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  • The 2025 Book Nook Conference Unites Different Reading Groups in ILOILO to Nurture the Reading Culture

    The 2025 Book Nook Conference Unites Different Reading Groups in ILOILO to Nurture the Reading Culture

    ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Over 80 reading space advocates, storytellers, and educators across the Philippines gathered for the annual Book Nook Conference 2025, organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

    The conference, held from August 20-22, 2025 aimed to consolidate the best practices as well as challenges faced by area coordinators for The Book Nook Project, a flagship program by the NBDB which aims to address the country’s reading crisis by setting up reading and storytelling spaces across the Philippines. Themed Sug-álaw: A Grand Encounter of Stories, Cultures, and Communities, the three-day event discussed the best sustainability practices and community-building tips to ensure book accessibility in different regions of the country.

    Almost four years since its launch, The Book Nook Project has expanded its presence in different regions of the country. Over 100 Book Nook sites are currently established in various provinces, cities, and barangays, with more than 20 additional sites to be unveiled this year.

    “The Book Nook Project has always been committed to making quality books more accessible not just in urban centers, but also in the most remote reaches of the country,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.

    The first two days of the conference included sessions and workshops centered on strengthening and digitalizing Book Nook services in the regions as well as developing effective literary engagements. For the third day of the conference, Book Nook area coordinators joined a  two-part cultural tour within Iloilo City. 

    Reaching out to communities

    The first half of the tour brought reading space advocates to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in Iloilo, where they visited the area’s local Book Nook site. Aside from the museum tour, participants also joined in on various activities, including the patadyong race, museum object hunt, and bookmark-making. 

    The Book Nook Project then visited the Book Nook Nabitasan Integrated School in Barangay La Paz, where the conference participants conducted storytelling sessions and literary activities with the students. Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, award-winning children’s book author, encouraged high school students to express themselves through movement and writing. Meanwhile, storyteller and inspirational speaker Rey Bufi showed future educators and librarians the process of building storytelling communities in Iloilo City.

    “The stories we read from our books–from our local prose, our myths, poetry, and legends–are all creations of the Filipino community. It is only apt that we do right by the people who bring so much color, life, and richness to our nation’s culture. Our grand encounter this year, as we call it, bears fruit only when we see our reading communities more deeply involved in nurturing our nation’s reading culture,” NBDB Readership Development Division Officer-in-Charge Daniel Mariano said.

    Addressing the country’s reading gaps  

    Spurred by the country’s reading gap, the conference urged participants to collaborate with fellow reading space advocates. Beyond a theoretical exercise, the three-day event featured a series of workshops which ranged from building sustainable community reading spaces to leveraging digital platforms for wider reach. The conference also highlighted Iloilo City’s reading community, with a full day of reading activities that took place at the NMP-Iloilo City and the Nabitasan Integrated School in Barangay La Paz.

    The Book Nook Project, one of the NBDB’s major projects under its Readership Development Division, was launched in 2021. It adheres to the belief that aklat para sa lahat (books for everyone) should be a basic human right. With over 100 Book Nook sites scattered across the country, the NBDB remains committed to fostering love of reading at a young age by making Filipino-published books more accessible and easily available to students and young readers.

    To learn more about the National Book Development Board and its upcoming activities, visit https://books.gov.ph, and follow the NBDB through its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

    Reference & Media Contact (Press Release – September 02, 2025):

    For media inquiries, please contact: 

    Divine Reyes Caraecle

    Communications & Promotions Section

    communications@books.gov.ph

    0917-1396394

    About the National Book Development Board 

    The National Book Development Board (NBDB) is the book authority of the Philippines. The agency is at the forefront of developing the Philippine publishing industry and safeguarding the country’s vibrant culture of authorship and reading. To learn more, visit our social media pages (@nbdbphilippines).

  • Book Nook Conference 2024 Showcases Strength of Unity in Expanding Reading Access

    Book Nook Conference 2024 Showcases Strength of Unity in Expanding Reading Access

    Deriving inspiration from the Cordillera folk song “Dong Dong Ay!”, the much-anticipated Book Nook Conference 2024 underscored the power of unity in promoting reading among the Filipino youth. The spirit of cooperation resonated throughout the event as attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the shared mission: “Aklat para sa lahat.”

    Just like one big, happy family in a grand reunion, area coordinators and partners from 113 Book Nook sites across the Philippines convened from August 28 to 30 at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) in Manila for the annual Book Nook Conference. Organized by the National Book Development Board (NBDB), the conference provided a collaborative space for volunteers and representatives to exchange insights, share best practices, and elevate the standards of their reading centers.

    Collaborative discussions and goals

    Participants engaged in robust discussions, tackling challenges, planning strategies, and exchanging success stories. The conference served as a platform for site partners to address ongoing issues and brainstorm solutions. Key sessions focused on refining decision-making processes, enhancing program execution, and fostering problem-solving approaches across the country’s diverse regions.

