Lost Books Cebu

20/04/2026

“A small space that holds big stories — that’s one of the best descriptions one can give to Lost Books Cebu, a charming independent bookshop, with the dust of time resting on its green shelves.”

What a lovely surprise to read this kind article about our little bookshop, after attending this year’s Dumaguete Literary Festival.

Our heartfelt gratitude to Janne Ma. Immae Lachica for her sweet, enchanting words, and to the magnificent people of CDN Digital for this generous feature.

Time and time again, we would not be here if it were not for the supportive book community in Cebu and our dear friends from all over the Philippines and the world. Thank you to all of you! 💚

A small space that holds endless stories. That's one of the best descriptions one can give Lost Books Cebu.

14/04/2026

A house stands not because storms cease, but because its foundations are strong enough to endure them.

We are proud to carry "The House of Espina: Between Water and Stone" by Dr. Shawn Euclid Gandhi Espina. This narrative is a beautiful exploration of continuity—how legacy is preserved through the courage to adapt before collapse forces change.

Follow the Espina family as they navigate displacement and loss, proving that dignity in hardship is the truest form of inheritance. Whether you are a student of Cebuano history or a lover of family sagas, this book offers a profound look at the "stone" within us all.

This volume serves as a prequel to "Blueprints of Legacy: The Espina Family Story," which traces the architectural, professional, and generational foundations of his family.

09/04/2026

It was harder than I thought to record this video. It’s because I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, and I was really trying my hardest to keep it together.

In the past weeks, we had a very meaningful visit to the Mandaue City Jail - Female Dormitory for Stories on Wheels. We received many letters from the community, including a thought-provoking one from a reviewer for the upcoming Civil Engineer Licensure Exam. Finally, we were gifted a watercolor artwork of our bookshop. The artist’s name is Dio, and we cannot get over how lovely it is.

My partners and I did not expect all this kindness when we decided to open a tiny independent bookstore in the middle of Osmeña Boulevard, promoting Visayan literature.

Looking back, we should have known. That is when you open your door to the community, and the community embraces you back with love.

09/04/2026

What a surprise to see this feature! We are extremely grateful for the love and support we receive not just from our community here in Cebu but across the entire Philippines as well. We can only pay forward a kind gesture like this. 💚

Thank you to the people behind spot.ph and the brilliant Clint Holton Potestas for this incredible spotlight.

On National Literature Month, we put the spotlight on a small indie bookshop on Cebu's bustling Osmena Boulevard. What was once a small adjoining space dedicated to a bank’s ATM machine is now a place where Cebuanos can find the works of homegrown authors—sometimes the authors even show up, sign their books and talk about them.

Link in comments.

02/04/2026

"Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural" is a collection of speculative fictions that move between the terrifying and the tragic.

A human-whale chimera takes its last breath in the arms of its human caretaker, a portal invites a grieving woman into an alternative world from which there will be no escape, love enlists a young man to poach victims for his supernatural boyfriend, routine disappearances at a company are chalked up to unending work and exhaustion.

Curated and edited by these Filipino writers — Tilde Acuña, John Bengan, Daryll Delgado, Amado Anthony G. Mendoza III, and Kristine Ong Muslim — this anthology offers a uniquely Filipino artistry.

01/04/2026

One of our most anticipated reads this year has finally arrived in our shop. “Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural” is a speculative anthology of myths, darklore, and horror from the Philippines.

Published by Radix, a Black-led, worker-owned independent publishing house and printing shop in Brooklyn, New York, this anthology is now available at Lost Books Cebu.

We are located on the ground floor of CAO Mercado Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Capitol Site, Cebu City.

28/03/2026

Magic is real, and it happens every day in our small bookshop.

27/03/2026

Our heartfelt thanks to all our patrons who joined us this afternoon for the book reading and signing with visual artist and writer Paulina Constancia.

We are delighted to announce that her two books — “Hispano-Philippine Stories” (“Cuentos Hispanofilipinos”) and “Open Arms” (“Brazos Abiertos”) — are now available on our shelves.

To get a copy, you can visit us on the ground floor of CAO Mercado Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Capitol Site, Cebu City.

25/03/2026

As we close out Women's Month, we welcome Filipino-Canadian artist Paulina Constancia to our bookshop for a book reading and signing.

Paulina’s literary journey began with her first poetry collection, "Open Arms" ("Brazos Abiertos"), a moving reflection on connection and the migrant experience.

A true global storyteller, Paulina is now bringing her works home to her homeland, Cebu. One of which is a collection of short stories, "Hispano-Philippine Stories" ("Cuentos Hispanofilipinos") that highlights resilient female characters and bridges our Spanish heritage with our contemporary identity.

To make it a full afternoon of culture, you may visit her "BabaYay!" naïve-art exhibition at the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum, then walk a block over to join us for a meaningful conversation with the artist herself.

Although this event is open and free to all, our space is limited. We kindly request that you arrive early to secure a seat.

21/03/2026

Katherine Mayo’s "The Isles of Fear: The Truth about the Philippines“ (1925) is perhaps one of the most controversial books in our Talagsaon collection.

Katherine Mayo’s exposé style took her from the halls of Manila's elite to the mountains of the Cordilleras, all to build a case for continued American rule.

Her main argument was that the Philippines was a land gripped by internal "fear." She claimed that if the Americans left, the Filipino political elite — the "Caciques" — would ruthlessly exploit the common folk.

Although it caused a sensation among Filipino nationalists, Mayo's work allows us to hold the very arguments our early heroes fought against.

"The Isles of Fear: The Truth about the Philippines” is now available for those who want to collect rare, vintage, and antiquarian writings about the Philippines. To find out more, you may visit our bookshop or send us a direct message to request our full book catalog.

19/03/2026

Another rare book from our Talagsaon collection is this 89-year-old copy of "The Lost City: Filipino Fact and Fancy" by the French author René Jouglet. This book is a travelogue and ethnographic account of the Igorot ethnic group and the Cordillera region.

Published in 1937, this English translation by Warre Bradley Wells synthesizes René Jouglet’s two historical works: “Au cœur sauvage des Philippines” (1934) and “La ville perdue” (1936).

René Jouglet captures a journey when the West was still attempting to map the Filipino spirit.

“The Igorots live in the atmosphere of the dead. They believe in possession and in communication with the beyond. . . . They also believe in the curing of sickness by the laying-on of hands.” (p.72)

His observations are visceral — particularly in the chapter "Head-Hunters," where he documents the ancestral blood-feuds of the Ifugao tribe.

To find out more about our collection of rare, vintage, and antiquarian books, please request our book catalogue through email at [email protected] or send us a direct message through any of our social media accounts.

17/03/2026

From our rare and antiquarian section, Talagsaon, “The Story of Magellan and the Discovery of the Philippines” is a book by American writer Hezekiah Butterworth, published in 1899. This current copy available in the shop was published in 1908 and is in excellent condition.

This 118-year-old book is a detailed account of Ferdinand Magellan's journey and his landing on the shores of the Philippine Islands on March 16, 1521. The book narrates the interaction between Magellan and the native people of the Philippines, their culture, unique customs, and way of life.

“People became very familiar and friendly, and explained many things in their language, and told the names of some islands which they beheld. . . . The Captain seeing that they were of this good spirit, conducted them to the ship and showed them specimens of all his goods — that he most desired — cloves, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, and gold.” (Text on page 111, which was translated from Antonio Pigafetta’s accounts of their first encounter with the locals.)

This book is the perfect start for those who want to collect rare, vintage, and antiquarian books about the Philippines. Please send us a direct message or visit us at the shop to find out more about this book.