THE DÍA de Libro book festival, the biggest bibliophile party this summer, will be held April 23 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

There will be a book market, pop-up stores, interactive activities, live music, Spanish food, even free books.

For six years now, Instituto Cervantes de Manila has been presenting Día de Libro, which originated in Barcelona in Spain. Following the Barcelona tradition, each book purchase comes with a free rose.

Instituto Cervantes director Carlos Madrid, together with Spanish Ambassador Luis Antonio Calvo, National Book Development Board (NBDB) chair Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Intellectual Property of the Philippines General Director Josephine Santiago introduced the Día de Libro line-up in Blackbird at the Nielson Tower restaurant in Makati City.

It will be a daylong affair at Ayala Triangle, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., on the same spot as the annual Christmas light-and-sound show.

Here are Día De Libro highlights you should check out. Come in comfy clothes, bring cash and enjoy the book fiesta.

1. The book market. There will be 4,000 books, including titles from National Book Store, University of the Philippines Press, Ateneo de Manila University Press, Anvil Publishing, Vibal Publising, Visprint Publishing, Adarna House.

Check out rare titles from one-branch book shops such as Solidaridad and Uno Morato; and regional stores such as Pandayan Bookshop. All books will be sold at 20-percent off.

2. Free books at The Book Stop, a modern geometric pop-up library designed by WTA Architecture and Design Studio. Go through the small tunnel, and get a free book by leaving a book. Part of the fun is scrounging for the book you want.

3. Handwriting chain. Instituto Cervantes invites 500 participants to write “Don Quixote de La Mancha,” Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel, by hand. Each writer has two minutes to write, and will be given a rose afterwards. The handwritten copy will be deposited in the Instituto Cervantes library.

4. T-shirt printing. Want to wear your favorite quote? NBDB’s booth lets you pick a quote from books that won in the 34th National Book Awards, and have it printed on a shirt.

Also check out henna tattooing, calligraphy at face-painting at this station.

5. Balagtasan. Watch poets debate on current issues at 3 p.m.

The UP Singing Ambassadors will also perform Filipino folk songs, and Teatro Tomasino will stage excerpts of Filipino adaptations of José Rizal’s plays “El Consejo de los Dioses” and “Junto al Pasig.”

6. Book launch. To be launched are books from the Aklat ng Bayan series published by Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino; and “Relatos,” a compilation of short stories by the Batangueño writer Enrique Laygo (1897-1932), from the Clásicos Hispanofilipinos collection of Instituto Cervantes.

7.  “La Noche de los Libros.” Chill in the evening as the Spanish Cultural Center presents “The Night of Books” program. Spanish food will be served; there will be games, jazz music, a poetry recital, a photo contest and puppet shows.

8. Free Spanish classes. ¿No habla español? Visit the Instituto Cervantes booth, learn basic Spanish, and check out Instituto’s Spanish courses.

Call 5261482; visit manila.cervantes.es or facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.