Read or Die to stage first convention

In November 2005, a group of young booklovers came together to form a club where they could sit down and discuss about, well, books. At first, they wanted to name their club with the word "Filipino" or "Pinoy" attached to it. But after running out of names, the group settled for Read or Die (RoD), after the Japanese manga series about a British Library librarian who battles evil. Over a year after the club's establishment, Read or Die has become more than a title of a Japanese comic book. It has turned into a growing initiative that aims to transform the reading habits of every Filipino, as well as promote literacy in the country. And to start the year, RoD is holding its first ever Read or Die Convention 2007 (RoDCon) on February 3 and 4 at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila. "The Read or Die Convention is a two-day literary gathering which seeks to bring together readers, writers, publishers, government, and school organizations and book dealers to highlight the importance of reading and literacy in building an open world for every Filipino through books," RoD President and founding member Kristin Mandigma told GMANews.TV. The convention will be marked by book readings, discussion forums, workshops, auctions, contests, film screenings, exhibits, and book signings to be held at different venues in the hotel. Bands such as the Radioactive Sago Project and Up Dharma Down will also perform at the event. Joining RoD to open the convention's ceremonies are National Artists Virgilio Almario and F. Sionil Jose who will be present on February 3 and 4, respectively. Robin Robinson of the UK performance poetry group "Apples and Shakes" will perform with "Romancing Venus" poet Kooky Tuason and local celebrity Juddah Paolo. A number of Filipino authors and comic book artists are also expected to grace the event to sign their books. The convention is also hosting the first ever Pinoy Readers' Choice Awards, where the best fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and komiks authored and created by Filipino writers and artists will be awarded. Participants are encouraged to swap books with other attendees. But for those who want to donate their second-hand or even brand new books, organizations and book drives such as RockEd, A Better Chance Foundation, and Books for the Barrios will benefit a lot from kindhearted booklovers. Everyone can join the two-day convention with a minimal fee. Tickets are available at Powerbooks, Booktopia, and Aeon Bookstore outlets. The proceeds of the RoDCon will be donated to AHON Foundation, a nongovernment organization which aims to develop elementary public libraries all over the Philippines. With the convention, RoD also intends to start a mass signature drive in support of the National Book Development Board's drive to create a trust fund for Filipino authors. "In a nutshell, we want to promote reading, support of Filipino readers and more public awareness and support of Filipino literature as a whole," says Mandigma. For those who would like to get the list of guests and schedule of events, visit www.read-or-die.org. - RONALISA CO, GMANews.TV