The need for Filipinos to read Philippine literature cannot be overemphasized
The recent months have seen several large book fairs and smaller regional book events held all over the country, which were well-attended and participated in by authors, publishers, book industry folk, readers, and other book industry stakeholders.
The industry is understandably stoked at all the interest shown by the public in these events, which are replete with activities such as book signings and book talks and thus very engaging.
They wouldn’t be if only plain bookselling took place.
But we should also recognize the need to step up the gains, to put more Filipino books in Filipino readers’ hands. Are we reaching the ‘unbooked’ or are we just preaching to the choir?
I got to thinking about this matter after reading a Sept. 6 Facebook post of CNN Philippines that asked its followers, “What is your all-time favorite book?”
The vast majority of replies were English books by Western authors, such as the Harry Potter series, the Twilight Saga, books by Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom, Paulo Coelho.
Where are the Filipino-authored titles, I asked. One commenter replied:
“Very scarce po kasi ang mass produced na books written by local authors, specially sa national bookstore, sa Philippine Literary Section, the last time I saw a book written by F Sionil Jose or di kaya ni Lualhati Bautista or Nick Joaquin was way back 2019 at least dito po sa Bicol, meron din naman po sa booksale or garage sale pero very bihira.
“We only learned of them sa Filipino subjects or CPAR [Contemporary Philippine Arts in the Regions subject] in SHS.
“These days sa nat’l bookstore kung hindi Noli Me Tangere, El Fili, Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura (great pieces of Phil. literature pero I wish there were more options) puro wattpad authors ang nakadisplay and mostly mga erotic romance books.
“Nakakadismaya talaga po pero sa totoo lang ang hirap din po makahanap ng books na yan, kahit epub or pdf copies sobrang hirap din. Some may say na meron sa Amazon pero di naman po lahat na interested sa Philippine Literature ay afford ang cost ng mga libro na to.”
Judging by the comments on CNN Philippines’ post, many Filipino readers still aren’t aware of Filipino books, apart from what they are made to read at school —the deathless and mandatory Noli and Fili, Ibong Adarna, and Florante at Laura, as all those educated in the Philippine system know, which is why they are carried in local bookstores.
The main problems, then, according to the commenter, are access and affordability, and the plain simple fact that many Filipinos don’t even know of the existence of Filipino-authored and -published books, particularly in the regions.
All this rings true.
Local books often have sticker prices the same as Western titles, and these cost more than many Filipinos can afford.
In contrast, let’s take Japan. In Tokyo recently, I was stunned to see people of all ages lining up at a Maruzen checkout counter with four or five books in their hands at nine in the morning.
I also saw quite a few people on the train quietly reading books, not their mobile phones.
In their society, books are affordable and accessible to all, and seemingly a necessity.
Filipinos also need to be introduced to more local books.
I taught general education literature to college sophomores a few years ago, and on my reading list were some Filipino-authored gems.
Nearly all of my students said they had never heard of them before and didn’t even know that there are a great many Filipino-published books written in Filipino, English, and the regional languages.
But are these the only reasons for local readers not mentioning Filipino books as their favorites?
One factor that may be contributing to the preference for Western literature is the pernicious influence of our colonial history.
Over our 400 years in the convent and 50 years in Hollywood, our educational system, cultural norms, aesthetic tastes, and language were heavily influenced by the colonizers.
In fact, many Filipinos still remember being fined at school if they spoke Filipino instead of English. Colonial mentality is the result of colonization.
There may still be a lingering mindset that Western books are more prestigious, sophisticated, or intellectually stimulating.
Western titles are also heavily promoted in large bookstores. We’ve all seen those huge displays of the latest bestsellers when we walk in. Where are the Filipino titles?
Either the store doesn’t carry them, or they are crammed into the ‘Filipiniana’ shelf, a distinct category, instead of sorting them into genres such as fiction, non-fiction, etc. regardless of author or country of publication.
Why the ‘special’ treatment for Filipino-authored and -published books that makes it seem they don’t belong with the international books?
The need for Filipinos to read Philippine literature cannot be overemphasized.
Our stories hold a mirror to the nation’s history, culture, and identity. They capture the struggles and aspirations of the Filipino people, providing insights into our country’s complex past and present.
By neglecting their own rich literary resources,
Filipino readers miss out on a wealth of narratives that reflect their own experiences, and that can lead to a deepening of their understanding of our roots and society.
Our book industry has made great strides over the years and we certainly must celebrate the gains our efforts made.
But we also need to work even harder and make a concerted effort to make sure no Filipino reader remains unaware of the trove of stories about their own homeland just waiting to be read.
* * * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: [email protected]