here we go again

I told my friend Chachic that I’d find time to write a blog post/meme from the 1st ever Filipino Reader Con, so even though it’s not Filipino Friday anymore (sorry about that) I figured it’s better late than never, especially as the long weekend allows me some time off a hectic work week to write.

The topic for Week 3, which was last Friday, August 26, was:

How hard or easy is it to be a book lover in the Philippines? What are some of your frustrations as a Filipino reader (e.g. availability of books)? What are positive aspects of being a reader based in the Philippines (e.g. book prices are lower here than they are abroad)?

First off, a quick background on what I read: I read a lot, but not as much as a lot of those who will be participating in this meme, that’s for sure. :))

I tend to gravitate toward the classics of the science fiction and fantasy genre, although I admit my to-read list in that department is still quite long. I read a lot of graphic novels, but mainly stand-alone ones, or the non-superhero ones. (The most recent superhero title I’m up to date with is Marvel’s Ultimate line, which, from what I hear, has already gone through a lot of changes since I last visited).

Being a reader in the Philippines has certainly improved since the 90s, in terms of books’ availability. I still remember a time when National Bookstore was pretty much the most accessible place for books - and we know that NBS in those days wasn’t exactly what a book reader would find a comfy place to go to if they wanted to browse new titles.

My first memory of the new age of bookstores in the country was when Page One opened, and a new type of bookstore was unveiled before my eyes.

Here, I could browse around and read a bit, to see if a title was going to hold my interest. Here, I had a much greater selection of books than the mass market paperbacks that NBS stocked - I’d found that I wanted more than the latest Grisham or Crichton, and this store opened up worlds of possibilities. Young adult fiction wasn’t now limited to just Goosebumps or Ghosts of Fear Street.

In a few years, PowerBooks (which as I understand, is a sister company to NBS) opened, and Page One transformed into Fully Booked. The environment for readers exponentially grew better, with more and more titles from a myriad of genres open to the reading public. And did I ever love it.

Now, there was no need to ask relatives to purchase a copy of a book I was interested in from abroad, or wait ages for a book to be released here. There were couches where I could curl up with a good book while waiting for my family to finish shopping, or when I was just waiting to meet up with friends, or when I was looking to relax after a long work day. These stores made it so much easier to be a reader in the Philippines, and they’ve continued improving the reader experience. I especially love visiting Fully Booked’s High Street and Rockwell branches. I’ve been to Kinokuniya bookstore in other countries, and I reckon our local stores can give them a run for their money in terms of ambiance and selection.

Another thing I love about being a reader in the Philippines is the prices of the books! I admit that while I spend a lot on books, I also want the best value for my money. I do a lot of comparison shopping online, primarily on Amazon.com, just to check the US or UK retail prices for books, and I’m really happy that our prices here are the same, or even cheaper. I don’t need to wait for a slash-price sale or overseas shipping to get a copy of a book I want when it’s on sale locally! Books become available here quickly - sometimes even faster than in other countries, from what I’ve seen. Some trade paperbacks make it on our shores while the hardcovers are the only ones available in the US (at least on Amazon).

Another positive is that because our country isn’t in the US or the UK, we also get none of their edition exclusivity limitations - I’ve noticed that both versions are usually available at local stores, albeit with the UK edition usually in more limited quantities. Still, it’s a great option for collectors or those who simple like the alternative covers. I tend to pick trade paperbacks or UK editions with nicer paper compared to US mass markets as well, and the price difference is not that big of a problem. :)

The local scene for readers isn’t perfect, but I believe it has vastly improved. I’ve noticed availability of books becoming better and better in previous years, and the country has also been hosting book signings by popular authors (thanks to generous sponsors, publishers, and the stores themselves)! There’s no better time to be a Filipino reader than now!

If anything, I wish more people would get a better appreciation of reading, and of books in general (i.e. I still notice that some people don’t take care of books on the store’s shelves). While e-books are nice, and the Kindle is a handy device (I don’t have one, but was amazed by my friends’ devices), I firmly believe that nothing beats the feeling of an actual, ink-and-paper book. It is only with our support that local bookstores can remain in business, and continue supplying local readers with the best and latest in literature, and I hope for that cycle to continue on for a long, long time.