Nat'l Book Development Board condemns vandalism on 2 bookstores

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) has condemned the vandalism on two bookstores in Manila and Quezon City, saying it is detrimental to the book publishing industry.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the NBDB said the vandalism incident in where the walls and signages of Popular Bookstore and Solidaridad were splashed with red paint and anti-communist messages, is an attack on institutions of knowledge and harmful to democratic values.

"These vile acts are detrimental not just to the two independent bookstores that are fighting hard to stay afloat in this pandemic, but to the whole Philippine book publishing industry," it said.

"This does not fare well at all since our country has a very low bookshop per population size ratio."

For the NBDB, the vandalism was a gross disrespect to the memory of the late National Artist F. Sionil José, who was the owner of Solidaridad.

The NBDB pointed out that reading opens minds and changes worlds, and encourages people to think critically, exchange views properly, and make better choices.

Threatening and maliciously labeling bookstores would only be of great disservice to the national good, according to the NBDB.

“We stand in solidarity with bookstores, content creators, publishers, industry workers, readers, and all sectors of the publishing community in condemning these acts and call for vigilance in protecting our shared advocacies — literacy, critical thinking, and democracy,” it said.

Popular Bookstore earlier said it would press charges against those responsible for the vandalism of the store's facade.

Store operator Geraldine Po said they are set to lodge a complaint with the barangay office in Tomas Morato, Quezon City to inform the local officials of the incident and help them find the people behind it. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News