    NBDB Chairperson Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II and NLP Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano opened the conference, welcoming 79 delegates representing 113 Book Nook sites. Over the next two days, NBDB officials led practical sessions to equip site partners with the tools and skills to enrich their community reading spaces.

    Empowering site partners

    In the opening session, the NBDB reviewed the core principles of the Book Nook Project. NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade gave an update on the project’s progress, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a nationwide reading culture and urging participants to rekindle their passion for the project’s mission. “Reading should not just be an event or program, but, above all else, a habit. With that, I call on everyone to take this conference as an opportunity to start thinking about the kind of future you hope to build for your Book Nook site,” she urged.

    Daniel Mariano, Officer-in-Charge of NBDB’s Readership Development Division, and Ana Manalaysay, Head of the Reading Spaces Section, encouraged site partners to reflect on their success stories and envision a future where their communities evolve into self-sustaining, vibrant reading hubs. Allyn Canja, Book Nook Project Partnerships Committee Head, presented methods for improving public service, while Lyka Manglal-lan from the NBDB’s Policy and Industry Research Division shared insights from the 2023 National Readership Survey, highlighting innovative solutions to combat the nation’s reading crisis.

    Building inclusive, innovative, and expansive spaces

    Day 2 was headlined by actor, activist, and speaker Mae Paner (Juana Change), who moderated discussions on creating inclusive, forward-thinking reading spaces. Standout sites, including BN Guinobatan (Albay) for Innovation, BN Carles (Iloilo) for Inclusivity, and BN Sagay (Negros Occidental) for Expansion, were showcased for their unique strategies for overcoming challenges.

    National Program Coordinator Carlo Ebeo shared fresh perspectives on how Book Nooks can forge deeper community connections. Breakout sessions featured NLP’s Melanie “Melai” Ramirez on dynamic storytelling techniques and Jean Ico, NLP Section Head of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Special Collections, leading hands-on book care and binding.

    In the closing session, Dr. Excelsa “Etchel” Tongson from UP Diliman introduced a framework for gender-fair practices, encouraging attendees to foster harmony within their reading communities.

    Looking ahead: transforming spaces, inspiring readers

    On the final day, participants toured the NLP, the Quezon City Public Library, and the Valenzuela City Library to observe exemplary models of excellence. These visits inspired attendees with new ideas for enhancing their own sites and building stronger community engagement through reading programs.

    Though managing a Book Nook site comes with its challenges, participants left the conference energized, ready to advance the vision of thriving, accessible reading spaces across the Philippines.

    NBDB Press Release

    20 September 2024

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Ma. Divine R. Caraecle

    +639199749770

    mdcaraecle@books.gov.ph

  • In light of the reading crisis, NBDB introduces national reading alliance

    In light of the reading crisis, NBDB introduces national reading alliance

    PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA (May 02, 2024) — As part of its ongoing efforts to boost readership given declining reading scores, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) has formed the National Alliance of Reading Advocates (NARA), a network that gathers readership advocacy groups and individuals from all over the country to form a unified network that will enable collaboration and better spread the news on existing readership initiatives. 

    In anticipation of its official launch this November, the alliance had its soft launch last April 26, 2024 at the main stage of the Philippine Book Festival at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, where reading advocacy groups and individuals pledged their commitment to the alliance.

    As a platform dedicated to nurturing a robust national reading culture, the NARA shall form a mesh of various readership campaigns through an online community (called NARA Connect) and regular milestone meetings and conferences on the state of readership in the country. Besides consolidating readership campaigns from around the country, the alliance shall also aid in the cross-media adaptation of Philippine literary works, the creation of fan-based markets, and help popularize home-grown literary characters.

    Daniel Mariano

    “With the decline of readership in non-school books, it is high time for the NBDB to gather all advocates and like-minded people who promote readership in the country. We at the NBDB dream of a community of reading advocates who support each other,” said Daniel Mariano, chief of the Board’s Readership Development Division (the agency’s unit responsible for the nationwide reading community, the Book Nook project).

    “Many Filipinos love stories—be it in the form of film, TV, or literature. As reading advocates, we call on all our allies to enrich this interest in stories and use it to create a stronger national reading culture,” added Mariano.


    As the largest traveling book fair in the country, the PBF was the perfect venue to introduce to the public the NBDB’s latest readership campaign. 

    NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade

    “There is a reading crisis—and it is high time that we all start working together to address it. We have a systemic problem when it comes to building and nurturing reading habits in our society, and so we must therefore face this with a cohesive strategy,” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse, who delivered the State of the Reading Nation during the soft launch.

