About the Grant

The National Book Development Board of the Philippines (NBDB) offers translation grants to Filipino publishers who wish to translate and publish their books in other Filipino and international languages.


To increase readership among Filipinos, there is an immediate need to provide mother-tongue publications available to all audiences. To enhance global competitiveness and increase the Filipino diasporic cultural footprint worldwide, there is also a need to translate Filipino publications into foreign languages.



Stipulations

The NBDB will subsidize the book's translation, design/redesign, and five (5) copies of international standard print. The publisher will be responsible for the concept, approval of translations, and publication design.


The publisher will also be responsible for the translation, design, production, and retail pricing of the book. At least five (5) international standard print copies will be provided to the NBDB and associated trade collateral, such as pricing and marketing materials.





Who May Apply?

  • Philippine publishers who intend to translate and publish books from a Philippine language or English to Tagalog or other Philippine languages.
  • Philippine publishers who intend to translate and publish books from Philippine language to English or any other foreign language.
  • Foreign publishers who have bought translation rights of a published book from Philippine publishers (license and translation contracts must have been executed).

Eligibility

1. NBDB-registered Philippine publishers (for Filipino publishers)

2. The original work must be published in the Philippines in any Philippine language.

3. For enterprises applying, book publishing must be the company’s primary trade.

4. The publisher must have plans to print the book, an effective distribution network, and marketing/promotional plans for the work.

5. At the time of the application, a contractual agreement must exist between the rights holder and the publisher of the original work granting translation rights to the publisher applying for the translation subsidy program unless the work is in the public domain.

6. For foreign publishers applying, license agreements and translation contracts must already be signed at the time of application.

7. The submitted book must have at least 48 printed pages, with the exception of children’s fiction.

National Translation Subsidy Program

🇵🇭 Children's Literature

  • The available grant amount per book is a maximum of PHP 50,000.00.
  • Subject Matter: Origin Stories, Culture, Identity, Values, Cross-Cultural Interaction, Local History, Mythology, and Folklore
  • Accepted Languages: Filipino/English to Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Meranaw, Tausug, Kiniray-A, and other Philippine languages.


🇵🇭 Graphic Literature

  • The available grant amount per book is a maximum of PHP 100,000.00.
  • Subject Matter: Local History, Mythology, Folklore, Identity, Modern Heritage
  • Priority Languages: Filipino/English to Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Meranaw, Tausug, Kiniray-A, and other Philippine languages.


🇵🇭 Classics / Contemporary Fiction Non-Fiction / Historical /Cultural



  • The available grant amount per book is a maximum of PHP 150,000.00.
  • Subject Matter: Prehistory, Precolonial History, Local History, Mythology and Folklore, Identity, Decolonization
  • Priority Languages: Filipino/English to Ilocano, Cebuano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Meranaw, Tausug, Kiniray-A, and other Philippine languages.


International Translation Subsidy Program

International Translation Subsidy Program

The NBDB offers translation grants to Philippine publishers who wish to sell their rights internationally. The NBDB will subsidize the book's translation, design/redesign, and five (5) copies of international standard print.


The publisher will be responsible for the translation, design, production, and retail pricing of the book. At least five (5) international standard print copies will be provided to NBDB and associated trade collateral such as pricing and marketing materials.

🌍 Children's Literature

  • Available grant amount per book: PHP 70,000.00 (USD 1,200.00*)
  • Subject Matter: Origin Stories, Culture, Identity, Values, Cross-Cultural Interaction, Local History, Mythology, and Folklore
  • Priority Languages: Filipino, Philippine Languages, or English to German / Spanish / French / Arabic / Japanese / Chinese


🌍 Cook Books

  • Available grant amount per book: PHP 100,000.00 (USD 1,700.00*)
  • Subject Matter: Filipino Cuisine, Filipino Food, Filipino Fusion, Filipino Culinary Literature
  • Priority Languages: Filipino, Philippine Languages, or English to German / Spanish / French / Arabic / Japanese / Chinese


🌍 Graphic Literature

  • Available grant amount per book: PHP 120,000.00 (USD 2,000.00*)
  • Subject Matter: Local History, Mythology, Folklore, Identity, Modern Heritage
  • Priority Languages: Filipino, Philippine Languages, or English to German / Spanish / French / Arabic / Japanese / Chinese


🌍 Classics / Contemporary Fiction Non-Fiction / Historical /Cultural



  • Available grant amount per book: PHP 200,000.00 (USD 3,500.00*)
  • Subject Matter: Prehistory, Precolonial History, Local History, Mythology and Folklore, Identity, Decolonization
  • Priority Languages: Filipino, Philippine Languages, or English to German / Spanish / French / Arabic / Japanese / Chinese


Requirements

Prepare the following:

  1. NBDB Certificate of Registration (for Filipino publishers)
    1. Register here.
  2. Sample pages of the work to be translated (watermarked)
  3. Publisher’s updated business profile/s (for both local and foreign publishers)
  4. Contractual agreement between the local publisher and the foreign publisher
  5. Duly Signed Translator's Contract
  6. Translator's Curriculum Vitae

Next, complete the Application Proposal at



Interested applicants should submit all documents through the Application for Publication Grant Form at bit.ly/translationsubsidy2023




The deadline is March 15, 2023.

Screening Process

The NBDB will screen the entries. Applications will be evaluated according to the chosen book’s artistic merit, the publisher’s and translator’s credentials, and the quality of the marketing and promotional plans.


Grant results will be announced one month after the application deadline. Successful grant recipients will be notified by email.


They have one week to accept the offer by confirming the acceptance of the subsidy by responding through email. Failure to acknowledge the email within two weeks will forfeit the grant.


The translated book must be published and delivered to the National Book Development Board office on or before 01 December 2023.


At least five (5) international standard print copies will be provided to NBDB and associated trade collateral such as pricing and marketing materials.

Payment

The translation grant is paid in two installments:

  • 70% upon signing of the agreement and submission of the proposal
  • 30% upon delivery of the PDF file of the manuscript and five (5) copies of the printed book.



Acknowledgment

An acknowledgment has to be included on the copyright page of the book, stating that this publication is partially supported by the Translation Grant of the National Book Development Board, together with the NBDB logo.


NBDB should also be given access and permission use to parts of the content of the publication (such as synopses, high-resolution book covers, blurbs, and excerpts) for publicity and promotional purposes only.



Contact

Mitch Balladares (she/her/hers)

grants@books.gov.ph

National Book Development Board (NBDB)

3/F Regalado Hive Building,

Regalado Avenue, Fairview Park Subdivision,

Fairview, Quezon City 1118