnal,” “José Rizal,” and “Anak”—many of which helped shape modern Philippine cinema. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the country’s most influential filmmakers, including fellow National Artists Lino Brocka, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, and Ishmael Bernal.

Beyond film, Lee is also a prolific author. His books include the seminal scriptwriting guide “Trip to Quiapo,” essay collection “Kulang na Silya at Iba pang Kuwentong Buhay,” and novels “Para kay B” and “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata.”

Silvers’ poems explore mental health, self-discovery, and emotional healing. His books include “Of Flowers That Bloomed in Fire,” “Of Flowers That Bloomed at Night,” “Of Flowers That Bloomed for You,” and “Afterglow of a Heart.” He’s also a content creator who discusses similar themes, as well as indie publishing.

The Philippine arrival of Aesop Queer Library reflects the growing recognition of local LGBTQIA+ literature—as queer storytelling continues to expand beyond Pride Month.

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