    The NARA soft launch also served as the alliance’s first wide-scale orientation, which was attended by representatives from the following organizations: UN SDSN Youth Philippines, ASEAN Youth Organization, READ to Achieve Foundation Philippines, Inc., Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Binhi English Literacy Foundation, Magbasa Tayo Movement, AHA! Learning Center, The Storytelling Project, Libro Mo, Kaalam Ko project, Project Pearls Inc., School Readers Club, Pinoy Reading Buddies, IBBY Philippines, Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, Association of Progressive and Orthodox Literature and Literature Originators, Laguna Province Private Schools and Administrators Association, Inc., Rizal Library of Ateneo De Manila University, St. Mary’s Publishing Corporation, Claretian Communication Foundations, Inc., Inteligente Publishing, Paper Katz, FDM Vision Care Research and Training Institute, Beyond Books Publication, 8 Letters Bookstore and Publishing, DIWA Learning Systems, Inc.

    Reference & Media Contact:

    NBDB Communications & Promotions

  • NBDB urges focus on readership and literacy initiatives; ramps up efforts to boost reading among Filipinos

    NBDB urges focus on readership and literacy initiatives; ramps up efforts to boost reading among Filipinos

    The National Book Development Board (NBDB) urges policymakers, educators, community leaders, and stakeholders to prioritize readership and literacy initiatives, while also involving parents in efforts to make reading more accessible to all segments of the population.

    This call follows the release of the 2023 National Readership Survey (NRS) results, showing a notable decline in non-school book readership among Filipino adults and children. The survey revealed adult readership at 42% and children at 47% in 2023. Access to books emerged as the primary reason for the decline, with limited awareness of public libraries and constraints like time and distance cited as barriers to visits.

    These results have prompted the NBDB to reaffirm its commitment to bolstering existing programs and policies to reignite a love for reading among Filipinos.

    “These findings, which provide a much-needed nuanced understanding of Filipinos’ reading habits and preferences, reinforce the fact that access to quality books remains a pressing issue in book publishing and education, so the sectors’ focus now clearly has to be on addressing gaps in access,” said NBDB Chairperson Dante “Klink” Ang II.

    Moreover, Chairperson Ang stated that the NBDB and its partners will examine various proposals to develop meaningful policy directives aligned with the objectives of Republic Act No. 7743, which aims to establish congressional, city, and municipal libraries, along with barangay reading centers nationwide. According to a 2018 study by the National Library of the Philippines, only 3% of LGUs have local libraries across the country.

    “One of the main hindrances to reading revealed by the survey is access to reading facilities such as public libraries, particularly in the provinces. Some of them are really beyond the reach of those living in mountainous areas, for example. Besides expanding the Book Nook project, we will also work to bring libraries closer to the people,” Chairperson Ang added.

    Meanwhile, NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade emphasized the significance of enhancing NBDB’s readership efforts, particularly through initiatives like the Book Nook project. This project establishes reading and storytelling centers across the Philippines, featuring locally published books and serving as distribution hubs for publishers. By offering quality books in various Philippine languages, the Book Nook project addresses access and literacy issues in a single space, fostering education and community engagement in a safe and inclusive environment where visitors can participate in activities, borrow books, and take them home at no cost.

    Additionally, the Philippine Book Festival (PBF) promotes a robust reading culture while providing guidance on institutional book purchases. Like the Book Nook project, the PBF brings quality books to readers nationwide while facilitating collaboration between major buyers of educational resources and Philippine publishers.

    To encourage involvement in the local book economy, NBDB launched Booklatan sa Bayan, inviting both avid and passive readers to explore literature and culture. NBDB collaborates with reading advocacy groups such as the Reading Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc., and the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc., to synergize efforts in enriching the nation’s reading culture.

    “Programming must work hand in hand with policy. Besides readership programs, we will push for policies that democratize distribution and enable publishers to publish more affordable books,” Executive Director Tugade emphasized.

    “These survey findings should serve as a call to arms: an opportunity to acknowledge and better understand the current state of readership, to reframe the problems they pose in a way that we are pushed to act and change them rather than dwell on them. If attitudes toward reading are less than desirable, then the responsibility to create environments that make reading possible lies with us. The NBDB is hopeful and renews its commitment to better its programs and policies,” Executive Director Tugade added.

    The NBDB highlighted that, according to the survey findings, overall attitudes towards books and reading remained positive. The majority of respondents recognized the importance of books beyond educational and professional contexts. Key insights from the survey included the most popular non-school book (NSB) genres among adults (the Bible) and children (picture books), the preferred reading language (Filipino for both age groups), preferred formats (printed books for both age groups), and primary considerations when selecting NSBs (availability for both age groups).

    The NBDB enlisted the Social Weather Stations (SWS) to conduct the 2023 National Readership Survey from November 14th to 20th, 2023, with a sample size of 2,400 adults aged 18 and above, and 2,400 children aged 8-17. This survey is the most comprehensive examination of Filipinos’ reading habits and preferences and is expected to provide invaluable insights for the agency’s readership-focused initiatives.

    Reference: (PRESS RELEASE ON THE 2023 NATIONAL READERSHIP SURVEY – March 22, 2024)

    National Book Development Board