As happens every year during the southern spring, the Estación Mapocho Cultural Center welcomed a large audience of all ages who came to learn about the latest literary novelties or purchase texts by authors steeped in history.
Eduardo Castillo, president of the Chilean Writers Chamber, told Prensa Latina that the exhibition was born in 1981, in the middle of the military dictatorship, a few blocks from the station and the place quickly became very small due to the great reception of readers and the public. the book.
He explained, “We then dreamed of settling here, in what was a large train station through which you could travel to the north and south of the country and even to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and it had been abandoned several years ago.”
In 1989, the first exhibition was held at Mapocho Station, and soon after, the exhibition, in cooperation with the government of Patricio Aylwin, became a cultural center and permanent home of the Annual Writers’ Meeting.
This year, Panama was the guest of honor at the 42nd edition of Velsa, which arrived here carrying copies of the country’s greatest writers, including national poet Ricardo Miro, Dr. Rosa María Breton, and novelist and academic Luis Pulido Ritter.
Dozens of publishing companies have decorated the facilities, including one called Ocho Libros, with social and political content of a primarily progressive nature.
According to Esteban Vidal, a representative of the company, the experience in this forty-second edition was very enjoyable because they were able to verify a large number of audiences interested in the art of reading the book directly.
This is very important today, he said, as many people have become conditioned and trapped by social networks or instant internet searches, where they believe they can find all the knowledge.
Another independent editor based at Filsa was Mis Raíces, dedicated to disseminating Chilean culture, traditions, myths, crafts and the literary production of indigenous peoples, including the Mapuche and Aymara.
His works are particularly aimed at children and young people, and among his shelves is a volume entitled “The Devil Knows Best Because He is Old… Not Always Because He is a Devil,” a collection of five rural legends from Chile.
During Filsa’s week of activities, there were book presentations, dialogues with authors, seminars, visits aimed at school children, and even special performances presented by the National Circus Foundation of Chile.
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