Photo / National Alliance of Reading Advocates
The National Alliance of Reading Advocates (NARA), a group composed of reading advocates in the country and a campaign project by the National Book Development Board (NBDB)’s Readership Development Division (READ), believes that it is on the right track to avert the country’s reading crisis.
For the first time, the NARA and its reading allies from more than 100 organizations gathered in a meaningful conference convened by the NBDB at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila.
The event’s theme was “Pamitinan ng Lingkod-Mambabasa.” It is named after Pamitinan cave, which has earned a place in myth (the prison of Bernardo Carpio, the reason for thunder and earthquakes) and history (the secret meeting grounds where the Katipunan first declared Philippine independence).
NARA’s conference brought together reading advocates from various organizations, schools, universities, national government agencies, local government units, and advocacy arms of corporations, hoping to bring awareness to the importance and urgency of reading and highlighting its impact on nation-building.
Photo / National Alliance of Reading Advocates
The event presented the NARA Agenda 2025-2030. This agenda seeks to empower reading advocates to effect social and behavioral change in Philippine readership through campaign infrastructure, capacity building, and network building. It will also serve as a guidebook that contains NARA’s concrete vision for readership in the country based on its analysis of the state of the reading nation.
Upon full ratification, this agenda will support activities and interventions that align with its goals. For the next five years, they shall form the basis of the NBDB’s readership interventions, both as an individual reading advocate agency and as the alliance’s secretariat.
Other highlights of the conference include:
- The presentation of the State of the Reading Nation
- An informal sharing of best practices from select organizations called “Brown Bag sessions”
- The announcement of Readership Development Grants
- The oathtaking of NARA members, led by Carlo Ebeo, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Commissioner for the Subcommission on Cultural Dissemination
- Charisse Aquino-Tugade, the executive director of the NBDB, and Arvin Manuel Villalon, the director for Mindanao of the National Museum of the Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the Book Nook sites at the National Museum.
Reading advocates take centerstage
Photos / National Alliance of Reading Advocates
What made the event truly interesting was the presence of its two keynote speakers.
The first was para-librarian and “book missionary” Hernando “Mang Nanie” Guanlao, who was also the guest of honor. Guanlao made headlines when his “Reading Club 2000,” which he founded out of his home in Barangay La Paz, Makati City, garnered significant media attention.
The place was a hub of his textbooks and collected volumes. The collection grew, mainly through book donations from his supporters and partner organizations. As an offshoot of his efforts and love of books, a network of book collectors then collaborated to bring donated books to more shelves around the country, particularly in remote or underserved areas, those where books are largely inaccessible.
Photo / National Alliance of Reading Advocates
The second keynote speaker is Rica Acebuche, a young reading advocate from Samar. She volunteered for Reading Club 2000, which gave her the idea for “Readers of Barrio.”
The initiative is a free book-giving and literacy education program that serves reading communities in remote areas such as in the municipality of Laoang, Northern Samar. With Guanlao, they sent hundreds of books to the growing community of readers in Laoang.
NARA is a unified network anchored on a collaborative working environment to better spread the news on existing readership initiatives. This project by the NBDB serves as an integral part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to boost readership, given declining reading scores among Filipinos.
“This conference announces to the world what we want to achieve: to strengthen the reading culture and build a nation of readers. This event signifies the beginning of a major collective step in addressing reading gaps. We still have a long way to go, but with our growing alliance, I know that a stronger reading culture is underway,” says Daniel Lorenzo Mariano, OIC Division Chief of READ.
Membership to the NARA is open to reading advocates who are committed to helping improve Philippine readership. For more information and registration details, visit bit.ly/joinnara or contact the NBDB Reading Campaigns Section at campaigns@books.gov.ph.
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